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| 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>