Jack Robison initially was asked a question this week about how so much departing talent from last year’s Lakeville North boys basketball team – which returned just three players from the 2022-23 varsity squad – opened up more opportunities for himself to produce.

The senior wing responded in kind: “I could just tell we had a bunch of guys buy in right away, and that’s how this program is,” Robison said. “Every single year you keep getting kids to really trust each other and buy into the team aspect we have. It was a lot of fun.”

OK but, uhh, Jack, the question was supposed to be about you. So let’s try that again.

“Yeah, I was excited to take on a little bigger role, definitely,” Robison said.

There we go.

“I’ve played with a lot of really good players over the past few years, and we had a bunch of good players on this team, too,” Robison said. “So it was a lot of fun being a part of this.”

Robison is the latest in a long line of great Panthers players. Before this goes any further – yes, he’s going to Wisconsin as the latest Badger to go through the Lakeville North pipeline, joining the likes of Nathan Reuvers, Tyler Wahl and Nolan Winter. JP Macura went to Xavier a decade ago. Since then, it’s been a lot of Badgers.

Lakeville North coach John Oxton suspects the positive experience Reuvers had at Wisconsin gave others added confidence they’d enjoy it there, as well. Plus, there are similarities between the programs, from the colors to the emphasis on team basketball, defense and the little things that decide games.

“But there’s a lot of programs that base their program on that,” Oxton said.

Over the past 10 years, Oxton can identify three primary characteristics shared by his most prominent players. They’ve all been highly skilled, fiercely competitive and “team oriented.”

Perhaps no one exemplifies the latter better than Jack Robison.

“There’s probably been nobody that just loved being a Panther more than Jack. From the time he was a little kid, he has been in our program forever, he has always been a gym rat, he has always been the kind of kid that was always willing to try to do whatever he could to make us successful,” Oxton said. “There’s never been a part where I was concerned that he was too selfish or whatever. He’s always been where it’s all about trying to make the Panthers as successful as possible. And he’s always bought into that.”

As a junior, that meant sacrificing some scoring. The 6-foot-7 wing averaged just north of 15 points per game a season ago. Oxton said he made that sacrifice without any “frumping around. … Because he just wanted to win.”

This year, team success required more scoring from Robison, who averaged just south of 22 points for the Panthers, who were Class 4A, Section 1 runners-up to Farmington.

“This year was no different. Maybe a little different dynamics on the team, but the exact same mindset. And that’s probably the biggest thing I’ve appreciated about him is his willingness to do whatever was needed to make the Lakeville North Panthers the best team they could be,” Oxton said. “At the end of the day, we talk about that all the time, that’s the best thing that can be said about you – ‘I was a great teammate.’ And Jack was a great teammate, for sure.”

And, of course, a great player. Robison is the 2024 East Metro Boys Basketball Player of the Year.

Great teammates – and great team players – generally must find a way to work for the success of themselves and others. That can mean sacrificing in some areas and getting better in others.

Offensively, Robison said he underwent the process of figuring out which shots the Panthers needed, and which ones they did not.

“To trust my teammates and to know to keep giving them confidence, too,” he said. “Because it is a team game, and we need all five guys on the court to be confident and to trust themselves and to trust everyone on the floor.”

Defensively, Robison simply needed to get better to contribute to the cause.

“When I was a freshman, I couldn’t guard anyone. I was kind of soft,” Robison said.

And he saw very few varsity minutes.

“But I learned to take charges and dive on the floor and guard some other team’s best players over the past couple years,” Robison said. “I still have a lot of work to do.”

Oxton reinforced that notion this week. Robison is highly skilled. He has a lightning quick release on his jumper and the frame that makes him a tough cover for anyone. He has the potential to be very successful in the Big Ten. But the coach noted it will be a process to reach that point.

“It’s just going to be a completely different level. So the strength, getting stronger, gaining weight, improving yourself physically is a part of it,” Oxton said. “But also you’re going to have to be mentally tough enough to do the daily grind of it, as well. … He’s excited to do it, and we’re excited to watch, for sure.”

He’s been well prepared for such a journey.

“Playing for Lakeville North, you know exactly what’s expected of you as a person and a player. This year, we had 11 guys that could’ve played, maybe 12. … It’s not super easy,” Robison said. “So I learned things don’t just get handed to you. You have to work for it. That’s a credit to Coach Oxton and this program.”

