Peoria's most prolific prep basketball scorer returns home with his own team
METAMORA — Peoria basketball royalty made a return to the River City.
Mike Robinson was in central Illinois this weekend for the 11th annual Redbird Roundball Classic hosted by Metamora. The former Richwoods McDonald’s All-American is the head coach for South County, a program based in Lorton, Virginia, and faced Manual on Friday, then took on Metamora on Saturday.
“It’s great to be back,” Robinson, 46, said following a 61-59 loss to Metamora, “especially in this atmosphere and environment with these guys, playing basketball and competing against the best teams out here.
“It was fun to come back and show (my team) some of the things that I had to go through every day.”
Background:Mike Robinson Jr.'s career was one for the record books
Metamora coach Danny Grieves wanted South County to come to the event last season, but those plans fell through. He stayed in contact with Robinson and secured his commitment for this year’s tournament. The field also included Chicago Bogan and Illini Bluffs.
“It’s nice to get him,” Grieves said. “It was good to have some hometown flavor …”
SC, however, was far from its usual self on this trip. Robinson, who took over the program prior to the 2016-17 season, has built a perennial power. His 2018 team won the Virginia High School League Class 6 state championship, then was awarded a 2020 co-title due to COVID-19 canceling the final.
Following a 9-2 start, injuries have struck this season. Robinson’s freshman son, Michael, is out with a fractured wrist and the Stallions are now 10-6.
“I could have used him,” the elder Robinson said with a laugh. “He shoots the hell out of the ball, probably shoots better than I ever did.”
Remember, no Peoria player scored more prolifically than the 1996 Richwoods grad. His 2,944 career points make him the state’s seventh-best all-time scorer. The 6-foot-6 guard/forward averaged 30.2 points on 55 percent shooting to go with 11.3 rebounds and 3 assists his senior season before heading off to Purdue.
Many of his players, though, are a little skeptical when hearing about their coach’s playing days.
“I tell them stories,” the four-time all-Mid-State 6 Conference first-teamer said, “but I don’t think they believe half of them, which is OK.”
South County did get a small taste of the Peoria hoops scene in a visit to Richwoods. Robinson’s former teammate and current Knights coach William Smith welcomed the Stallions to practice at the high school.
Even Robinson enjoyed the trip down memory lane.
“I always love Richwoods gym,” he said. “Every time I walk in there, I always think I can score 40.”
Champ:The city's most prolific prep basketball player is now a state championship coach
Marvin Jordan’s Manual team got the first crack at South County, winning 68-53 on Friday. He had never met Robinson in person but as a young, aspiring hooper had talked on the phone with the 1996 Journal Star Large-School Boys Basketball Player of the year.
The first-year coach replied with an emphatic "Yes!" when asked if he was familiar with Robinson’s game.
“Big-time scorer from pretty much anywhere,” Jordan said. “I assumed that that would be the style that those guys play with … I think they’ll be a problem for a lot of teams.”
Some of Robinson’s former Knight teammates including Smith and Calvin O’Neal were on hand for the Metamora game. Robinson promised his Stallions team will revisit the Metamora event in 2025.
He even put Smith on the spot, requesting Richwoods join the event. The 13-year coach replied, “We’ll come in two years.”
“It will be a perfect time for me,” Robinson said. “That way we’ll come back loaded. I’m game if he’s game.”
Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Richwoods grad Mike Robinson brings Virginia basketball team to Metamora
