Big Ten basketball fans had never seen a force of nature quite like Purdue power forward Glenn Robinson. One can argue that they haven’t seen anyone like Robinson since. And as it turns out, “Big Dog” has strong sports-playing genes.
Robinson’s oldest son, Glenn III, is a starting freshman forward for second-ranked Michigan and was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Monday. Another son, Gelen, is an outside linebacker in the high school Class of 2014 who has received interest from Notre Dame and a handful of Big Ten programs.
Glenn III’s fine freshman season is reminding fans of how his father used to dominate college basketball. In 1993–1994, the Big Dog averaged a mind-boggling 30.3 PPG and 11.2 RPG in leading the Boilermakers to a 29–5 record and an Elite Eight appearance. He swept virtually every end of season award that year, including the Wooden and USBWA Player of the Year Awards.
After being drafted No. 1 overall by the Milwaukee Bucks, Robinson spent 12 seasons in the NBA, highlighted by back-to-back All-Star Game appearances in 2000 and 2001. Knee injuries forced him to retire following the 2004-2005 season, when he earned his lone NBA championship ring with the Spurs.
Even though Robinson lives in Atlanta, he’s been there for both his sons, who were raised in Indiana by their mother, Shantelle Clay-Irving.
“I know I am so proud of Tre [Glenn III] and what he’s done,” Robinson said in a November 2011 story for The Times of Northwest Indiana. “His mother has done a great job raising the boys. They’re good young men, good students, much better than I was when I was their age.”
The elder Robinson’s alma mater faces Ohio State on Tuesday. Glenn Robinson profile
