Commitment Breakdown: Three-star center Anthony Robinson to South Florida

The recruiting battle for Anthony Robinson was largely quiet, in terms of media interviews, but it involved 20+ programs that included Boston College, Clemson, Seton Hall, Vanderbilt, Minnesota, Utah and South Florida. In the end, the Bulls won out, landing one of the best bigs in North Carolina. One with lots of upside.

BullsInsider.com spoke with Team Huncho (Adidas 3SSB) head coach Mark Livingston about Robinson.

WHAT THE BULLS ARE GETTING

I think the bulls are getting exactly what they are, what they identified as – a bull. A hard worker, a guy who is not going to complain, a guy who is going to come in with an open mind of learning where he needs to do better and staying committed to the player that he already is. So, the skill set he brings to the table, his ability to grind, his effort, his grit, a hard-nosed player, play above the rim, rebound around the rim. I think he's going to do that at a phenomenal level. But he's also going to be open to making sure his development is continuing to go in the right direction. So, a hard-nosed guy that resembles exactly what a bull is.

WHAT MAKES ROBINSON DIFFERENT

I think the biggest thing that separates him is he knows exactly who he is. A lot of kids these days, I find that is something that is hard to overcome. Just understanding what their true identity is as a player. Anthony fully understands that. He doesn't, too much, seek out of what he's good at. But he does, what he's good at, at an elite level. And he typically dominates it in most games. So, when I say what he's good at playing in the dunker spot, rebounding above the rim, going to dunk everything and fight through contact. He does those things at such an elite level, that the stuff he still needs to work on tends to just play right in and fit right into his play style as opposed to overshadow his play style. So, the biggest thing that just separates him is just know who he is, as a player, sticking to that grit and that grind and being the best at that.

WHY THIS IS BIG FOR USF

You know, for me, I think it's just the route in which it took to get here for him and what it took to get him committed, which was the relationship building within the coaching staff. During this recruitment process, I told many coaches, the number one thing with Anthony isn't just going to be how high of a major you are, whether it's high major, low major, or mid major, it’s going to be how well are you building a relationship with the person outside of basketball? How comfortable does he feel with you as a coach? And for them to ultimately break through that wall, they're going to get a guy that is completely open to learning and is going to trust everything they're going to do in terms of his development and in terms of what they want from the team. So, just being able to build that relationship with them. You already have broken so many barriers to just development and his trust within the coaching staff and within the program to be a four year program [guy]. So, I think, that's the biggest thing they'll be able to get. They'll learn him more and more as they continue to be with him on an everyday basis when he gets to campus next year. But, you know, being able to break through that wall early, I think you earn so much with the guy’s respect and trust for him to go through a wall for you.

RECRUITING NOTES

USF hosted Robinson on an official Sept. 9-11 helping to close the deal. He took an official to Boston U Sept. 16-18 and had an official lined up with Vanderbilt last weekend but, according to a source, he canceled it.