A familiar face to Carolina basketball fans is set to return to the bench this fall, as a coach instead of a player.

UNC head men’s basketball coach Hubert Davis told 97.9 The Hill’s Art Chansky in a recent interview that Brandon Robinson is returning to the program as a graduate assistant.

“Brandon Robinson is going to be the first ever grad assistant in the history of the men’s basketball program,” Davis said. “I’m just so excited about having him on staff.”

Robinson was a freshman during UNC’s 2017 national title and would go on to play all four years in Chapel Hill, averaging a career-high 11.8 points and 3.2 rebounds per game as a senior in his only year playing primarily as a starter.

He will join a Tar Heel staff including Davis, Jeff Lebo, Sean May, Brad Frederick, Jackie Manuel and Pat Sullivan — all of whom played for UNC as well.

“It’s important for me that all the former players and coaches, their fingerprints are on this program — clearly,” Davis said. “That’s just something that’s really important to me. And it’s something that will happen.”

Robinson shared a statement with Carolina Athletics reporter Quierra Luck Thursday night about his emotions around rejoining the program.

“I never imagined this moment — to return to begin my career as a coach at the place I love with the best fans.” Robinson said. “I am so grateful to Coach Davis for giving me this opportunity to begin living out a dream that I’ve had since I was a kid.”

Other UNC players who shared time in the program with Robinson shared their reaction and support on Twitter.

 

Photo via Carolina Athletics/J.D. Lyons Jr.

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