Rare company: Pinnacle 2-sport All-American Duce Robinson will have options beyond high school

It's hard enough to become a high school All-American in one sport. To be an All-American in two sports, that is very select company.

But Duce Robinson is extraordinary.

The Phoenix Pinnacle senior tight end/wide receiver, who is 6-foot-6, 235 pounds, already is getting Aaron Judge comparisons on the baseball field, a gazelle in the outfield and around the bases with a high-voltage bat speed.

Even though he doesn't play on Pinnacle's baseball team, Robinson played on a top-level, traveling club team during the spring and summer, where he has impressed Major League Baseball scouts.

"The goal is to hear my name called (in next summer's Major League Baseball Draft), and make a decision from there, but we'll see how that goes," Robinson said.

Robinson can also play for any Power 5 football program in the country with his size, speed, and elusive moves after making catches.

That will be on display Friday night at Peoria Liberty (1-0) in The Arizona Republic's high school football Game of the Week.

In last week's opener in Oceanside, California, Pinnacle's first play from scrimmage was a quick slant over the middle from sophomore quarterback Wyatt Horton. Robinson caught the ball in stride, side-stepped a few defenders and outran everyone for a 51-yard touchdown. He caught another TD pass this time outjumping a defender in the end zone, and helped the Pioneers roll to a 43-6 win over El Camino.

With NIL opportunities (use of name, image, likeness) a monetary carrot for top athletes in college, Robinson would have potential to make big money at whichever college he chooses.

But this is a world a few select athletes have had to confront beyond high schools.

Robinson is only the third high school athlete ever chosen Under Armour All-American in both football and baseball. The others were Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray and Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown. Both of those guys chose football over baseball to make their fortunes.

To be in that company is a huge accomplishment by Robinson, who also plays forward on Pinnacle's basketball team. But you wouldn't know that Robinson, the nation's No. 1-ranked tight end by ESPN, 247Sports and Rivals, holds that rare distinction.

He is as humble as he is talented. A 'Yes sir,' guy, who is always smiling, always thankful, even for the umpteenth interview he has had coming into his senior year in high school.

"Duce is a tremendous athlete," Pinnacle basketball coach Charlie Wilde said. "He can change the game in three different sports, which is unique. We are fortunate that he plays basketball for us.

"What makes him so special is that he is a better person than athletes and he represents Pinnacle High School so well."

Robinson comes from athletic parents. His father, Dominic Robinson, was hyped as the next Deion Sanders in 2001 when he came to Florida State.  He was a five-star recruit out of Diamond Bar, California, who flipped to the offensive side in his career and played wide receiver after starting out as a cornerback. He also played one season of baseball at FSU.

Duce's mother, Mary Beth Mounce (her last name in college), was a top swimmer at the University of Florida in the early 2000s in the backstroke.

They've taught Duce not to get carried away by his talents.

"I'm very fortunate to have both of my parents in my life," he said. "They both played college sports."

Robinson has been starting on Pinnacle's varsity football team since his freshman year. He got his first college football offer from Arizona State before his freshman year in 2019, after jumping out in an ASU 7-on-7 passing competition that June.

Robinson came into Pinnacle with wide receiver Myles Libman, who followed his brother Marcus, a top receiver.

They've been best friends since the seventh grade. They both play basketball together, as well.

"It's really easy to play with him," Myles said. "When we see a coverage that we don't like, we're usually able to communicate, check out of it."

Pinnacle seniors who knew Robinson in grade school could already see how special he was going to be. He was 6-5 in the summer before his freshman year and a power hitter on the baseball field in youth club tournaments.

His teammates talk about Robinson's abilities more than he does.

"He's a really humble guy," said senior offensive lineman Elijah Paige, who has committed to the University of Notre Dame for football. "He never really wants to talk about himself. He's more about the team than himself.

"All that he's got going on with baseball and football and All-American games, he's more worried about Pinnacle football."

Bring up the top ranking in the nation for tight ends, Robinson just smiles and seems embarrassed. He calls himself an "athlete," not just a tight end. In Pinnacle's wide-open offense, he usually is split out wide to make plays.

"My job as of right now is try to make sure this team is as successful as possible, so I'm trying to do everything in my abilities to make sure that happens," Robinson said.

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on Twitter @azc_obert.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Pinnacle 2-sport All-American Robinson will have big choices