It is now well established that Kentucky men’s basketball will be without its second-leading scorer for the remainder of the 2024-25 season.
UK fifth-year guard Jaxson Robinson’s collegiate basketball career ended after Kentucky’s road win at Oklahoma on February 26, when Robinson reaggravated a right wrist injury sustained in practice on February 7.
Following Kentucky’s home loss to No. 1 Auburn on Saturday afternoon, coach Mark Pope revealed that Robinson was done for the season.
Pope announced during his post-Auburn press conference that Robinson would have surgery on his right wrist, which is his shooting wrist, on Wednesday.
Robinson was slated to fly to New York for the surgery, which Pope stated will be performed by “the world’s No. 1 surgeon doing this particular procedure.
” During his weekly press conference Thursday afternoon, Pope acknowledged that Robinson had wrist surgery on Wednesday. “The surgery was perfect,” Pope stated about Robinson’s procedure. “I spoke to him last night. He was slightly fatigued and angry. But he’s on his way back to Kentucky right now.
Pope added that it is unclear whether Robinson will be able to travel with No. 19 Kentucky to the team’s regular season finale on Saturday afternoon at No. 15 Missouri.
“We’ll see how he feels when he gets back, and if he’s up to it,” Pope said of Robinson’s return to the team. “I know he’s going to want to be with the team every second he can, and we want him to be.”
Robinson, who played and started 24 games for the Wildcats this season, is anticipated to recover within three months. Obviously, this means Robinson, who averaged 13 points per game this season, is done with college basketball.
That timeframe also implies Robinson will miss the NBA Draft Combine, which takes place from May 11 to May 18. Robinson was ranked 84th overall on ESPN’s most recent NBA draft big board. Robinson was ranked No. 99 overall on The Athletic’s most recent NBA draft big board.
Robinson was recognized Tuesday night at Rupp Arena during Kentucky’s Senior Night victory against LSU. Robinson was one of six Wildcats honored on Senior Night, including Ansley Almonor, Koby Brea, Lamont Butler, Andrew Carr, and Amari Williams.
Robinson spoke briefly to the Rupp Arena audience after the game and featured on UK’s radio broadcast, marking his first public appearances since his college basketball career ended prematurely.
“I want to thank my teammates, coaches, and parents. … “Thank you for a fantastic ride this year,” Robinson remarked to a resounding roar from Kentucky fans.
Following the home win over LSU, Pope was asked how his squad dealt with the news of Robinson’s season-ending injury.
“We had a really trying, just all of the emotions you could imagine post-Oklahoma,” Pope Francis told us. “The game was late Central Time. We finished the game and then, you know, got back about 3 or 4 in the morning. And we are dealing with the emotions of the game. The emotional impact of Jax’s announcement, which we didn’t have definitive answers to until the next day. But everyone suspected. And then run into Auburn early in the game. That was a really turbulent moment, with a lot going on. “And then we ran right into tonight.”
“I think the guys are devastated for him and really sad for us because he is such a massive part of this team,” Pope said of Robinson, who shot a career-best 37.6% from three this season. “… These men love Jax so much, and Jax loves these guys so much, and they’ve gone on an epic adventure together, and it’s difficult to understand why he won’t get to continue this with these people. It’s quite brutal.”
“It’s unfortunate for Jax because he played such an important role on this team and what he brings is incredible,” Kentucky junior guard Otega Oweh said following the victory over LSU. “… Jax is going to support us as much as he can.”
Robinson’s college career concluded after five seasons at four different schools. Robinson started at Texas A&M, transferred to Arkansas, then to BYU, where Pope coached him for two seasons, before transferring once more to be a part of Pope’s inaugural Kentucky squad.
Robinson averaged 13.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game in his one season at Kentucky, playing in 24 games. Robinson appeared in 120 games during his college career, including 68 starts.
Kentucky has already guaranteed a top eight spot in the SEC Tournament.
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