Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, the former talented star of the Villanova Wildcats, has agreed to a four-year, $8 million rookie deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The six-foot-nine power forward was the 32nd pick of the 2021 NBA Draft. Oklahoma City traded their 34th and 36th pick in order to move up to select the Wildcat. On the RSCI Top 100 list for 2019, Robinson-Earl was ranked 15th overall. The 20-year-old college standout was selected Big East co-Player of the Year, First-Team All Big East and Third-Team All-American – NABC, SN. In the Wildcats’ 2020-21 season, Robinson-Earl averaged 15.7 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game in 25 games played.
Not to mention, his field goal percentage was 49.7 percent and his average was 28 percent from three-point range. With a total of 212 rebounds last season, the power forward ranked second in the Big East. For two-point field goals, after accumulating 132 successful baskets, he finished third overall in the Big East. While he did rank seventh for points, scoring a total of 393 points, his player efficiency rating (PER) was 23.4, ranking fourth in the Big East. Furthermore, the 2020-21 Wildcats finished 18-7 (11-4 Big East). According to the final NCAAM college basketball Coaches Poll, the team was ranked No. 11. In the AP Top 25 Poll, the Wildcats were ranked No. 18.
Oklahoma City Thunder’s Jeremiah Robinson-Earl — the No. 32 pick in the 2021 NBA draft — has agreed to a four-year, $8 million rookie deal, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 10, 2021
On November 26, 2020, in the power forward’s sophomore season, he scored a career-high 26 points against Arizona State, in a 83-74 victory. In the quarterfinals of the Big East Tournament, on March 11, 2021, the No. 1 Wildcats lost 72-71 versus the No. 8 Georgetown Hoyas. In 36 minutes played, the Kansas City, Kansas native tied his career-high with 26 points, six rebounds and two assists.
Then, after a 73-63 win over the No. 12 Winthrop Eagles and another 84-61 victory over the No. 13 North Texas Mean Green, Villanova lost 62-51 against the No. 1 Baylor Bears. In this Sweet 16 matchup, played on March 27, 2021, Robinson-Earl ended his performance with eight points, 12 rebounds and two assists in 38 minutes played. He was only one of five Wildcats to average nine or more rebounds in a season since 1973. After the NCAA Tournament, on April 9, 2021, Robinson-Earl declared for the 2021 NBA Draft.