BENTONVILLE -- Tyler Robinson has experienced what it was like to play in several locations nationwide during his three years with Bentonville's boys basketball team.
It hasn't always been fun and games for the 6-foot-5 senior forward. He's also received some on-the-court educational experiences, courtesy of some of the nation's best high school basketball talent.
ON THE WEB
For more on Tyler Robinson, see the full video at www.nwadg.com and at www.ARPreps.com.
MORE ON THE WEB
More sports can be found at ARPreps.com including blogs, conference standings, weekly notes and much more. Here is the complete schedule to view updated content at ARPreps.com:
Mondays
• Weekly team reports and conference standings
Tuesdays
• Video features on Class 6A/7A female athletes produced by area high school students
• 7A-West Conference girls and boys power rankings
• State prep basketball scores
Wednesdays
• Video features on Class 5A and below athletes produced by NWA Democrat-Gazette staff
• Weekly swimming/diving report with video
Thursdays
• State prep basketball report
• Weekly wrestling report with video
Fridays
• Video features on Class 6A/7A male athletes produced by area high school students
• State prep basketball scores
Saturdays
• Weekly recaps with video highlights
7A-West Conference
Boys
^^Conf.^Overall
Team^W-L^W-L
Fayetteville^6-0^17-2
Bentonville^5-1^13-6
Springdale Har-Ber^4-2^11-8
Fort Smith Southside^3-3^11-9
Springdale High^2-4^11-7
Fort Smith Northside^2-4^10-10
Rogers Heritage^1-5^10-10
Rogers High^1-5^7-12
Girls
^^Conf.^Overall
Team^W-L ^W-L
Fort Smith Northside^6-0^21-1
Springdale High^5-1^12-6
Bentonville^4-2^15-3
Fayetteville^4-2^13-6
Springdale Har-Ber^2-4^12-8
Rogers High^2-4^9-10
Rogers Heritage^1-5^6-13
Fort Smith Southside^0-6^3-17
Tuesday’s Scores
Girls
Fayetteville 67, Rogers High 36
Fort Smith Northside 61, Springdale Har-Ber 46
Bentonville 45, Rogers Heritage 35
Springdale High 62, Fort Smith Southside 49
Boys
Fayetteville 62, Rogers High 51
Springdale Har-Ber 69, Fort Smith Northside 52
Bentonville 60, Rogers Heritage 39
Fort Smith Southside 72, Springdale High 69
Friday’s Games
Bentonville at Fayetteville
Rogers High at Springdale High
Springdale Har-Ber at Rogers Heritage
Fort Smith Southside vs. Fort Smith Northside (at UAFS)
7A-West Conference Statistical Leaders
(Conference games only)
Boys
TEAM OFFENSE
Team^G^PTS^AVG
Fayetteville^6^410^68.3
Bentonville^6^403^67.2
Springdale Har-Ber^6^400^66.7
FS Southside^6^358^59.7
Springdale High^6^355^59.2
FS Northside^6^339^56.5
Rogers High^6^312^52.0
Rogers Heritage^6^299^49.8
TEAM DEFENSE
Team^G^PTS^AVG
Fayetteville^6^297^49.5
Bentonville^6^330^55.0
FS Northside^6^343^57.2
Rogers Heritage^6^356^59.3
FS Southside^6^376^62.7
Springdale Har-Ber^6^380^63.3
Springdale High^6^384^64.0
Rogers High^6^410^68.3
Individual Scoring
PLAYER, SCHOOL^G^PTS^AVG
Malik Monk, Bentonville^5^159^31.8
Payton Willis, Fayetteville^6^119^19.8
Josh Breathitt, Fayetteville^6^108^18.0
Seth Hawley, FS Southside^6^100^16.7
Avery Benson, Springdale Har-Ber^6^100^16.7
Tyler Robinson, Bentonville^6^90^15.0
Tevin Brewer, FS Northside^6^85^14.2
