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2018 Orlando Magic NBA Draft Preview: Jerome Robinson, a quiet assassin in the ACC

By Ricky Scricca

CHESTNUT HILL, MA - FEBRUARY 25: Boston College guard Jerome Robinson (1) reacts after making a three during an ACC match up between the Boston College Eagles and the Virginia Tech Hokies on February 25, 2017 at Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. The Hokies defeated the Eagles 91-75. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHESTNUT HILL, MA - FEBRUARY 25: Boston College guard Jerome Robinson (1) reacts after making a three during an ACC match up between the Boston College Eagles and the Virginia Tech Hokies on February 25, 2017 at Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. The Hokies defeated the Eagles 91-75. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Jerome Robinson, Boston College Eagles
CHESTNUT HILL, MA – FEBRUARY 25: Boston College guard Jerome Robinson (1) reacts after making a three during an ACC match up between the Boston College Eagles and the Virginia Tech Hokies on February 25, 2017 at Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. The Hokies defeated the Eagles 91-75. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Jerome Robinson is coming off one of the most prolific scoring seasons in recent ACC basketball history. His versatile jump shot and ball handling make him an interesting prospect.

The Boston College Eagles had one of college basketball’s most explosive backcourts last season with Ky Bowman running the point and Jerome Robinson at the 2-guard slot. With Bowman electing to exit the NBA Draft and return to school, only Robinson will be an option for NBA teams this year.

Although Bowman is the more capable lead guard from a passing vision standpoint, neither player is an adept enough decision-maker to warrant using a high pick on them as point guard prospects.

Robinson is about four inches taller than Bowman at 6-foot-5, and thus projects more comfortably as an NBA wing. He will be a more capable defender at his position, making him arguably the better overall prospect considering their similarly high-level scoring acumen.

Of course Bowman will have another year at school to increase his NBA lead guard stock, so that is neither here nor there.

This article is about Robinson — an athletic 20 points-per-game scorer who can shoot the lights out from anywhere on the court. It is easy to see the appeal especially for an Orlando Magic team in dire need of shooting and shot creation.

He is good shooting off the bounce, off the catch or off screens and movement. Robinson can finish above and below the rim, shoot from beyond the NBA 3-point line and from midrange. His shot release motions are generally speedy and his lower-body quick-twitch muscles allow him plus deceleration.

He can operate primarily as an off-guard in starting configurations but pick up more primary creation duties with second units, playing a role similar to Will Barton, Jamal Crawford, Lou Williams, Austin Rivers and others in that mold.

Defensively he leaves a lot to be desired, just like those four aforementioned NBA gunner types, both on the team and individual levels.

He had the worst Defensive Player Impact Plus-Minus of anyone on his team with at least 500 minutes played by a wide margin, indicating a significantly negative effect on his team’s ability to get stops and raising justified concerns about his ability to stay on an NBA court.