March 19, 2025 • 23 mins
Welcome to episode nine of Behind Kentucky Basketball presented by UK Federal Credit Union! Jaxson Robinson sits down with Michelle Knezovic to discuss his journey to Kentucky, his identity as a player, and how this years team chemistry has blossomed. Tune in as we dive into these topics and more on this episode of Behind Kentucky Basketball.
Presented by: UK Federal Credit Union
Presented by: UK Federal Credit Union
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
You guys have come from all over the country and
to build this chemistry that you all have. You mentioned it,
you haven't had a team like this. You've played on
a lot of basketball teams, but all of the pieces
just seem to fit together really well.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Yeah, yeah, it's really cool. It started in the summer,
just building those relationships. Coach Pope always talked about during
the summer, just making sure that we were spending time
together because I mean, like you said, we all came
from different places, we didn't really know each other. So
just making sure that we spent that time off the
court to make sure that we could, you know, know
(00:35):
that we could go to war with each other on
the court. I think that was really important. I think
it's paid huge dividends throughout the season.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
You talk about Kentucky and growing up, I mean it's
Kentucky basketball. Talked about how your mom became from a
big basketball family. What has it been like to watch
her experience it too and become a part of you know,
big Blue Nation.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Yeah, it's really cool because the other day we were
I can't remember what we were doing. I think we're
just eating dinner in my apartment or something, but we
were just watching some college basketball and it was after
we had just being somebody but I just came off
of a good game and like we were just talking
to each other and then the TV had said something
about my name and it was on ESPN, So it
(01:16):
was just really cool. We both turned around and looked
at each other like, oh, that's that's me on TV. Yeah,
So just like little moments like that, it's really cool,
especially know where we came from. She started out as
a single brother, so it's just been me and her
throughout a lot of a lot of my life and
it's really cool just to be able to share a
lot of special moments with her.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
Welcome into another episode of Behind Kentucky Basketball, presented by
UK Federal Credit Union. I'm your host from Shanknswick and
this week joined by Jackson Robinson.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
Jacks. Thanks for Robin today of course having me.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
Well, Jackson, I think we're gonna just like run it
all the way back to the beginning. We're going to
talk about, you know, how basketball, how you got to
where you are now going to talk a little non
basketball stuff, but let's just first start with like how
old were you when you started playing basketball?
Speaker 3 (02:13):
And maybe like, what age.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
Did you realize, Okay, this is something that I can
pursue and become great at.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
I mean, I think the first time I picked up
a basketball was when I was like three. My mom said,
I used to just I had like a little mini
hoop and she buy it from me when I was
around that age, and she used to always show on
the basket. But I mean, I've basketball has always been
a part of my life. I have a huge family
full of basketball players that have played long before I have.
So just trying to carry on the torch.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
I saw that your mom and your aunt both played
basketball in college. Have you ever watched any of their
any of their tape? Any of their highlights are gone
a little one on one as you as you learned
the game.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Uh yeah, I haven't seen my mom actually like on tape.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
But you need to look it up.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Yeah. So yeah, it's really cool just to look back
and see like the history that my family's already had
built way before. Like I said, I was playing, But yeah,
I used to play against my mom and my aunt
all the time. I can't really play one on one
against my aunt, or I never did because her knees
were so messed up. But I played against my mom
all the time. She used to be me for a
(03:17):
little bit, sure, but definitely not anymore.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
Couldn't let you in even at a young age, right right, Yeah,
So you've had you know, your grad student right now
at Kentucky, but previously started at Texas A and M.
You're at Arkansas and then with coach Pope at BYU
for two years and now here at Kentucky. You know,
as you've gone through this this basketball journey, you've experienced
a lot of different coaches, a lot of different teams.
(03:43):
But your mom playing in college and your aunt playing
in college, have they maybe just given you, whether it
be advice or been somebody to talk to as you've
kind of grown through your college experience.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Uh? Yeah, I think. I mean my mom and my
aunt have both been with me every step of the way.
They've always been in my corner. They tell me the
things I needed to hear, good or bad. I think
it's helped me a lot. And then also just I
feel like Coach Pope h pointing him out and just
(04:14):
the things that he's done for me as far as
just helping me improve as a basketball player. I think
ever since I've I've been with Coach Pope. Every year
I've grown better and better. He helps me just figure
out the things, little things that he thinks I need
to nitpick and be a little bit better at. And
I mean, I can't thank him enough for it.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
I know you've been with him for three years now,
but can you think back to maybe that first conversation
that you had with Coach Pope and okay, you remember it.
I see the smile on your face. What was that
conversation like, and maybe what stood out.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
To you in person or just like the first time
I'm actually like talked to him was on Zoom Okay,
but the first time I seen him in person, I
had no idea he was that tall actually, and I
didn't know it was him, like because like I said,
I've seen in the back of him, so I didn't
really know it was him at first. He was so
tall and he turned around and he tied to dat
me up and like, my face just went right into
(05:06):
his shoulder. So I was like, oh, wow, Okay, but
uh now he's a great guy. We've had an amazing,
amazing relationship the last three years. And like I said,
I've told people time and time again. But he took
a chance on me. So I mean that's something that
I'll never forget and I couldn't be here without him.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
You guys have gone through such a journey, right the
two years at BYU and then coming here to Kentucky.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
When what was it last spring.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
Right when you when you heard maybe the rumblings that
coach was gonna come here. I know you were testing
the NBA waters deciding whether you you wanted to go
into the NBA or whether you wanted to.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
Come back to college.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
What was that process for you to see that he
could be coming here and then that could open an
opportunity for you to now eventually play here.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Yeah, I mean it was really cool. I kept saying,
like the coaches that kept turning the job down, but
I knew Coach Pope's name was eventually going to be
thrown out there. Me and my teammates back in BYU,
we talked about it a lot. It was something that
I kind of knew was eventually going to happen. Something happened.
