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Rumeal Robinson
Personal information
Born (1966-11-13) November 13, 1966 (age 57)
Mandeville, Jamaica
Nationality American / Jamaican
High school Cambridge Rindge and Latin
(Cambridge, Massachusetts)
Listed height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight 195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
College Michigan (1987–1990)
NBA Draft 1990 / Round: 1 / Pick: 10th overall
Selected by the Atlanta Hawks
Pro career 1990–2002
Career history
1990–1992 Atlanta Hawks
1992–1993 New Jersey Nets
1993–1994 Charlotte Hornets
1994–1995 Rapid City Thrillers
1995 Shreveport Crawdads
1995 Shreveport Storm
1995–1996 Connecticut Pride
1996 Portland Trail Blazers
1996–1997 Los Angeles Lakers
1997 Phoenix Suns
1997 Portland Trail Blazers
1997–1998 Grand Rapids Hoops
1998 La Crosse Bobcats
2001–2002 KK Zadar
2002 Skipper Bologna
2002 Marinos de Oriente
Career highlights and awards
  • NCAA champion (1989)
  • Consensus second-team All-American (1990)
  • First-team Parade All-American (1986)
Career NBA statistics
Points 2,546 (7.6 ppg)
Rebounds 606 (1.8 rpg)
Assists 1,179 (3.5 apg)
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  United States
Pan American Games
Silver 1995 Mar del Plata National team

Rumeal James Robinson (born November 13, 1966) is a Jamaican-American former professional basketball player and convicted felon.

Growing up in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Robinson graduated from Cambridge Rindge and Latin School and went on to play point guard for the University of Michigan. After a strong showing in Michigan's 1989 NCAA championship, Robinson was drafted #10 in the first round of the 1990 NBA draft. He played professionally until 2002, then started a criminal career that ended with him being sentenced to prison in 2011 on multiple convictions for bank bribery and wire fraud.

Early life

Robinson was born in Mandeville, Jamaica, in the west-central portion of the island. His mother moved to the Boston area while he was a toddler, leaving him in his grandparents' care. Shortly after he turned 10 years old, his grandparents sent him to the United States in hopes of reuniting him with his mother. However, his mother made it clear that she didn't want him, and he was reduced to sleeping in apartment halls and Harvard College dorm stairways.

Early in the 1977–78 school year, he was taken in by Helen and Lou Ford, a respected local couple. They adopted him in 1978. He blossomed into a star guard at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, leading them to a state championship in 1986.

College

Robinson averaged 14.3 points and 5.7 assists during his collegiate career at the University of Michigan. He achieved fame during his junior year for sinking two crucial free throws with 3 seconds left in the 1989 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship to win the game for the Wolverines over Seton Hall University. His mother persuaded the city of Cambridge to name her street "Rumeal Robinson Way" in his honor.

NBA career

Robinson was drafted in 1990 by the Atlanta Hawks with the 10th pick. He was signed to a four-year deal with the Hawks. He also played for the New Jersey Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Portland Trail Blazers, Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers. Robinson also spent time in the Continental Basketball Association. He played in the Euroleague during the 2001–02 season for KK Zadar.

In the NBA, Robinson's play was very inconsistent. His last season as a regular player was 1992-93, his first year in New Jersey; after that year, he never played in more than 54 games a season.

He was one of three Robinsons that the Portland Trail Blazers had in their line-up for the 1995–96 NBA season. The others were Clifford Robinson and James Robinson (both no relation).

Robinson made some $5 million in the NBA, but spent it on a lavish lifestyle. He went through money so irresponsibly, he neglected to pay his bills. He was forced into bankruptcy in 1998.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Rumeal Robinson para niños

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