(Photo by Stephen Goldsmith) FIRST NEPHEW: Avery Robinson brings the ball up the court for the Ivy Inn squad during a game last week in the Princeton Recreation Department Summer Men’s Basketball League. Robinson, the son of former Princeton University basketball star and current Oregon State head coach Craig Robinson and nephew of first lady and PU alum Michelle Obama, is enjoying his summer in town. He is working as an intern for the Gazelle Group and playing in the hoops league as he gets ready to start his college basketball career this fall at Wesleyan University (Conn.).

Building on Family’s Deep Ties to Princeton, Robinson Enjoying Stint in Summer Men’s Hoops

Bill Alden

Avery Robinson has visited Princeton many times over the years.

As the son of former Princeton University basketball star and current Oregon State head coach Craig Robinson and nephew of first lady and PU alum Michelle Obama, the younger Robinson has been to his fair share of reunions and Tiger hoops games over the years.

This summer, though, Robinson is making an extended visit to town, working as an intern for the Gazelle Group, the Princeton-based organization that creates, represents, and consults various sports and entertainment events.

In his spare time, Robinson is playing for the Ivy Inn in the Princeton Recreation Department Summer Men’s Basketball League as he gets ready to start his college hoops career this fall at Wesleyan University (Conn.).

Last Friday, Robinson showed he can hang with the big boys, scoring 14 points to help Ivy Inn top Team T.B. 56-40.

In other action last Friday, Winberie’s topped the PA Blue Devils 69-64 to improve to 6-0 while University Radiology edged Dr. Palmer/Sportsmedicine 49-45 in moving to 5-1.

In Robinson’s view, three-time defending champion Ivy Inn is starting to find a rhythm, winning two straight games after a 1-3 start.

“It was good; I like this team,” said Robinson, who attributed his hot shooting to an extended warm-up session before the game.

“More people are coming. I wasn’t here for the first three games. In the last three games we lost one and won two so now we are at .500.”

Robinson believes that competing in the rough-and-tumble summer league, which features many former college players, is good preparation for his freshman season at Wesleyan.

“I need to make sure that I stay in shape,” said Robinson, who plays at guard. “Going against older, stronger guys, stronger than I was seeing in high school, is more like it will be in college.”

After starring at Crescent Valley High in Corvallis, Ore., Robinson came east and helped the Hill School win the Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL) title this past winter. He decided to stay east for college, choosing to play for Division III Wesleyan, a member of the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC).

“I like the coach a lot,” said Robinson, referring to Cardinal head coach Joe Reilly. “I visited a bunch of schools; Wesleyan is the one I liked the most.”

While Robinson believes that it is unlikely that his uncle, President Obama, will shoot up to Princeton to check out any of his games, he is enjoying spending time in a place that has meant so much to his family.

“I am glad I could be out here for the summer,” said Robinson, who was involved in the pick-up game last November when his uncle took an errant elbow and ended up needing 12 stitches in his upper lip. “All these guys can play, I am glad they let me play.”

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