Jaxson Robinson withdraws from the 2024 NBA Draft, will play for Kentucky in 2024-25

Jaxson Robinson has been one of the biggest remaining players left on the board in regards to a return to college basketball or deciding to remain in the 2024 NBA Draft. We now know where he’ll be spending his next season, though, with the latest on him and his choice.

Per Jeff Borzello at ESPN, Robinson did withdraw his name from the NBA Draft. He did so in time for the deadline that came late on Wednesday. With that, he has also decided to commit himself to Kentucky out of the transfer portal.

Robinson just completed his fourth collegiate season this past year at BYU. He spent the last two with the Cougars where Mark Pope coached him. That came after previously starting his career in the Southeastern Conference with a freshman season at Texas A&M and a sophomore campaign with Arkansas.

Over his college career in 96 games, Robinson has averaged 8.7 points and 2.2 rebounds. He did so while shooting 40.5% from the field and 34.3% from three.

Robinson moved to the bench as a senior after starting for most of his junior year in Provo. However, that ended up leading to his best play this last season. He posted career-highs at 14.2 points on 42.6% shooting from the field and 35.4% from three. That earned him honors as the Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year and an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention.

After that breakout, Robinson declared for the 2024 NBA Draft. However, a few days later, he also entered his name into the NCAA Transfer Portal. That left all of his options open, whether that be the pros, a possible return to BYU, or a transfer to another school like Kentucky.

With many eyes on Robinson on Wednesday night, nothing came as far as a report or announcement regarding his choice. In the morning after, though, news of his commitment to the Wildcats finally arrived.

With his addition, Kentucky has now brought in nine players out of the portal this offseason. Robinson joins a collection that includes Amari Williams (Drexel), Lamont Butler Jr. (San Diego State), Otega Oweh (Oklahoma), Andrew Carr (Wake Forest), Brandon Garrison (Oklahoma State), Koby Brea (Dayton), Kerr Kriisa (West Virginia), and Ansley Almonor (Fairleigh Dickinson). Two in-state prospects in Travis Perry (No. 78, No. 12 PG) and Trent Noah (No. 150, No. 34 SG) along with another freshman in Collin Chandler will also join them to bring it to a dozen players overall for UK.

These transfer additions all ranked highly in On3’s Transfer Portal Top Players. Eight of the nine rate within the Top-115 with several in the Top-100 and a handful in the Top-50. Almonor is lowest on the list but he still finished within the Top-350 overall. In total, they make up the No. 45 portal class per On3’s 2024 Team Transfer Portal Rankings.

Williams, Butler, Carr, and Brea all tested for the NBA Draft as well. Each of the quartet also all withdrew their names with them coming out well before the deadline. Robinson is now part of that group after evaluating himself for the next level.

The addition of Robinson is arguably the most significant to date over this offseason at Kentucky, especially considering his history with Pope. With him now in the fold, the Wildcats are all but set to tip things off with a final roster for the first year of the next era in the program.