13.10.2015 Views

2015 Review Winter

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

| chalk talk |<br />

Justin Robinson Makes History<br />

and Reconnects with a Mentor<br />

Fourteen trophies line a special<br />

display case in Alumni Hall.<br />

Each award represents student<br />

athletes whose exceptional talents on<br />

the basketball court earned them 1,000<br />

points over the course of their varsity<br />

high school careers. On Wednesday,<br />

February 18th, during the Saints varsity<br />

boys’ basketball game against Sidwell<br />

Friends School, Justin Robinson<br />

brought home a trophy of his own,<br />

adding his own legacy to this display<br />

that marks the School’s distinguished<br />

basketball history.<br />

“I knew how many points I needed,”<br />

said Justin, “but didn’t realize I hit<br />

1,000 until we were hitting free throws.<br />

Our assistant coach, Don Shopland was<br />

holding a sign with the number 1,005.<br />

That’s when it settled in.”<br />

According to Coach Dan Prete, “He<br />

accomplished most of his points in two<br />

years where most players would take four<br />

years. That’s pretty special.”<br />

There was a second surprise for<br />

Justin that same evening. Mrs. May<br />

Domingues, a long-time mentor to the<br />

young player, showed up with her foster<br />

children to cheer Justin to victory. Mrs.<br />

Domingues worked as a teacher’s aide<br />

at Parkside Middle School in Manassas,<br />

VA, where she met Justin. In addition to<br />

her teaching responsibilities, she found<br />

kids who needed mentoring and helped<br />

guide them.<br />

“I would go to her for help in my<br />

classes. She knew everything about every<br />

subject, and every aspect of life,” said the<br />

sixth former. “She taught me a lot about<br />

the meaning of life and about God. Last<br />

Robinson hugs his mentor, May Domingues, at his<br />

record-setting game against Sidwell Friends School.<br />

night was the first time she’s seen me play<br />

in high school, and the first time she met<br />

my mom and dad. It was an incredible<br />

night,” continued Justin.<br />

“I remember watching Justin play in<br />

the middle school gym and thinking to<br />

myself, ‘that kid is going places.’ Justin<br />

THE SAINT JAMES 1,000 POINT<br />

BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME<br />

Justin Robinson ‘15 1,048<br />

Obinna Enechionyia ‘14 1,450<br />

Avery Wilmore ‘12 1,156<br />

Heather Lowery ‘08 1,090<br />

Mike Russ ‘06 1,750<br />

Jared Knotts ‘02 1,438<br />

Billy Keyes ‘01 1,136<br />

Phillip Scott ‘01 1,022<br />

Larry Scott ‘99 1,254<br />

Javan Steadham ‘94 1,092<br />

Mike Pitts ‘94 1,411<br />

Sam Short ‘92 1,628<br />

Eric Bryant ‘89 1,039<br />

Don Anderson ‘78 1,850<br />

was always very humble and had a great<br />

sense of humor,” said Mrs. Domingues.<br />

“He also got along with everyone<br />

in school. As he has grown, he has<br />

remained centered in who he is.”<br />

After the game, Justin had the<br />

opportunity to return the favor by doing<br />

some mentoring of his own. Two of<br />

Mrs. Domingues’ children are playing<br />

basketball. “They asked me questions<br />

about being nervous and asked for<br />

guidance about playing,” said Justin. “It<br />

was surprising and touching to be able to<br />

mentor these kids in the same way I was<br />

once mentored.”<br />

The two plan to continue to stay in<br />

touch. According to Justin, his mentor<br />

and his parents are talking about<br />

carpooling to his games at Virginia Tech.<br />

38 <strong>Review</strong> • <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2015</strong>

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!