I was super excited for him, but at that time,
(06:10):
I was also like going through the draft process, so
I was super laser focused on that and I let
him know that I just needed some time and some
space just just to figure everything out and you know,
do it by myself. And I think that he did
a really good job of having that thin line, that
balance between like Jackson, I want you to come to school,
and also give me the space that I needed, and
(06:33):
I think that ultimately led to me wanting to come
back in some ways.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
Well, I know, Big Blue Nation did not have the
fine line of letting you chest the waters because I'm
not sure if you saw Twitter at the time, but
your name. As soon as Coach Pope accepted the job
here and began constructing the roster, I mean, Big Blue
Nation was like, we need Jackson Robinson, we need Jackson Robinson,
and it was all over.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
Did you see any of that?
Speaker 2 (06:57):
Yeah? I did for a little bit, but eventually I
had to just block it all out. I thought it
became a little bit of a distraction for me, so
decided to put it down. Especially that last day at
the deadline, it got a little crazy, so I just
had to put my phone down and figure it out
for myself.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
So that was a little test or I mean, I
guess a little glimpse into what this fan base is
like now to be I mean, I guess almost halfway
through the season to see what REP Arena can be
like to see this fan base. Did you expect it
would be to this level?
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Oh yeah, I mean as a kid, you know, everybody
looks up to Kentucky basketball, seeing all the great players,
the coaches that have come through here and just knowing
the legacy that you're you're gonna leap behind. And when
you put on that Kentucky basketball jersey. That's something that
Coach Pope always talks about. I mean, it's just crazy
to think about. I think about it every day, honestly,
(07:47):
when I walk into the practice facility and see all
the faces, just seeing Kentucky basketball on the walls, it's
really crazy. It's a dream come true. And like I said,
I'm just living out my dream. Honestly, I didn't think
i'd be here as a kid.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
When I had Coach Figer on the podcast last week,
he actually mentioned that that you take wearing Kentucky so
seriously on the front of your jersey and it's so
important to you. Do you remember the first time you
walked in and saw those faces on the walls or
saw the practice facility or walked into an empty rupp
arena just to practice in there.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
And what was that like for you? Jackson?
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Like I said, it was really cool. I've never been
to Reperena outside of just like visiting here right when
I got to campus, so just to step footing there
and then Coach Pope had showed me around, just told
me all the things that he had done when he
was back in college. I don't know, it just really
hit different just knowing Coach Pope had been here. Is
this is alma mater. Just all the players I looked
(08:43):
up to when I was a little kid. I mean,
you can't ask for anything better as a college athlete.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
Who were some of the Kentucky players?
Speaker 1 (08:52):
Maybe you remember watching as a kid or watching BArch Madness.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
Was there a specific team or specific player that you liked?
Speaker 2 (08:58):
Was it twenty fifteen twenty sixteen when Dearon Fox and
Malik Monk were together?
Speaker 1 (09:04):
So I think that was seventeen seventeen eighteen season.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
Yeah, they were quite the duo.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
I mean that was fun, favorite duo that Kentucky's had
for sure. I'm a huge Molik Funk fan League Monk fan.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
It's cool to see them with Sacramento both together and
play in the NBA.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
Yeah, it's really cool. Yeah, I'm just a huge fan
of his game. He's so smooth.
Speaker 1 (09:22):
So I think you told me this maybe before the
season started, that you've never seen.
Speaker 3 (09:27):
Coach Pope hit a jump shot. That's still true.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Yeah, No, I mean I've been with him for three years.
I've never never seen. Hell. He might like grab a
basketball and act like he is, might chow little pump fake,
but never actually release the ball.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
Really, you're serious, not in practice, not in a shoot.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
Around, nothing, ask anybody.
Speaker 3 (09:45):
Have you tried to put him on the spot.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
Uh, yeah, but he's not really, he's not going for it.
I wonder maybe Coach Figer has I don't know, I
definitely haven't.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
Okay, well, I feel like he need a video if
you eventually see him hit a jump shot, because that's
kind of crazy. You've been with him for three years.
I remember you told me that, and I think I
asked Kobe Burrea. He was like, wait, I actually haven't
seen him hit a jump shot either. Yeah, and he
almost like a light bulb blake went off in his head.
He's like, how have I never seen coach do that?
Speaker 2 (10:10):
Yeah, he I think he tries to, like I don't
know how I explained it, he tries to hide or
shine away from it. But I always think about it
because eventually I'm gonna have to see it.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
So he's very I mean, his energy is almost infectious
of what maybe fans or people see from the outside
looking in. How would you describe him as a coach
in practice? Like, is he you know, as just high energy?
Is he you know, pretty calm, cool, collected?
Speaker 3 (10:37):
How would you describe him Jackson?
