Senior forward Amari Robinson is having an unforgettable season. She has helped lead the Tigers to many victories and contributed to their overall success so far this year.
With a season-high of 26 points and averaging 15 points in the last five games, Robinson has helped lead the Tigers to a 13-12 overall record and a 4-9 record in ACC play.
While the freshman forward spends an immense amount of time practicing on the court and dedicating time to her career, there is more to Robinson than just that.
Taking a deeper look into her life off the court, The Tiger sat down with Robinson to learn more about the person behind the jersey and the contributing factors of her successful career.
Sarah Pepe (SP): What made you passionate about basketball, and where did the love for the sport come from?
Amari Robinson (AR): Basketball is something that I just picked up. Both of my parents played. I started dancing but began playing basketball when I was six.
SP: What made you pick Clemson to be your home?
AR: Coach Butler called and said, “I want you, and I have been watching you since you were in seventh grade.” Clemson was just one of those schools. The team was doing great and was on their way to the NCAA tournament. When I came to visit, the players made me feel like I was part of the team, being a high school senior, and the coaching staff was great. All the right boxes were checked for me.
SP: What are some of your hobbies and interests when you’re not on the court?
AR: I definitely like to sleep. I like to be outside and play with my dog, Ace. I love to color — I am a big colorer. Also just really catch up on some shows and movies that I do not get to do every day.
SP: What have you done as a player and team that has contributed to a more successful season?
AR: I think we really started off with just starting off-the-court chemistry and just being gelled as a team there. And then just knowing that was going to translate on the court. So just doing little things like having team lock-ins, playing games as a team or going somewhere to eat as a team — just doing those little things outside of the court to help develop it on the court. And then just also on the court, playing pickup, just being there for one another and helping out the newbies and the transfers that came in. I just try to make sure that everybody’s on the same accord because we all have the same mission.
SP: Do you have any short-term goals as a player?
AR: I definitely want to make it to the postseason for us as a team, and I want to close this season out better than when we started. We definitely started high and have our ups and downs, and I want to make sure we stay consistent on that upward incline so that our post-season aspirations come to life.
SP: How do you think that coach Butler has contributed to this season that helped you guys play at a much higher level than last season?
AR: Her level of intensity and her urgency with this season in knowing that we have the potential to be good and we have everything that we need. We just need to make sure we dial in on those crucial things and make sure that we tweak the little things that we do wrong each and every time to improve and be our best.
You can catch Robinson and the Tigers in action at Littlejohn Coliseum Thursday, Feb. 9, at 8 p.m. EST.
Interview responses were edited for length and clarity.
