Thegatewaynews.com - Streetsboro grad leads Urbana to stellar year

RPC Photo / Steph Krell Streetsboro graduate Robert Wilson, left, relaxes with Niko Withers and Leon Hedgepeth during a Streetsboro basketball camp last month at Streetsboro Middle School. Wilson, who served as a camp assistant, is coming off a stellar freshman season at Urbana University. He averaged 14.8 points and 8.8 rebounds per game at Urbana, earning NCAA Division II All-Independent Freshman of the Year honors.

by Frank Aceto

Associate Sports Editor

Robert Wilson had a knack for dominating the opposition during his days at Streetsboro High School.

Amazingly, that hasn't changed at all despite playing against much tougher opponents.

Wilson, 18, completed a stellar freshman season with the Urbana University men's basketball team. The 2009 Streetsboro graduate led the Blue Knights to a 14-13 record, clinching the program's first winning season in 13 years.

He was named the NCAA Division II All-Independent Freshman of the Year and also was a first-team selection.

Wilson started every game and averaged 14.8 points and 8.8 rebounds per game, including 19.0 points during the team's final nine contests.

He also had a team-high nine double-doubles and finished second on the team in assists, steals, blocked shots and three-point accuracy.

And the frightening thing is this: Wilson, who owns a number of school records at Streetsboro, is still developing as a college player.

"You could tell he was a player," Urbana head coach Jeff Porter said. "We could see he was something special right away."

The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Wilson, who is majoring in criminal justice, played the power forward position for Urbana. He may play a wing position in the future.

And that future may go beyond the collegiate level.

"Next year, I think my coach will move me out and try to make me become more of a pure shooter," Wilson said. "I think that will help me because I have some contacts that could lead me to a career overseas or in a semi-pro league after I graduate."

At Streetsboro, Wilson played in the post and used his size and strength to overpower his opponents.

Wilson played more on the perimeter at Urbana. There were times when Wilson had to guard and was guarded by much bigger opponents. He used that to his advantage.

"I knew I had to guard bigger opponents, but I also knew they had to guard me," Wilson said. "There were times when I knew I had a quickness advantage. Since I got double-teamed so much in high school, it was a lot easier for me at Urbana."

Wilson used his slashing abilities to get most of his points.

"He drove the middle really well," Porter said. "He stretched our defense out and runs the floor very well. The great thing is his motor. He never stops. He's go, go go all the time."

Wilson showed a soft touch from the outside, too. He drained five three-pointers during one game and is expected to do more perimeter shooting in the future.

In other words, if Wilson continues to progress, you could be watching one of the best Division II players in the country down the road.

"I would like to be an All-American," he said.

Don't bet against him. His coach certainly won't.

"The world is at his feet," Porter said.

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