Lexus Hobbs, Rogers Heritage^6^82^13.7
Milacio Freeland, Rogers High^6^81^13.5
Jake Benninghoff, Rogers High^6^71^11.8
Tyrone Mahoney, FS Southside^6^67^11.2
Kyler Mahar, Springdale High^6^67^11.2
Jack Lindsey, Springdale High^6^63^10.5
Dane Olsen, Rogers Heritage^6^63^10.5
Tylor Perry, Springdale Har-Ber^6^61^10.2
Gage Griffin, FS Northside^4^39^9.8
Tyler Garrett, Springdale Har-Ber^6^56^9.3
Will Allen, Rogers High^6^55^9.2
Zion Releford, FS Southside^6^54^9.0
Ishine McFarlane, Springdale High^6^54^9.0
Devon Young, Springdale High^6^54^9.0
Towayne Bobo, Springdale High^6^53^8.8
Spencer Brown, Fayetteville^6^50^8.3
Harrison Heffley, Rogers High^6^50^8.3
Asa Hutchinson, Bentonville^6^50^8.3
Jackson Forsey, FS Northside^6^49^8.2
David Carachure, Springdale High^6^49^8.2
Brennon Lewis, FS Northside^6^47^7.8
Seth Stanley, Rogers Heritage^6^47^7.8
Austin West, FS Southside^6^44^7.3
August Carlson, Fayetteville^6^43^7.2
Matthew Kaunitz, Springdale Har-Ber^6^42^7.0
Jordan Hemphill, Bentonville^6^42^7.0
J.P. Brandon, Springdale Har-Ber^6^40^6.7
Isaiah Joe, FS Northside^6^36^6.0
Marcus Breedlove, Rogers Heritage^6^36^6.0
Cole Cooper, Rogers High^6^35^5.8
Demaunte Youngblood, Fayetteville^6^34^5.7
Tony Casey, Rogers Heritage^6^34^5.7
Tyrell Perry, FS Northside^6^30^5.0
Jordan Sheppard, FS Southside^6^29^4.8
Marek Stanley, Rogers Heritage^6^27^4.5
Girls
TEAM OFFENSE
Team^G^PTS^AVG
Springdale High^6^368^61.3
Fayetteville^6^353^58.8
FS Northside^6^338^56.3
Bentonville^6^333^55.5
Springdale Har-Ber^6^319^53.2
Rogers High^6^284^47.3
Rogers Heritage^6^259^43.2
FS Southside^6^232^38.7
TEAM DEFENSE
Team^G^PTS^AVG
Fayetteville^6^255^42.5
FS Northside^6^274^45.7
Bentonville^6^292^48.7
Rogers High^6^307^51.2
Springdale High^6^311^51.8
Springdale Har-Ber^6^323^53.8
Rogers Heritage^6^353^58.8
FS Southside^6^371^61.8
Individual Scoring
PLAYER, SCHOOL^G^PTS^AVG
Aaliyah Jackson, FS Northside^6^109^18.2
Maddie Brittain, Bentonville^6^102^17.0
Chasidee Owens, Springdale High^6^92^15.3
Lani Meares, FS Southside^6^78^13.0
Jasmine Franklin, Fayetteville^6^69^11.5
Lauren Krissman, FS Northside^6^66^11.0
Kierra Lang, Springdale High^6^66^11.0
Madison Sandor, Rogers High^6^63^10.5
Lauren Hargus, Bentonville^6^61^10.2
Kelly Carson, FS Southside^6^60^10.0
Kelsey Richmond, Rogers High^6^58^9.7
Amber Turner, Rogers Heritage^6^58^9.7
Maei Mains, Springdale Har-Ber^6^57^9.5
Elise Randels, Rogers High^6^56^9.3
Emily Seiler, Rogers Heritage^6^56^9.3
Maren Johnson, Bentonville^6^56^9.3
Desiree Mack, Springdale High^6^55^9.2
Jordan Hardesty, FS Northside^6^53^8.8
Maya Hood, Springdale High^6^52^8.7
Hailey Tiles, Rogers Heritage^6^51^8.5
Krista Clark, Bentonville^6^51^8.5
Pink Jones, Fayetteville^6^50^8.3
Maya Mayberry, Fayetteville^6^50^8.3
Khanni Shannon, Springdale Har-Ber^6^48^8.0
Jacie Higgins, Springdale Har-Ber^6^48^8.0
Grayce Spangler, Fayetteville^6^45^7.5
Caroline Hornor, Springdale Har-Ber^6^43^7.2
Anna Gaddison, Springdale High^6^39^6.5
Lauren Sanford, FS Southside^6^34^5.7
Maddi McKinney, Rogers High^6^34^5.7
Samantha Brown, Rogers High^6^34^5.7
Maegan Bandimere, FS Northside^6^31^5.2
Fatarah Kinnard, FS Northside^6^31^5.2
