Why this blue-chip recruit never thought about leaving TCU men’s basketball
One of the biggest wins for TCU men’s basketball this offseason was the retention of forward Micah Robinson.
Robinson opted to remain in Fort Worth with fellow sophomores Jace Posey, David Punch and Malick Diallo. All four played last season with varying roles, and their return is big for the chemistry of the program.
Robinson’s return is unique in a different way, though. There’s arguably no player with more upside on the roster, as he’s the fourth-highest-rated recruit to sign with TCU since at least 2003.
Despite starting only two games last season, Robinson said he never truly thought about entering the portal after the Horned Frogs finished 16-16.
“I feel like I always flourished when I stay within a system,” Robinson said. “I feel like the more comfortable I am and the more comfortable the coaches are with me, that allows me to play to the best of my abilities. With me already being comfortable with [TCU’s] system, having already went through the growing pains as a freshman in the Big 12, I really just felt like the best decision for me was to come back.”
It’s rare to see a blue chip prospect have that type of patience and self-awareness so early in his career. In the current state of college basketball, one season of not starting is often enough for most recruits to try their luck elsewhere.
Micah Robinson shows flashes
Robinson would’ve had plenty of suitors, as he showed why he was so highly rated in spurts last season. In 32 games, Robinson averaged 5.3 points and 1.8 rebounds while shooting 31.9% from 3.
Robinson scored in double figures six times, including back-to-back 10-point games against Utah and BYU. His freshman season wasn’t a complete success from a team or individual standpoint, but Robinson said it was an eye-opening experience to play in the rugged Big 12 as a freshman.
“Internally I feel like I learned how to gauge all the emotions of what it’s going to be like going through the Big 12,” Robinson said. “The main takeaway was never let the highs get you too high and never let the lows get you too low. At the end of the day, being level set is really important in terms of being able to perform more on the court and keep your mental health off the court good.”
Having being fully introduced to college basketball now, Robinson — a Kansas City, Missouri, native who went to high school in Texas and Virginia — has a different approach to the game this season and carries himself more like a senior than a sophomore.
Robinson’s work ethic was always a strength, but now he’s taken that to the next level, according to coach Jamie Dixon and his teammates.
“Micah’s clearly made strides. He’s finishing better around the rim,” Dixon said. “He’s defending better. He’s hitting the offensive glass more. You saw that at the end of the year. He does everything right, he’s in the gym. We’ve got this new equipment that can track the number of shots taken outside of practice, and it’s like a battle between him, Jace, Brock [Harding] and Jayden [Pierre].”
Harding arrived this offseason from Iowa, and he’s faced his fair share of talented wings during those battles in the Big Ten.
After playing with Robinson for only a few months, Harding said he thinks Robinson has that same type of potential and drive to be one of the better wings in the Big 12.
“His build — he’s 6-foot-6, strong and can get to his spots,” Harding said. “He can shoot the ball really well, and with that frame and being able to shoot really well, it opens him to get downhill and use his body to get into guys and finish at the rim. I’ve been impressed with how he can play under control and be calm and get to his spots.”
Playing under control was something Robinson put a major emphasis on during his offseason workouts. Like most freshmen playing at a high-major school, the game moved too fast for him at times last season.
But that year of experience was vital for Robinson to understand how to use his athletic gifts to attack defenses and how playing with pace is more than just trying to fly by your matchup every trip down the court.
“One of the things I felt like I could’ve been better at was my decision-making,” Robinson said. “I watched a lot of film of myself, and a lot of times, I was playing out of control. Some of the main things I focused were trying to simplify my game. I feel like it’s been apparent in the practices we’ve had.”
TCU’s leading scorer in ‘secret’ scrimmage
It’s also beginning to show against opponents, as Robinson led TCU with 13 points in the Horned Frogs’ “secret” scrimmage win over Texas on Oct. 26.
It’s the type of performance Robinson hopes to consistently deliver this season, and his development could be the key in the Horned Frogs’ making it back to the NCAA Tournament.
Whether he’s a starter or a sixth man, Robinson’s main focus this year isn’t the numbers, it’s helping TCU get back to March Madness.
“Individually, a successful season for me is if I found a way to help my team succeed,” Robinson said. “In terms of team success, we’re setting the standard high for ourselves because we all collectively feel like we have a big group. Our standard is going to be high.”
TCU opens the season against New Orleans at 7 p.m. Monday on ESPN+.
This story was originally published October 30, 2025 at 12:59 PM.