FINALISTS

Brandon Hrncir, senior forward, Farmington: Sioux Falls commit averaged 19.9 points, led Tigers to first state tournament in 87 years.

Allan Lankfard Jr., junior guard, Central: St. Paul City Conference Player of the Year averaged 19.9 points per game for the Minutemen.

Jonathan Mekonnen, senior forward, Eastview: Colorado State commit averaged 20.8 points per game for the Lightning.

Joseph Mitchell III, sophomore guard, Cretin-Derham Hall: Averaged 19.4 points, shot 40 percent from deep to guide the Raiders back to state.

Cedric Tomes, sophomore guard, East Ridge: Tomes averaged 19.1 points per game for the Raptors this season.

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FORT MYERS, Fla. — The start of the baseball season is still more than a week away, but the Twins’ rotation depth is already being challenged.

The Twins will be without Anthony DeSclafani for an undetermined period of time — he will visit Dr. Keith Meister in Texas in the coming days to assess the severity of his arm injury — which has opened up the door for Louie Varland to grab hold of a spot in the rotation.

“You know the depth is always going to be tested — in your market, on your team, but then across the game,” president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said. “We’re seeing that already. But I feel like Louie Varland came in in an awesome spot.”

It’s certainly a small sample size, but in the 11 innings he has thrown this spring, Varland, who is scheduled to start again on Wednesday, has yet to allow a run. He has issued just one walk while striking out nine batters. Opponents are hitting just .111 against him.

More importantly than the results, Varland, a North St. Paul and Concordia alum, said after his last start that the ball was moving how and where he wanted it to.

“We knew coming into this camp that he would be a guy that … he was going to help us this year at the big league level,” manager Rocco Baldelli said. “He’s just done nothing but work hard and keep his head down and not get distracted by his situation and other peoples’ situations.”

Varland looked to be in line for a rotation spot until late January when the Twins acquired DeSclafani in a trade with the Seattle Mariners. At that point, it seemed as if he was headed back to Triple-A to start the season.

Instead, DeSclafani had some elbow soreness crop up weeks ago. And though he had worked his way back into game action, appearing in one minor-league tilt, he felt something in his arm in that game that caused the Twins to shut him down.

The worst-case scenario for DeSclafani, who is dealing with a forearm strain, would be Tommy John surgery, which would wipe out his entire season. But even in a best-case scenario where he rehabs and works his way back to the major league level, the Twins aren’t expecting him back soon.

That means Varland, who made 10 starts for the Twins last year and then late in the season was a dominant reliever, should have plenty of opportunity to establish himself at the major league level.

“Louie does a really good job of just focusing on making good pitches, shows up every day, works his tail off, does all the things you want to see,” Baldelli said. “I know I’m happy with what I’ve seen. I think our pitching guys are very pleased with the adjustments he made this offseason and some of the additions that he has added to his repertoire.”

Behind Varland, Falvey said the Twins were very encouraged with what they saw from Simeon Woods Richardson this spring. He also mentioned Brent Headrick and top pitching prospect David Festa as those who could be called upon down the road if and when the need arises.

“Hopefully we can stay as healthy as possible with the group that we have. But ultimately always going to be tested and need that,” Falvey said. “You never have enough pitching depth. I’ve never felt that.”

After making a splash last week at the start of free agency, the Vikings added more depth on Tuesday afternoon, agreeing to terms with veteran cornerback Shaq Griffin to their roster.

A source confirmed the agreement to the Pioneer Press, while Bleacher Report insider Jordan reported that it will be a 1-year deal for Griffin, which could be worth up to $6 million with incentives.

Though it’s not the sexiest move on the surface by the Vikings, it’s a savvy move as Griffin, 28, provides a gluttony of experience at reasonable cost.

Originally selected in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft, Griffin  has started 79 games in his career playing for the Seattle Seahawks, the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Houston Texans, and most recently, the Carolina Panthers. He finished last season with 39 tackles and an interception.

It’s unclear where exactly Griffin will play in a secondary that could use some help. He will be battling for playing time with cornerbacks Byron Murphy Jr., Akayleb Evans, and Mekhi Blackmon, among a handful of others.

It’s clear the Vikings have prioritized giving defensive coordinator Brian Flores more to work with next season. Aside from Griffin, they have signed edge rushers Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel, linebacker Blake Cashman, and defensive tackles Jerry Tillery and Jonah Williams.

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