Brooke Menke, Rogers Heritage^6^31^5.2
Savannah Collins, Springdale Har-Ber^6^30^5.0
Krislyn Smith, Springdale Har-Ber^6^29^4.8
Ryann Goodsell, Springdale High^6^28^4.7
Lauren Holmes, Fayetteville^6^27^4.5
Dehring Scudder, Rogers Heritage^6^27^4.5
"I feel like playing these games and defending these really good players has raised my basketball IQ and is making me better on the court," Robinson said. "For me, it was exciting because you know they're some of the best in the country. It makes you want to compete and play your best."
Robinson has had two games against Jayson Tatum, the St. Louis Chaminade standout who will go to Duke next year, but that's just a start. He's also had to face players such as Johnathan Barnett of St. Louis Christian Brothers (now at Texas); Duke signee Harry Giles of High Point (N.C.) Wesleyan Christian; UCLA commit LiAngelo Ball of Chino Hills, Calif.; Juwon Morgan of Waynesville, Mo., (now at Indiana); Jaylen Brown of Wheeler, Ga., (now at UCLA); and Jakolby Long of Mustang, Okla.
Even the competition in Arkansas has been stiff. Robinson has had to battle inside against Missouri signee Mitchell Smith of Van Buren last year, and he just had a game last week against junior Daniel Gafford of El Dorado, who has already verbally committed to Arkansas.
"Tyler has had to go against the best and had some great experiences," Bentonville coach Jason McMahan said. "When I look at those experiences for Tyler, I think of how they've helped him get better and prepared him for what's next, which I think will be a future in college basketball.
"He has played against the number one players in his position, so he knows he can do it. I think his versatility to play against big guys or forwards has proven to me that he's the top defensive player in the whole conference."
Robinson took it upon himself to lose some weight and add extra muscle on his frame during the offseason, especially since he's become the Tigers' biggest inside threat. As a result, he said he has increased his athleticism, as well as his lateral movement.
He's become the second-leading scorer on a 13-6 Bentonville team with around 13 points per game and averages more than six rebounds per contest, but he's also enjoyed a few dunks this year -- something that didn't happen last season.
"My offense has improved all around," Robinson said. "I've been able to hit my spots and increased my handling and my shots. I've also been a lot more confident in myself."
His improved lateral movement, as well as a 6-foot-9 wingspan, allowed McMahan to make an interesting defensive move during Tuesday's game against Rogers Heritage. Bentonville switched from a man defense to a 3-2 zone, and McMahan put Robinson out near the free-throw line instead of near the basket.
The strategy worked as Heritage went scoreless for a good portion of the fourth quarter, allowing Bentonville to go on a 12-0 run and put the game away.
"When we're in that 3-2 zone, we want Tyler to play on that wing," McMahan said. "We think he can create deflections and make plays in that zone for us. That describes his versatility for us on the defensive end."
Sports on 01/29/2016