Delaware State glad that Robinson decided to stick around

DOVER — Martaz Robinson said he never entered the NCAA transfer portal.

The Delaware State University basketball standout said he never even really thought about it.

But that didn’t stop Robinson’s name from appearing on some online lists as having left the Hornets.

“I feel like this is a second family away from home,” he said. “I feel like I have father figures as coaches. I have mentors and I have a lot of brothers here.

“I’ve been here for a long time. I’m comfortable. ... I just think this is the best for me.”

Sure enough, contrary to the reports, Robinson is still in Dover this week with the Hornets in the midst of their summer practice session.

Robinson’s decision to stay was certainly good news for DelState coach Stan Waterman.

After reaching the MEAC Tournament finals last March, the Hornets lost five players to the portal. Three of those departures were players who started in the MEAC title game.

So you can’t blame Waterman if he was a little concerned when he started hearing reports that Robinson was leaving, as well.

“I was trusting in what he was saying,” said Waterman. “He hadn’t officially entered the portal but there were media reports out there that are saying he’s in the portal.

“You always say ‘Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.’ Is there something he’s just not telling us? Is it just going to pop up and he’s going to announce that he’s leaving?

“It was really hard to plan and prepare. But I took him at his word and he said he wanted to be here. We were still holding our breath, though, until the portal closed in May.”

The fact is, over 2,000 players put their names in the transfer portal this spring. A small school like DSU losing some of its top players isn’t a surprise right now.

The Hornets lost Deywilk Tavarez (Charleston), Jevin Muniz (Florida Gulf Coast) and Wesley Oba (Missouri State) to bigger programs.

“It’s tough,” said Waterman. “When the news first broke about some of the guys getting into the portal, I was taking it a little bit personally and wondering if there’s something that we’re not doing right.

“But it’s the name of the game right now. Almost every program in the country is experiencing high turnover and a number of guys who are entering the portal.

“You just kind of learn that the door kind of swings both ways. If guys are leaving, it’s an opportunity for guys to come in. We’re happy with the guys we brought in.”

DelState has added twin brothers, Kaseem and Kareem Watson, from Cal State Bakersfield. The 6-foot-7 shooting guards are originally from Philadelphia.

Waterman also signed Robert Smith, who averaged 17.2 points at NCAA Division II West Chester last season, along with a pair of high school recruits in point guard P.J. James and shooting guard John Clemmons.

Still, keeping Robinson on the squad was huge for the Hornets.

The 6-foot-2 guard has started in 80 of his 86 games at DSU and is a 1,000-point scorer. He’s averaging 12.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists for his career.

That’s a lot of experience to still have for a rebuilding squad. Robinson has actually been at DSU a season longer than Waterman.

“He’s the elder statesman,” said Waterman. “He’s been here as long as anybody else has. ... There’s something about him that’s just a stabilizing force for us and something for us to build around.”

A first-team All-MEAC selection last winter when he averaged 15.9 points per game, Robinson knows he needs to be more of a vocal leader this season.

But he also says that this group is starting to fit together very quickly.

“We’re building great team chemistry, a great bond,” said Robinson. “We’ve only been here for a week and I feel like we’re close already.

“Before last year, everybody was just happy to be here. But they’ve seen us a game away from March Madness. That’s everybody’s goal this year, I feel like.”

Even with the departures, Robinson believes the Hornets can build off last season’s momentum. .Sixth-seeded DelState upset both the No. 2 and 3 seeds in the MEAC Tournament.

It was the first time the Hornets reached the league finals since 2015.

“Seeing that we could really do it, when nobody thought we could except for us and the coaching staff, I feel like that was a plus for us,” said Robinson. “I feel like that’s everybody’s goal. They (the newcomers) come to us and say they want to be a part of that.

“It’s a little difficult,” he said about players leaving. “But you’ve still got to push at the end of the day. In college basketball, people are going to come and go. I’ve had a lot of friends that I’ve played with here at DSU that are not here. I wish the best for all of them and I would love them to be here. But you just get used to it. There’s no love lost.”