Speaker 2 (10:40):
A little bit of both. I think there's like an
even balance in between both. I think it also depends
on how we're doing in practice. If we're not doing great,
he can definitely get worked up a little bit, but
usually he's pretty pretty quiet on the sidelines. He analyzes
a lot of things. He has his own notepad, he
(11:01):
writes stuff down as we're playing. That's just from me
watching him on the sidelines. But like when he he's
really great at also just pointing out things that that
us as players might not see. He'll stop the whole
practice and just even if it's just one player that
he might see that needs to fix or change something,
(11:21):
work on something, he'll stop the entire practice, go up
to him, talk to him in private, let him know,
like what he needs to do better before we continue going.
And that's something I've never seen from another coach. I
think it's really contagious every I think every player would
want to a coach like that. I love it as
a player, so I mean, can't ask for a better coach.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
All right, listen, everybody, we need to take a brief
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(12:09):
stopped by one of their seven local branches to open
an account today. That really insured by NCUA. When I
think it was a couple of weeks ago, right when
Kerr got hurt, so you were having to play a
little bit of point guard, and Coach told the story
about I think you're on.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
The road somewhere and how you're like, I'm never playing
point guard again yelling at him. I want to hear
your side of that story, Jackson.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
It's actually crazy because the person that was guarding me
that game was Otega.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
Really yeah, because he was at Oh that's so funny.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
Well, yeah, he was at Oklahoma and I was at home.
It was like my friends, my family were all there.
We had like a really slim roster. A lot of
guys were hurt and sick. We had just came. I
think we had went from West Virginia. We didn't even
go home. We went straight to Oklahoma.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
Wow, okay, and we.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
Had played that game, but Otaga was guarding me and
I had to play the one because we didn't have
our backup point guard. But he was just like dogging
me the whole game. I got super frustrated. I remember
I just ran down the sideline. I was like, Coach,
I'm I can't do it anymore. And after that, I mean,
just to have the game that had against Gonzaga playing
the one, it was it was really special. It was
(13:23):
a good, really cool moment for me and me and
Coach Pope, just after all the things we've been to three.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Together, quite a full circle moment. I mean, Coach forgot
some details there. You're you're playing at Oklahoma, you have
all your family there, Otega's on the opposite sideline. And
then right, I mean a year or so later, you're
at Gonzaga. Like you mentioned, you're playing point guard. You
guys have this incredible comeback to see the growth that
(13:50):
you've had in that time. Right to think of the
moment where you're like, coach, I'm never playing point guard again.
Then to then playing it having another top ten win,
to watch how much your game has grown. Kind of
walk us through what that was like and maybe how
you've grown to where you are now.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
Yeah, I mean, like I said, Coach Pope's so good
at just from year to year figure out the things
that you need to get better at. Him and his
staff are really huge on analytics and just like digging
through the numbers and figure out the best way for
their players to improve. And I think that just going
from this season going back to last season, there are
(14:28):
just so many things that I felt like I need
to get better at, especially after going through the draft process,
I got my feedback and just coming back to school,
Coach Pope definitely made it a priority just to make
sure that I fix those things, and I would say
halfway through the season, like I'm definitely making my way.
And I mean, like I keep saying, but you can't
(14:50):
ask for a better coach.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
And you'll play point guard if he needs you to
play point guard again? Yeah, what about Jason Hart? Did
he when you were taking over that role? What was
what was his role in helping you? Because I know
he played that position in college and you.
Speaker 3 (15:03):
Know, and then when he went on to the NBA.
Speaker 2 (15:05):
Yeah, him and Lamont just kept trying to still confidence
in me, especially throughout the game as Lama was hurt,
but just just talking to me as I came out
the game sitting on the bench and just knowing that
I had to step up. I mean, and when you're
when you're going through a game like that, there's so
many emotions going on you you don't really think about
(15:27):
like the consequence. You just kind of just do. And
I mean, I don't know, I'm just glad that it
went good. That's all I can really say.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
Do you think that having to play point guard has
helped you at the guard position? Like, look at the
game different, see the game different now a little bit.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
Yeah, I would say so, I think it is It
makes me have a lot of respect for the point
guards that do it on a day to day basis,
especially Travis Perry having to go against Laman Butler every
day in practice, but just still try. I pick up
little little bits and pieces of information that I can
from Lamont, Jay Hart, just the guys that have that
(16:06):
have done it and are really talented at it.
Speaker 3 (16:08):
I was gonna say, how hard is it to go
against Lamont in practice?
Speaker 2 (16:11):
Yeah, it's definitely not fun. We had our battles in
the summer. Luckily it's out the way.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
Likeily, luckily you're both in the starting line if you
don't have to go against it. So as as his
team's getting constructed as we're like I said, you know,
January twentieth, we're recording this podcast to see how far
this team has come since summer practices to now having
you know a handful of top ten wins, being ranked
in the top ten playing at Kentucky. What is that like?
(16:41):
What is what is the magnitude of that? Do you
guys walk into practice?
Speaker 3 (16:45):
Of course?
Speaker 1 (16:45):
You know, you know you're playing in the SEC almost
almost every night you're going to have a ranked opponent,
whether it.
Speaker 3 (16:51):
Be here, whether you're at their place.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
How is how do you how do you handle things
like that you personally and what does coach maybe say
to the team so you guys can just focus on
what you need to do and not maybe all of
the outside pressure and noise.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
Yeah, that's a good question to be honest with you.
