LAWRENCE, Kansas, November 13, 2008 - University of Kansas men’s basketball coach Bill Self announced Wednesday that Thomas Robinson has signed national letters of intent to play at KU next season. 

A native of Washington, D.C., Robinson is a 6-8, 224-pound forward who plays at Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H. He played his junior season at Riverdale Baptist High School in Upper Marlboro, Md., where he averaged 16 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks per game. A five-star prospect, Rivals.com rates Robinson the No. 18 player nationally and the No. 7 power forward in the class of 2009.

“Thomas is a rebounder,” Self said. “He goes after every ball. He’s a high energy guy that probably has a good a motor as anybody we’ve had since we’ve been here. He has a chance to be about as good a rebounder as there is in this senior class. His skill set is improving all the time. He is a good passer and ball handler. His shot is improving. He’s a prototypical athletic four man.”

Robinson verbally committed to Kansas on October 11 and chose KU over Memphis. His coach at Brewster Academy is Jason Smith. Last summer, Robinson played for Dwight Redd’s Squash All Beef AAU team of Virginia.

“We think Thomas is a fabulous young man,” Self said. “He’s pretty quiet, but getting more talkative as he gets comfortable with the situation. I think he’ll be a great teammate. He really cares about winning. Whenever he talks to us he says ‘we,’ meaning he and his mom. He is just a good kid. He fell in love with Kansas when he first visited here.”

Self indicated Kansas could announce more signees later.