COLLEGIATE CHECK-IN
Pilot Point Bearcats basketball’s alltime leading scorer Rowdy Robinson has taken his talents to central Arkansas and made the jump to collegiate athletics.
The 2024 graduate of Pilot Point High School and multisport athlete is heading into his sophomore season of playing basketball and football at Hendrix College in Conway and is applying every trick of the trade he’s learned along the way.
“The first year was a big jump academically and athletically,” he said. “Academically, it's harder, but you have more freedom and more time to do all the stuff that you need to do. Sports-wise, it's a whole different level. You can't come expecting to start. People are faster, quicker and stronger, and you just have to have a mentality coming in that you have to try your best so you can get on the court.”
Rowdy was a four-year starter for the Bearcats’ basketball program, serving as team captain for three seasons, and also starred on the gridiron for Pilot Point as a wide receiver and defensive end his senior year.
He’s still pulling double duty and playing both sports at Hendrix, but Rowdy said acclimating to the Warriors’ training program has been one of his biggest adjustments so far.
“In basketball, we lifted twice a week, and we practiced at either 5 in the morning or at 3:30 [p.m.] after all of our classes were done,” he said. “They’re two hours long, and they’re pretty competitive. … Football is just a whole new world because we lift five times a week and then we have practice after that and that practice is in the heat.”
Rowdy credited his teammates and coaches for helping him find his footing at the next level.
“They really took me in and embraced me,” he said. 'They make practice so much fun, and Coach [Anthony] Boone really believed in me and gave me opportunities on the court. At the beginning of the season, I only played five or six minutes a game, but I learned how to gain his trust and show him my ability to play, and by the end of the season, I was playing around 20 minutes a game.”
Rowdy appeared in 21 games for the Warriors this season, shooting 47% from the floor and also grabbing 30 rebounds during his freshman season.
Outside of athletics, Rowdy is studying environmental science and is just as focused in the classroom at Hendrix.
“I have a 3.5 GPA, so I’m doing pretty well,” he said. “Hendrix is a liberal arts school, so there are fewer kids, and they're trying to set you up the best way possible academically, but you have to want to do it. I’ll be honest, it's pretty difficult, balancing basketball and football at the same time with homework and classes and not being too tired to skip them, but it's worth it.”
Rowdy added that he’s considering becoming a firefighter or a storm chaser after he earns his degree and finishes his athletic career.
Despite all of the success he’s achieved at such a young age, Rowdy made sure to thank his parents, Kyle and Tiffany Robinson; his sister, Reese Robinson; Amateur Athletic Union Coach Aaron McHee of Team United Texas Basketball; and his friends.
With his sophomore season on the horizon, Rowdy gave words of encouragement for area student-athletes hoping to continue their careers at the next level.
“Go be their best, and don't let anyone tell you that you can't believe in your dreams,” he said. “My dream was to be a basketball player in college. That's all I've ever wanted to do since I was 8 years old, and I've grinded for it my whole life. You can do whatever you need to do to be successful; always believe in yourself.”