I don't think it's something that we think about. I
think it's something that's that's constantly talked about, like to
the media, But us as a team, we're all we're
focused on after every game is just getting better, regardless
of it's a win or loss. We know that we
have to come in the next day, take care of
our bodies, get ready for practice, watch film. Coach Pope
(17:28):
has done a really good job, especially this season, of
just just letting us know, like, regardless of what the
outcome is, like, we have to get better. We're trying
to win a national championship, and we know that one game,
one loss, one win, doesn't define our season. So we
just have to keep marching forward. And I think that
that you've I mean, we've seen that throughout this season.
(17:50):
Every time that we lose or we have something that
we think that we definitely need to improve on. We've
done it every single game and I haven't been on
a team that's done something like that, So it's really
cool to be a part of it. And we have
a whole bunch of winners on this team, mich Lama Otega, Kobe,
Amari Ac, all of them. So yeah, it's a it's
a great group of guys.
Speaker 1 (18:11):
You guys have come from all over the country and
to build this chemistry that you all have. You mentioned it,
you haven't had a team like this. You've played on
a lot of basketball teams, but all of the pieces
just seem to fit together really well.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
Yeah, yeah, it's really cool. It started in the summer,
just just building those relationships. Coach Pope always talked about
during the summer, just making sure that we were spending
time together because I mean, like you said, we all
came from different places, we didn't really know each other.
So just making sure that we we spent that time
off the court to make sure that we could, you know,
(18:45):
know that we could go to war with each other
on the court. I think that was really important. I
think it's paid huge dividends throughout the season.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
And you've all gotten to experience, you know, it's coach
Pope's first year here, it's Cody Fikers, it's your whole
coaching staffs, and it's all of your our first year together.
Has that been maybe a unique experience as you experience,
whether it be a sold out crowd, whether it be
a huge on the road win, whether it be a
big blue madness kind of every step of the way.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
Yeah, I think it makes us want to go harder, honestly,
because I mean we know that regardless of what happens
the season, we're going to be putting that Kentucky basketball
history category, whether it's good or bad, and we just
want to make sure that we hold ourselves accountable to
the Kentucky standard and do what we need to do
to have a great season. And ultimately we all want
(19:32):
to do it for Coach Pope. He's such a great
guy and he puts in the hours the time to
make sure that this team is where we need to be.
And I think that every guy's definitely put in the
work and we're seeing the payoff.
Speaker 1 (19:46):
You talk about Kentucky and growing up, I mean it's
Kentucky basketball. Talked about how your mom you came from
a big basketball family. What has it been like to
watch her experience it too and become a part of
you know, big blue nation.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
Yeah, it's really cool because the other day we were
I can't remember what we were doing. I think we're
just eating dinner in my apartment or something, but we
were just watching some college basketball and it was after
we had just beaten somebody, but I just came off
of a good game, and like, we were just talking
to each other and then the TV had said something
about my name and it was on ESPN, so it
(20:21):
was just really cool. We both turned around and looked
at each other like, oh, that's that's me on TV. Yeah,
So just like little moments like that, it's really cool,
especially know where we came from. She started out as
a single mother, so it's just been me and her
throughout a lot of a lot of my life, and
it's really cool just to be able to share a
lot of special.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
Moments with her and she gets to sit and reporena
and experience it and.
Speaker 3 (20:44):
Watch you live in action.
Speaker 1 (20:46):
I think that's a cool moment that you just told
her you guys were just eating dinner or whatever, and
you turn around and you're.
Speaker 3 (20:50):
Like, wait a minute, Yeah, that's pretty cool. Jackson.
Speaker 1 (20:54):
Okay, I know I mentioned to you this. I mentioned
this before. I know you have a dog. Tell me
about when you got this dog. How long have you
had them? Name and everything.
Speaker 2 (21:05):
Yeah, his name is Astro. He's like a year and
nine months. He's about to be two years old. He's
a German Shepherd. I got him back in Oklahoma two
summers ago, after my first year at YU. I just
felt like after my first year, I had some struggles
mentally just being away from home. It wasn't my first
(21:26):
time being away from home, but it was probably the
farthest I've been. Didn't really have very many friends, like
outside of school except for my teammates and coaches. I
was just bored a lot. So I just decided to
get a dog and see how it went. My parents
definitely didn't think it was a great idea, but we
get it probably, But no, it was a really good
(21:49):
choice for me. Honestly, I think he's helped me a lot,
whether I have a bad game a good game. Just
being able to come home to Astro and know that
he loves me regardless of what ever happened on the
basketball court or that day in general, just puts a
smile on my face. He's always happy to see me.
We have a great relationship, even though he can be
(22:10):
a little annoying sometimes.
Speaker 1 (22:11):
But all dogs can, right, So I was raising.
Speaker 3 (22:15):
A dog while you were a college basketball player.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
To be honest, Since I got him in the summer,
it wasn't too hard. I had like workouts in the summer,
but I'd come home and I'd have a lot more
time to just be with him and take care of him.
But as he got older, it just became a lot easier. So,
especially like right now, it's not that hard. And I
have people that can help take care of him and
(22:39):
look out for him, so it's really easy.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
Did you road trip with him from BYU to hear No, No,
I didn't have. I was gonna say now that would
be yeah, that would be at Fonday.
Speaker 2 (22:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:52):
Well, Jackson, thank you so much for hopping on the
podcast today. We appreciate you coming on and look.
Speaker 3 (22:57):
Forward to seeing you for the rest of the year
and go getting number nine.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
Thank you appreciate it well.
