Basic HTML Version
Campus Review
July 3, 2013
Editor:
John Shiffert
Writers:
Erin Fender
Ciji Fox
Lauren Graves
Samantha Watson
Layout:
Lauren Graves
Photography: Erin Fender
Ciji Fox
Graphic Design: Lauren Graves
Robinson Signs Contract in Germany’s Pro A Division
by Gid Rowell, Athletics
Two seasons removed from anAll-American
hoops season at Clayton State University,
former Laker Brandon Robinson continues
his ascension in ranks of professional basket-
ball.
Robinson recently signed his first European
contract, a one-year deal with BV Chemnitz
99 of Germany’s ProAdivision. A6-6 small
forward, Robinson starred the last two sea-
sons in the National Basketball League of
Canada (NBLC).
“I have learned a lot playing in the National
Basketball League of Canada the past two
seasons, and have nothing but respect for the
Summerside Storm organization,” said
Robinson. “Now, I am ready to take my
career to the next level and could not be
more excited to join my new teammates and
coaches in Chemnitz.”
In 2011/12, Robinson led the NBLC in scor-
ing at 19.9 points per game while playing for
the Oshawa Power. In 2012-13, he increased
his scoring average to 22.8 points per game
as a member of the Summerside Storm,
while adding 7.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and
1.6 steals. He was voted All NBLC First
Team, a NBLC All Star Game Starter, and
the NBLC Forward of The Year.
At Clayton State, Robinson led the Peach
Belt Conference in scoring in 2010/11 aver-
aging 20 points a game. He became only the
second player in the history of the Laker
men’s basketball to garner All-American
honors, joining former Laker great Robert
Conley, who was an All-American selection
in 1999.
A native of Lake Wales, Fla., Robinson led
the team to a 19-10 overall record and scored
in double figures in every game his senior
season. Three times, he scored 30 or more
points, including his career-high 31 points
twice, once against St. Augustine’s and once
against Georgia Southwestern in the Peach
Belt Conference Tournament.
Robinson also had 12 more games of scoring
20 or more points and recorded three double-
doubles. In addition to leading the confer-
ence in scoring, he was ninth in the confer-
ence in steals and 10th in free throw percent-
age (81 percent). Robinson came up only 10
points shy of reaching 1,000 for his Laker
career.
Robinson graduated from Lake Wales High
School in Florida before beginning his col-
lege basketball career at Seminole
Community College.
Coach Toro to Run in Peachtree Road Race for 42nd Straight Time
On July 4 some 60,000 people will partici-
pate in the 44th running of the Peachtree
Road Race, and one Clayton State coach has
run in every race except the first two.
Assistant Clayton State cross country and
track and field coach Hugh Toro will run
Thursday for the 42nd straight time in the
Peachtree Road Race, which is the world’s
largest 10K race. The event, which has
become a Fourth of July tradition for the City
of Atlanta, will begin around 7 a.m.
“I’m looking forward to running in it again,”
said Toro. “The hardest thing nowadays is
getting to the race and leaving from it. I
remember my first one in 1972 there were
probably only 200 runners and now there are
thousands.”
According to unofficial records, only one
person has run in the more Peachtree Road
Races than Toro. Landmark Christian High
School cross country and track and field
coach Bill Thorn has run in every one of the
races, beginning in 1970.
“I think that I have about 10 more in me,”
said Toro. “Coach (Bill) Thorn tells me I’m
the next person behind him and that I got to
keep going.”
Toro, a long-time runner and coach in the
Southern Crescent, began running in the race
in 1972 when he moved to Clayton County
from Puerto Rico. Growing up in a military
family, he started his running career when
his parents moved to Fort Gillem in Forest
Park that same year.
“I used to hate running back in Puerto Rico.
I was more into playing team sports like bas-
ketball, baseball and football,” said Toro.
“Captain Higgs at Fort Gillem encouraged
me to start running, telling me it was my best
chance for a college scholarship. I took his
advice and ended up walking on at West
Georgia before earning a cross country/track
scholarship there.”
During the late 1970s and early 1980s
when Toro ran competitively, he finished
in the top-100 several times in the race
that had already grown to several thou-
sand competitors. He remembers some of
greats of that era in Lasse Virén, who won
four Olympic gold medals in the 1972 and
1976 Olympics, and Craig Virgin, who
won the Peachtree event on multiple occa-
sions.
Toro will be entering his 19th season coach-
ing at Clayton State and also coached sever-
al years at the high school level in Clayton
County. He served as the high school cross
country and track and field coach at Morrow,
Forest Park and Riverdale High Schools. He
retired in 2011 after 32 years as a physical
education teacher in the Clayton County and
Henry County School systems.
Sports
Page 14
Campus Review
July 3, 2013