Angel Robinson's former high school coach at St. Paul Central is convinced she will become a productive WNBA player.
"It might take a while," Willie Taylor said, "but if Angel plays a few games, she could have a big role."
That's a key if. As a rookie with the Lynx, the 5-8 point guard needs to make a favorable impression in training camp.
Robinson will play in her first exhibition game as a pro at noon Tuesday, against Indiana at the Gangelhoff Center on the campus of Concordia University in St. Paul. That's only a few blocks west on Marshall Avenue from Central.
"Our whole community is excited," Taylor said.
Especially Robinson's family. All eight of her brothers and sisters will be there to watch Robinson battle for one of the last available spots on the Lynx. "She is the oldest of the bottom four," said John Robinson, her father.
The Lynx obtained negotiating rights to Robinson on draft day, April 6. They traded the No. 13 overall pick (North Carolina forward Jessica Breland) to New York for Robinson and a second-round pick next year. The Liberty had taken her with the No. 22 pick overall late in the second round.
"It's a great opportunity to be back home," Robinson said. "It really feels good. I am here training with the best players around the world."
Five Lynx teammates, including point guard Lindsay Whalen, are in the pool of players bidding for spots on the U.S. women's national team.
Robinson and Alexis Hornbuckle, a three-year WNBA veteran, both hope to back up Whalen. The Lynx have to trim their 14-player roster to 11 before their season opener June 3 at Los Angeles.
"Angel is extremely competitive," Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said. "I like how physical she is and I also like her willingness to learn. I have done a fair amount of instruction with her and I don't have to repeat myself."
Robinson has been around basketball -- and other sports -- all her life. She watched her father and her oldest brother, John Jr., play a lot as a youngster.
"I used to work third shift, so I watched [Angel] during the day," said John Robinson, who took her along when he played pickup basketball around St. Paul.
John Jr., whom Angel is staying with during Lynx camp, played football at St. Paul Johnson and Concordia. By age 10, Angel was the quarterback on the football team that her father coached. She was a catcher on a 14-and-under baseball team. She also played soccer. And, of course, she played basketball, on boys' teams until girls became ineligible on traveling teams.
"I always say to her, 'Basketball is played above the eyeballs,' " said John Robinson, the St. Paul Como Park girls' basketball coach. "Someone can be more athletic than you, but those that understand the game better, they excel."
As a high school senior, Robinson led Central to a 32-0 record and the Class 4A state title in 2007.
"Angel is one of those players who, if you need a steal, she will get a steal," Taylor said. "If you need a shot blocked, she will get a block."
Robinson went away to Milwaukee for college, at Marquette. She played in a school-record 134 games -- 132 as a starter -- and became the first Golden Eagles player with more than 1,500 career points, 500 rebounds, 500 assists and 250 steals.
"I could bring some good things to [the Lynx]," Angel Robinson said. "I am going to just keep fighting throughout training camp and earn a spot."
Actually, another rookie guard and Minnesota native is in a similar situation. Kachine Alexander, a former Benilde-St. Margaret's star, was a Lynx third-round pick.
Reeve said she spoke at the banquet before the Minnesota State High School League girls' basketball state tournament this year and promised the Lynx would draft Alexander.
"It lucked out for us," Reeve said. "Not only did we get Kachine, we got Angel Robinson."
Now, will they keep her?