Speaker 3 (23:02):
Jackson Robinson.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
This is Behind Kentucky Basketball presented by UK Federal Credit Unit.
Speaker 3 (23:06):
We'll see you next week.
You guys have come from all over the country and
to build this chemistry that you all have. You mentioned it,
you haven't had a team like this. You've played on
a lot of basketball teams, but all of the pieces
just seem to fit together really well.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Yeah, yeah, it's really cool. It started in the summer,
just building those relationships. Coach Pope always talked about during
the summer, just making sure that we were spending time
together because I mean, like you said, we all came
from different places, we didn't really know each other. So
just making sure that we spent that time off the
court to make sure that we could, you know, know
(00:35):
that we could go to war with each other on
the court. I think that was really important. I think
it's paid huge dividends throughout the season.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
You talk about Kentucky and growing up, I mean it's
Kentucky basketball. Talked about how your mom became from a
big basketball family. What has it been like to watch
her experience it too and become a part of you know,
big Blue Nation.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Yeah, it's really cool because the other day we were
I can't remember what we were doing. I think we're
just eating dinner in my apartment or something, but we
were just watching some college basketball and it was after
we had just being somebody but I just came off
of a good game and like we were just talking
to each other and then the TV had said something
about my name and it was on ESPN, So it
(01:16):
was just really cool. We both turned around and looked
at each other like, oh, that's that's me on TV. Yeah,
So just like little moments like that, it's really cool,
especially know where we came from. She started out as
a single brother, so it's just been me and her
throughout a lot of a lot of my life and
it's really cool just to be able to share a
lot of special moments with her.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
Welcome into another episode of Behind Kentucky Basketball, presented by
UK Federal Credit Union. I'm your host from Shanknswick and
this week joined by Jackson Robinson.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
Jacks. Thanks for Robin today of course having me.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
Well, Jackson, I think we're gonna just like run it
all the way back to the beginning. We're going to
talk about, you know, how basketball, how you got to
where you are now going to talk a little non
basketball stuff, but let's just first start with like how
old were you when you started playing basketball?
Speaker 3 (02:13):
And maybe like, what age.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
Did you realize, Okay, this is something that I can
pursue and become great at.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
I mean, I think the first time I picked up
a basketball was when I was like three. My mom said,
I used to just I had like a little mini
hoop and she buy it from me when I was
around that age, and she used to always show on
the basket. But I mean, I've basketball has always been
a part of my life. I have a huge family
full of basketball players that have played long before I have.
So just trying to carry on the torch.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
I saw that your mom and your aunt both played
basketball in college. Have you ever watched any of their
any of their tape? Any of their highlights are gone
a little one on one as you as you learned
the game.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Uh yeah, I haven't seen my mom actually like on tape.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
But you need to look it up.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Yeah. So yeah, it's really cool just to look back
and see like the history that my family's already had
built way before. Like I said, I was playing, But yeah,
I used to play against my mom and my aunt
all the time. I can't really play one on one
against my aunt, or I never did because her knees
were so messed up. But I played against my mom
all the time. She used to be me for a
(03:17):
little bit, sure, but definitely not anymore.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
Couldn't let you in even at a young age, right right, Yeah,
So you've had you know, your grad student right now
at Kentucky, but previously started at Texas A and M.
You're at Arkansas and then with coach Pope at BYU
for two years and now here at Kentucky. You know,
as you've gone through this this basketball journey, you've experienced
a lot of different coaches, a lot of different teams.
(03:43):
But your mom playing in college and your aunt playing
in college, have they maybe just given you, whether it
be advice or been somebody to talk to as you've
kind of grown through your college experience.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Uh? Yeah, I think. I mean my mom and my
aunt have both been with me every step of the way.
They've always been in my corner. They tell me the
things I needed to hear, good or bad. I think
it's helped me a lot. And then also just I
feel like Coach Pope h pointing him out and just
(04:14):
the things that he's done for me as far as
just helping me improve as a basketball player. I think
ever since I've I've been with Coach Pope. Every year
I've grown better and better. He helps me just figure
out the things, little things that he thinks I need
to nitpick and be a little bit better at. And
I mean, I can't thank him enough for it.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
I know you've been with him for three years now,
but can you think back to maybe that first conversation
that you had with Coach Pope and okay, you remember it.
I see the smile on your face. What was that
conversation like, and maybe what stood out.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
To you in person or just like the first time
I'm actually like talked to him was on Zoom Okay,
but the first time I seen him in person, I
had no idea he was that tall actually, and I
didn't know it was him, like because like I said,
I've seen in the back of him, so I didn't
really know it was him at first. He was so
tall and he turned around and he tied to dat
me up and like, my face just went right into
(05:06):
his shoulder. So I was like, oh, wow, Okay, but
uh now he's a great guy. We've had an amazing,
amazing relationship the last three years. And like I said,
I've told people time and time again. But he took
a chance on me. So I mean that's something that
I'll never forget and I couldn't be here without him.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
You guys have gone through such a journey, right the
two years at BYU and then coming here to Kentucky.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
When what was it last spring.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
Right when you when you heard maybe the rumblings that
coach was gonna come here. I know you were testing
the NBA waters deciding whether you you wanted to go
into the NBA or whether you wanted to.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
Come back to college.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
What was that process for you to see that he
could be coming here and then that could open an
opportunity for you to now eventually play here.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Yeah, I mean it was really cool. I kept saying,
like the coaches that kept turning the job down, but
I knew Coach Pope's name was eventually going to be
thrown out there. Me and my teammates back in BYU,
we talked about it a lot. It was something that
I kind of knew was eventually going to happen. Something happened.
