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 Overland Basketball Star “J-Rock

Senior Guard Jervae Robinson and Head Coach Danny Fisher

By Michelle Ancell

As the point guard for Overland High School’s basketball team, Senior Jervae Robinson is proud to be on team that won the 2015 5A state championship, but there was just one thing missing last year — him.

Robinson, who grew up in Aurora, left Overland his junior year to play ball at a prep school in Oklahoma. After being there a short while he knew it wasn’t the right fit. But he was stuck there while his teammates were knocking out the competition in Colorado and eventually beating Thunder Ridge High school to win the state title.

“So yeah, I want state. I want it so bad it’s like a hunger, not even a thirst, but a hunger,” he said.

A consecutive state championship weighs on the minds of every member of Overland’s team. In addition, the players are intent on going undefeated all season.  And that’s a possibility.

As of Jan. 4, the team boasted at 7-0 record. The team is receiving nods nationwide after winning the Platinum Division of the Tarkanian Classic in Las Vegas in December, beating strong teams from Utah, California, Florida and Nevada. The win put Overland seventh in the MaxPreps national ranking.

jervae - coach danny 2
Jervae aka “J-Rock” with Coach Fisher after practice.

The icing on the cake? Robinson was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

“He carried the heaviest load for us offensively in terms of scoring,” Fisher said. “Even with a player of the caliber of De’Ron Davis on our team, Jervae really was our best scoring option. He also guarded the other team’s best wing player in every game and did an excellent job. He was rightfully recognized as the best two-way player at the tournament.”

Getting Robinson back at Overland has helped fill the void left after Fisher lost three talented seniors to graduation in 2015. Each of the three grads earned basketball scholarships. Austin Conway is playing at the University of Wyoming, Ryan Swan is at the Air Force Academy, and King Grant-Perry is playing at Adams State College.

“Of course I was thrilled to have him back,” Fisher said. “He is so good. He has the reputation of being a crafty and tricky offensive player, which is true, but he doesn’t get enough credit for his defensive skills. I usually have him guard our opponent’s toughest player.”

But Fisher was worried about how the teammates would come together. Robinson hadn’t played with the guys for a year. Neither had Tyler Stevenson, who also returned from Oklahoma.

“I thought our challenge would be gelling, getting these guys to play as a team,” Fisher said. “But I have been pleasantly surprised. They didn’t waste any time working together.”

Fisher said Robinson is a quiet guy who leads by example. Other players look to him to be reliable in tough game situations. Not only that, he’s a classy young man off the court too. He’s a good student, with a 3.4 grade point average and makes good choices in his personal life.

“I know that’s what my mom and my sister would expect from me,” Robinson said. “I can’t let them down.”

Robinson credits his mom for his success. “She’s done so much for me, I want to give everything back to her. I hope basketball will allow me to do so,” he said. “I feel like it is what I was born to do.”

In fact, Robinson can’t recall a time when he didn’t play basketball. He remembers playing with his stepdad, jumping over a fence near his house to play on a hoop, and carpooling to schools, recreation centers and parks to get to a court.

The self-professed gym rat said he loves competing, scoring and feels grateful for the opportunities basketball has brought him, like traveling to different parts of the country. He also appreciates the relationships he’s made through the game, like with teammate De’Ron Davis, a star center who has committed to playing as a Hoosier at Indiana University.

“He’s one of my best friends,” Robinson said. “But he’s also someone I look up to. He’s a great example of what an elite player can be like.”  Robinson is a humble young man, who is also being courted by Division 1 schools. He is eager to work hard and continue to improve himself.  “Going undefeated, getting to state, and taking my game to the next level in college — that’s my life right now.”

EDUCATIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

  • Principal Honor Roll, 2004 – 2010
  • Perfect Attendance Awards, 2004 – 2008
  • Model Student Awards, 2004 – 2010
  • Eager Reader Award, 2004
  • A-1 Speller Award, 2004
  • Junior Achievement Awards, 2005 – 2007
  • Excellence in Math, science, reading, spelling and writing Awards, 2005 – 2010
  • Most successful in physical education award, 2005 – 2010
  • Student Mentor, 2007 – 2008
  • Recorder Honor Club (music), 2007
  • Voted “Most Likely to Succeed), 2005
  • Outstanding Student- Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID), 2009 – 2013
  • Principal Honor Roll, 2004 – 2012

FUTURE PLANS:

Jervae plans to one day be in the NBA (1st choice), NFL (2nd choice) and MLB (3rd choice).  His options beyond sports are to be a Certified Accountant, entrepreneur or an actor.

  • Advanced CSAP Score in state, 2007
  • Nominated for People to People Leadership Forum in Washington D.C. (founder Dwight D. Eisenhower), 2008
  • Letter of Recognition from Mayor John W. Hickenlooper, 2005

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENTS/ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:

SPORTS:

  • Basketball, football and baseball
    • 2010 Addida’s Phenon invite only basketball clinic
    • Chauncey Billups basketball clinic
    • Ball boy for the University of Denver Mens Basketball team.
    • 2005 baseball MVP, 2005 Little Big Man Award for playing on a 9 & 10 year old team as a 7 year old.
  • Sports Team Awards:
    • AYL 2008-2009 BASKETBALL 5th GRADE CHAMPIONS
    • 4th Grade Boys NIT Division Champions (JAM League), 2006/2007
    • 6th Grade Boys NCAA Division Consolation Champions, 2008/2009
    • MAYB Kansas Premiere Champions, 2008
    • Rocky Mountain Grid Iron football Champions, 2008
    • Front Range baseball 9 & 10 year old AA division Champions as a 7 year old, 2005
    • Holiday Hoops Classic Champions, 2008

COMMUNITY SERVICE:

  • Mentor for younger children in his school
  • Jingle Bell Run for Arhritis, 2004
  • Help Feed the Homeless through church.

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