Russell Robinson, KU’s 2008 NCAA championship point guard, connects with Dajuan Harris

Russell Robinson, the starting point guard on Kansas’ 2008 NCAA men’s basketball championship team, had an opportunity to visit with Dajuan Harris, starter on KU’s 2022 title squad, at Friday night’s Rock Chalk Roundball Classic cancer fundraiser banquet at Burge Union next to Allen Fieldhouse.

“Obviously Dajuan is a great point guard, a great leader,” said Robinson, who was a senior in 2008; Harris was just a sophomore in ’22. “I stressed to him he has the next level to go to. He’s ready to go for it.”

Harris, 6-1 out of Columbia, Missouri, has two years of eligibility remaining at KU.

“If he can stay healthy, continue to lead the team, coach (Bill Self) and I are ready for him to take Aaron Miles’ assist record. He’s got some goals in front of him. I look forward to seeing how it breaks out for him,” added Robinson, who spoke to The Star on Saturday at the Roundball Classic bowling event at Royal Crest Lanes.

Harris, one of three returning starters from last year’s Big 12 regular-season title team, currently ranks 14th on KU’s all-time assists list (455). Robinson is No. 11 on that list with 500 — 45 more than Harris.

Miles, currently an assistant coach for the NBA’s Houston Rockets, dished a school-record 954 assists from 2001 to 2005.

“In my opinion, yes,” Robinson said, asked if he believes Harris will play in the NBA. “He has to continue to develop in in the leadership department. At Kansas you get so much exposure. He’s got to continue to show different aspects of his game.”

Robinson — he played at KU four seasons (2004 to 2008) after graduating from Rice High School in New York — delivered a single-game high of 11 assists against Ohio in December of 2007 at then-Sprint Center in Kansas City. Harris’ career high in assists also is 11 versus Kansas State last season in Manhattan.

Miles dished a career high 15 assists against Texas Tech in a 2002 Big 12 tourney game in Kansas City. Tom Kivisto had a KU record 18 assists versus Nebraska in 1973, again in KC.

“He’s a winner above everything,” Robinson said of Harris.

The 37-year-old Robinson — he retired from competitive basketball in 2019 after nine seasons in the NBA G league, as well as professional leagues in Turkey, France, Poland, Greece and Macedonia — also has high NBA hopes for Gradey Dick and Jalen Wilson, who are both expected to be selected in the June 22 NBA Draft.

Dick is considered a lottery pick; Wilson a late first-round to mid second-round selection.

“I like all their chances,” Robinson said. “Gradey did a great job playing for coach Self, making the transition into college seamlessly. Jalen ... it’ll probably be a little more of an uphill battle. Both can have long NBA careers. It’s just a matter where they land and how much (work) they are ready to put in.”

Dick, a 6-8 guard, averaged 14.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game in his one-and-done season of 2022-23.

“I think he can be better than good,” Robinson said. “The NBA is lacking in the versatility he brings. Teams are going to find him and his uniqueness of what he brings to the table.”

Wilson, a 6-8 first-team All-American and Big 12 Player of the Year, averaged 20.3 points and 8.2 rebounds his senior season after winning a national title his junior campaign — one in which he started and averaged 11.1 points and 7.4 rebounds.

“I think he’s very good,” Robinson said. “He has to develop in some areas. He knows that. From what I’ve seen he’s in there developing.”

Robinson, who lives in the Raleigh, North Carolina area with 3-year-old son Lennox, is hoping to contribute to the development of players in the future. Robinson said he would like to relocate to Lawrence as he pursues a future perhaps in college hoops coaching or administration.

“Raising my family, getting ready for the next stage of my career,” Robinson said of his current schedule. “(I’m a) 24-hour dad, dedicate all my time to being with my son. He has his own personality. I’m happy to be his father.

“I’m open,” Robinson added of possible job offers in the college game. “I won’t put any limits on what I do next. Naturally for a basketball player you get into coaching or training but I kind of want to do something outside the box. I want to start in college because of the age (of players). My experience in college has been the most impactful.

“I’ll continue to think about it, continue to work with older vets (in North Carolina). I want to be well rounded in what I do.”

Of possibly moving back to Kansas, he said: “That’s step No. 1, get back if I have the opportunity. Being in Lawrence it’s something I’ve wanted to do. Hopefully something positive will happen.”

He said he had a wonderful weekend in Lawrence in conjunction with the Roundball Classic. Robinson elected not to play and instead cheered on former KU players in Thursday’s charity game at Free State High. He attended Friday’s banquet and Saturday’s bowling event, won by former KU football player Derek Fine, who defeated freshman basketball player Elmarko Jackson in a three-frame roll-off.

Robinson was able to hear 2008 KU national title teammate Darnell Jackson (during a Q&A session with banquet goers) praise him as unquestioned leader of the ‘08 title team. Robinson also was able to trade stories with Jackson and one of his teammates from his freshman year, Keith Langford, at Friday’s banquet.

“It’s great to hear D-Block (Jackson) talk like that and for me to know the impact he felt (I made). And this is 15 years later,” Robinson said. “It has been a while. We all made sacrifices on that team to be great.”

He continued.

“I got to talk with Keith. He was always the locker room lawyer,” Robinson said. “We had great fellowship talking about everything, reminiscing about everything. It was real good.”