I was super excited for him, but at that time,
(06:10):
I was also like going through the draft process, so
I was super laser focused on that and I let
him know that I just needed some time and some
space just just to figure everything out and you know,
do it by myself. And I think that he did
a really good job of having that thin line, that
balance between like Jackson, I want you to come to school,
and also give me the space that I needed, and
(06:33):
I think that ultimately led to me wanting to come
back in some ways.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
Well, I know, Big Blue Nation did not have the
fine line of letting you chest the waters because I'm
not sure if you saw Twitter at the time, but
your name. As soon as Coach Pope accepted the job
here and began constructing the roster, I mean, Big Blue
Nation was like, we need Jackson Robinson, we need Jackson Robinson,
and it was all over.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
Did you see any of that?
Speaker 2 (06:57):
Yeah? I did for a little bit, but eventually I
had to just block it all out. I thought it
became a little bit of a distraction for me, so
decided to put it down. Especially that last day at
the deadline, it got a little crazy, so I just
had to put my phone down and figure it out
for myself.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
So that was a little test or I mean, I
guess a little glimpse into what this fan base is
like now to be I mean, I guess almost halfway
through the season to see what REP Arena can be
like to see this fan base. Did you expect it
would be to this level?
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Oh yeah, I mean as a kid, you know, everybody
looks up to Kentucky basketball, seeing all the great players,
the coaches that have come through here and just knowing
the legacy that you're you're gonna leap behind. And when
you put on that Kentucky basketball jersey. That's something that
Coach Pope always talks about. I mean, it's just crazy
to think about. I think about it every day, honestly,
(07:47):
when I walk into the practice facility and see all
the faces, just seeing Kentucky basketball on the walls, it's
really crazy. It's a dream come true. And like I said,
I'm just living out my dream. Honestly, I didn't think
i'd be here as a kid.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
When I had Coach Figer on the podcast last week,
he actually mentioned that that you take wearing Kentucky so
seriously on the front of your jersey and it's so
important to you. Do you remember the first time you
walked in and saw those faces on the walls or
saw the practice facility or walked into an empty rupp
arena just to practice in there.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
And what was that like for you? Jackson?
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Like I said, it was really cool. I've never been
to Reperena outside of just like visiting here right when
I got to campus, so just to step footing there
and then Coach Pope had showed me around, just told
me all the things that he had done when he
was back in college. I don't know, it just really
hit different just knowing Coach Pope had been here. Is
this is alma mater. Just all the players I looked
(08:43):
up to when I was a little kid. I mean,
you can't ask for anything better as a college athlete.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
Who were some of the Kentucky players?
Speaker 1 (08:52):
Maybe you remember watching as a kid or watching BArch Madness.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
Was there a specific team or specific player that you liked?
Speaker 2 (08:58):
Was it twenty fifteen twenty sixteen when Dearon Fox and
Malik Monk were together?
Speaker 1 (09:04):
So I think that was seventeen seventeen eighteen season.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
Yeah, they were quite the duo.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
I mean that was fun, favorite duo that Kentucky's had
for sure. I'm a huge Molik Funk fan League Monk fan.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
It's cool to see them with Sacramento both together and
play in the NBA.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
Yeah, it's really cool. Yeah, I'm just a huge fan
of his game. He's so smooth.
Speaker 1 (09:22):
So I think you told me this maybe before the
season started, that you've never seen.
Speaker 3 (09:27):
Coach Pope hit a jump shot. That's still true.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Yeah, No, I mean I've been with him for three years.
I've never never seen. Hell. He might like grab a
basketball and act like he is, might chow little pump fake,
but never actually release the ball.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
Really, you're serious, not in practice, not in a shoot.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
Around, nothing, ask anybody.
Speaker 3 (09:45):
Have you tried to put him on the spot.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
Uh, yeah, but he's not really, he's not going for it.
I wonder maybe Coach Figer has I don't know, I
definitely haven't.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
Okay, well, I feel like he need a video if
you eventually see him hit a jump shot, because that's
kind of crazy. You've been with him for three years.
I remember you told me that, and I think I
asked Kobe Burrea. He was like, wait, I actually haven't
seen him hit a jump shot either. Yeah, and he
almost like a light bulb blake went off in his head.
He's like, how have I never seen coach do that?
Speaker 2 (10:10):
Yeah, he I think he tries to, like I don't
know how I explained it, he tries to hide or
shine away from it. But I always think about it
because eventually I'm gonna have to see it.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
So he's very I mean, his energy is almost infectious
of what maybe fans or people see from the outside
looking in. How would you describe him as a coach
in practice? Like, is he you know, as just high energy?
Is he you know, pretty calm, cool, collected?
Speaker 3 (10:37):
How would you describe him Jackson?
Speaker 2 (10:40):
A little bit of both. I think there's like an
even balance in between both. I think it also depends
on how we're doing in practice. If we're not doing great,
he can definitely get worked up a little bit, but
usually he's pretty pretty quiet on the sidelines. He analyzes
a lot of things. He has his own notepad, he
(11:01):
writes stuff down as we're playing. That's just from me
watching him on the sidelines. But like when he he's
really great at also just pointing out things that that
us as players might not see. He'll stop the whole
practice and just even if it's just one player that
he might see that needs to fix or change something,
(11:21):
work on something, he'll stop the entire practice, go up
to him, talk to him in private, let him know,
like what he needs to do better before we continue going.
