D.C. resident’s mother passed away on Friday
Kansas basketball player and Washington resident Thomas Robinson received a devastating call late Friday night. It was from his sister, informing him that their 37-year-old mother, Lisa, had died of an apparent heart attack.
Thomas Robinson, 19, flew home from Lawrence on Monday and is on a leave of absence from the team as he cares for his sister, 9-year-old Jayla. Robinson was accompanied by Kansas director of basketball operations Barry Hinson.
On Tuesday in Washington, according to the school, Robinson attended the funeral of his grandfather, who died last week. Last month, Robinson’s grandmother died. They were the only grandparents in the lives of he and his sister.
The Kansas basketball community has rallied in support of Robinson, a 6-foot-9, 240-pound forward who averages 8.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 14.8 minutes a game as a key reserve off the Jaykawks’ bench.
According to the Topeka Capital-Journal, friends of Kansas coach Bill Self have offered to move to Lawrence and care for Robinson’s sister. Others have offered to come to Washington to help.
The school, however, has been hesitant to accept any aid for Robinson for fear of violating NCAA rules.
“I would say, don’t do anything like that until you’ve been told it’s OK,” Self told the Capital-Journal. “It makes you proud to be at a place where so many people care, But anything more than thoughts, prayers and well-wishes should be held up until the NCAA would let us know exactly if and what could be done.”
Attempts to reach the NCAA were unsuccessful.
According to the Associated Press, Kansas players and staff will fly to Washington on Wednesday to attend the funeral Thursday of Lisa Robinson. The team played Tuesday night at Colorado.
Thomas Robinson played his senior year of high school at Brewster Academy in New Hampshire. He played his junior year at Riverdale Baptist in Largo. Attempts to reach coaches Josh Smith of Brewster and Lou Wilson of Riverdale were unsuccessful.
Hours after learning of the death of his mother, Robinson played eight minutes in a 74-63 loss Saturday afternoon to visiting Texas. He scored two points and grabbed five rebounds. It was Kansas’ first defeat this season, and first at home after 69 straight wins at Phog Allen Fieldhouse. The death of Robinson’s mother was announced to the crowd moments before tipoff.
“He only had his mom and his sister,” star forward Marcus Morris told the Kansas basketball Web site. “It’s sad to even say anything because you don’t know what to say. He’s just a tough kid to even want to come and still be with us and to still play. I just hope he’ll be OK.”