And that's something I've never seen from another coach. I
think it's really contagious every I think every player would
want to a coach like that. I love it as
a player, so I mean, can't ask for a better coach.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
All right, listen, everybody, we need to take a brief
moment to think. Our podcast sponsor uk Federal Credit Union
as the official credit union of the University of Kentucky.
UKFCU understands that students need support, and that's why they've
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(12:09):
stopped by one of their seven local branches to open
an account today. That really insured by NCUA. When I
think it was a couple of weeks ago, right when
Kerr got hurt, so you were having to play a
little bit of point guard, and Coach told the story
about I think you're on.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
The road somewhere and how you're like, I'm never playing
point guard again yelling at him. I want to hear
your side of that story, Jackson.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
It's actually crazy because the person that was guarding me
that game was Otega.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
Really yeah, because he was at Oh that's so funny.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
Well, yeah, he was at Oklahoma and I was at home.
It was like my friends, my family were all there.
We had like a really slim roster. A lot of
guys were hurt and sick. We had just came. I
think we had went from West Virginia. We didn't even
go home. We went straight to Oklahoma.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
Wow, okay, and we.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
Had played that game, but Otaga was guarding me and
I had to play the one because we didn't have
our backup point guard. But he was just like dogging
me the whole game. I got super frustrated. I remember
I just ran down the sideline. I was like, Coach,
I'm I can't do it anymore. And after that, I mean,
just to have the game that had against Gonzaga playing
the one, it was it was really special. It was
(13:23):
a good, really cool moment for me and me and
Coach Pope, just after all the things we've been to three.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Together, quite a full circle moment. I mean, Coach forgot
some details there. You're you're playing at Oklahoma, you have
all your family there, Otega's on the opposite sideline. And
then right, I mean a year or so later, you're
at Gonzaga. Like you mentioned, you're playing point guard. You
guys have this incredible comeback to see the growth that
(13:50):
you've had in that time. Right to think of the
moment where you're like, coach, I'm never playing point guard again.
Then to then playing it having another top ten win,
to watch how much your game has grown. Kind of
walk us through what that was like and maybe how
you've grown to where you are now.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
Yeah, I mean, like I said, Coach Pope's so good
at just from year to year figure out the things
that you need to get better at. Him and his
staff are really huge on analytics and just like digging
through the numbers and figure out the best way for
their players to improve. And I think that just going
from this season going back to last season, there are
(14:28):
just so many things that I felt like I need
to get better at, especially after going through the draft process,
I got my feedback and just coming back to school,
Coach Pope definitely made it a priority just to make
sure that I fix those things, and I would say
halfway through the season, like I'm definitely making my way.
And I mean, like I keep saying, but you can't
(14:50):
ask for a better coach.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
And you'll play point guard if he needs you to
play point guard again? Yeah, what about Jason Hart? Did
he when you were taking over that role? What was
what was his role in helping you? Because I know
he played that position in college and you.
Speaker 3 (15:03):
Know, and then when he went on to the NBA.
Speaker 2 (15:05):
Yeah, him and Lamont just kept trying to still confidence
in me, especially throughout the game as Lama was hurt,
but just just talking to me as I came out
the game sitting on the bench and just knowing that
I had to step up. I mean, and when you're
when you're going through a game like that, there's so
many emotions going on you you don't really think about
(15:27):
like the consequence. You just kind of just do. And
I mean, I don't know, I'm just glad that it
went good. That's all I can really say.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
Do you think that having to play point guard has
helped you at the guard position? Like, look at the
game different, see the game different now a little bit.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
Yeah, I would say so, I think it is It
makes me have a lot of respect for the point
guards that do it on a day to day basis,
especially Travis Perry having to go against Laman Butler every
day in practice, but just still try. I pick up
little little bits and pieces of information that I can
from Lamont, Jay Hart, just the guys that have that
(16:06):
have done it and are really talented at it.
Speaker 3 (16:08):
I was gonna say, how hard is it to go
against Lamont in practice?
Speaker 2 (16:11):
Yeah, it's definitely not fun. We had our battles in
the summer. Luckily it's out the way.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
Likeily, luckily you're both in the starting line if you
don't have to go against it. So as as his
team's getting constructed as we're like I said, you know,
January twentieth, we're recording this podcast to see how far
this team has come since summer practices to now having
you know a handful of top ten wins, being ranked
in the top ten playing at Kentucky. What is that like?
(16:41):
What is what is the magnitude of that? Do you
guys walk into practice?
Speaker 3 (16:45):
Of course?
Speaker 1 (16:45):
You know, you know you're playing in the SEC almost
almost every night you're going to have a ranked opponent,
whether it.
Speaker 3 (16:51):
Be here, whether you're at their place.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
How is how do you how do you handle things
like that you personally and what does coach maybe say
to the team so you guys can just focus on
what you need to do and not maybe all of
the outside pressure and noise.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
Yeah, that's a good question to be honest with you.
I don't think it's something that we think about. I
think it's something that's that's constantly talked about, like to
the media, But us as a team, we're all we're
focused on after every game is just getting better, regardless
of it's a win or loss. We know that we
have to come in the next day, take care of
our bodies, get ready for practice, watch film. Coach Pope
(17:28):
has done a really good job, especially this season, of
just just letting us know, like, regardless of what the
outcome is, like, we have to get better. We're trying
to win a national championship, and we know that one game,
one loss, one win, doesn't define our season. So we
just have to keep marching forward. And I think that
that you've I mean, we've seen that throughout this season.
(17:50):
Every time that we lose or we have something that
we think that we definitely need to improve on. We've
done it every single game and I haven't been on
a team that's done something like that, So it's really
cool to be a part of it. And we have
a whole bunch of winners on this team, mich Lama Otega, Kobe,
Amari Ac, all of them. So yeah, it's a it's
a great group of guys.
Speaker 1 (18:11):
You guys have come from all over the country and
to build this chemistry that you all have. You mentioned it,
you haven't had a team like this. You've played on
a lot of basketball teams, but all of the pieces
just seem to fit together really well.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
Yeah, yeah, it's really cool. It started in the summer,
just just building those relationships. Coach Pope always talked about
during the summer, just making sure that we were spending
time together because I mean, like you said, we all
came from different places, we didn't really know each other.
So just making sure that we we spent that time
off the court to make sure that we could, you know,
(18:45):
know that we could go to war with each other
on the court. I think that was really important. I
think it's paid huge dividends throughout the season.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
And you've all gotten to experience, you know, it's coach
Pope's first year here, it's Cody Fikers, it's your whole
coaching staffs, and it's all of your our first year together.
Has that been maybe a unique experience as you experience,
whether it be a sold out crowd, whether it be
a huge on the road win, whether it be a
big blue madness kind of every step of the way.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
Yeah, I think it makes us want to go harder, honestly,
because I mean we know that regardless of what happens
the season, we're going to be putting that Kentucky basketball
history category, whether it's good or bad, and we just
want to make sure that we hold ourselves accountable to
the Kentucky standard and do what we need to do
to have a great season. And ultimately we all want
(19:32):
to do it for Coach Pope. He's such a great
guy and he puts in the hours the time to
make sure that this team is where we need to be.
And I think that every guy's definitely put in the
work and we're seeing the payoff.
Speaker 1 (19:46):
You talk about Kentucky and growing up, I mean it's
Kentucky basketball. Talked about how your mom you came from
a big basketball family. What has it been like to
watch her experience it too and become a part of
you know, big blue nation.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
Yeah, it's really cool because the other day we were
I can't remember what we were doing. I think we're
just eating dinner in my apartment or something, but we
were just watching some college basketball and it was after
we had just beaten somebody, but I just came off
of a good game, and like, we were just talking
to each other and then the TV had said something
about my name and it was on ESPN, so it
(20:21):
was just really cool. We both turned around and looked
at each other like, oh, that's that's me on TV. Yeah,
So just like little moments like that, it's really cool,
especially know where we came from. She started out as
a single mother, so it's just been me and her
throughout a lot of a lot of my life, and
it's really cool just to be able to share a
lot of special.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
Moments with her and she gets to sit and reporena
and experience it and.
Speaker 3 (20:44):
Watch you live in action.
Speaker 1 (20:46):
I think that's a cool moment that you just told
her you guys were just eating dinner or whatever, and
you turn around and you're.
Speaker 3 (20:50):
Like, wait a minute, Yeah, that's pretty cool. Jackson.
Speaker 1 (20:54):
Okay, I know I mentioned to you this. I mentioned
this before. I know you have a dog. Tell me
about when you got this dog. How long have you
had them? Name and everything.
Speaker 2 (21:05):
Yeah, his name is Astro. He's like a year and
nine months. He's about to be two years old. He's
a German Shepherd. I got him back in Oklahoma two
summers ago, after my first year at YU. I just
felt like after my first year, I had some struggles
mentally just being away from home. It wasn't my first
(21:26):
time being away from home, but it was probably the
farthest I've been. Didn't really have very many friends, like
outside of school except for my teammates and coaches. I
was just bored a lot. So I just decided to
get a dog and see how it went. My parents
definitely didn't think it was a great idea, but we
get it probably, But no, it was a really good
(21:49):
choice for me. Honestly, I think he's helped me a lot,
whether I have a bad game a good game. Just
being able to come home to Astro and know that
he loves me regardless of what ever happened on the
basketball court or that day in general, just puts a
smile on my face. He's always happy to see me.
We have a great relationship, even though he can be
(22:10):
a little annoying sometimes.
Speaker 1 (22:11):
But all dogs can, right, So I was raising.
Speaker 3 (22:15):
A dog while you were a college basketball player.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
To be honest, Since I got him in the summer,
it wasn't too hard. I had like workouts in the summer,
but I'd come home and I'd have a lot more
time to just be with him and take care of him.
But as he got older, it just became a lot easier. So,
especially like right now, it's not that hard. And I
have people that can help take care of him and
(22:39):
look out for him, so it's really easy.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
Did you road trip with him from BYU to hear No, No,
I didn't have. I was gonna say now that would
be yeah, that would be at Fonday.
Speaker 2 (22:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:52):
Well, Jackson, thank you so much for hopping on the
podcast today. We appreciate you coming on and look.
Speaker 3 (22:57):
Forward to seeing you for the rest of the year
and go getting number nine.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
Thank you appreciate it well.
Speaker 3 (23:02):
Jackson Robinson.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
This is Behind Kentucky Basketball presented by UK Federal Credit Unit.
Speaker 3 (23:06):
We'll see you next week.
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Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.