Call him a competitor: Diddy Robinson shines with Danville

DANVILLE JaVaughn Robinson has done plenty throughout his time as an athlete at Danville High School.

Except those close to him and those who have watched his athletic prowess on the basketball court in the winter, on the football field in the fall and on the track in the spring are more familiar with Diddy Robinson.

They are one and the same, with Diddy a nickname that stuck to Robinson early on his life.

Let Danville first-year boys basketball coach David Gouard, who is also a cousin of Robinson, explain the concept of the nickname.

It started off as Bubby, Gouard said.

And guys in our family said, Were not calling him Bubby.

Then, one of our cousins called him Diddy, and it just stuck.

Now at times I forget.

I write his name and I write Diddy instead of JaVaughn.

Diddy clearly had more staying power than Bubby.

Not just among his family.

Its a unique nickname, Robinson said.

Everybody calls me it, really.

The final month of his senior basketball campaign will lead into his fourth year of track and field this spring.

Hes a few months removed from his fourth and final season of football with the Vikings, too.

Hes been a prime example of a student-athlete for the last four years, Gouard said.

Never (any) trouble.

Always does the right thing when nobodys watching.

And hes one of the most humble, selfless kids youll ever meet.

Robinson touted for his quiet leadership abilities by his teammates and Gouard has provided the spark the Vikings have needed this winter on the basketball court.

In a season that has the Vikings only carrying a 7-15 record into their Big 12 game this Friday night at home against Normal Community, the play of the 6-foot-2 guard stands out.

Like it did this past Friday night in Champaign when he scored 23 points to pace the Vikings to a 65-53 road win against Centennial at Coleman Carrodine Gym.

Or when he dropped 33 points on West Aurora in a 74-63 win at the Pontiac Holiday Tournament on Dec.

27.

Or when he scored 24 points and grabbed 12 rebounds during a close, two-point loss against Cahokia on Nov.

30 at the Lincoln Thanksgiving Tournament.

Ive got a lot of memories from freshman year because Ive played varsity since then, Robinson said.

But Id say my favorite memory is from this years Pontiac tournament, when we stayed in the hotel, just hanging out with the team and stuff.

His talents have been a consistent factor for the Vikings, who went 52 days without playing at home from Dec.

13 against Bloomington until Monday nights game against Peoria.

When we need him, hell speak up, fellow Danville senior Tayvion Diltz said.

When time is right, hell say what hes got to say, but he really doesnt say much.

I feel like thats what a leader does.

He uses his work on the field and on the court and everything.

Thats the example of a leader.

Those efforts followed a football campaign for which he earned News-Gazette All-Area second-team defensive honors; Robinson was also a key part of the Vikings offense with 551 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.

He added four scores as a kickoff and punt returner.

On the track, Robinson has competed in the 200-meter dash with occasional appearances in the 400 and long jump.

Hes also been a presence in the Vikings 200 and 400 sprint relays.

Watching his competitiveness and his leadership, the way it kind of transfers over to the other kids and how they follow, its just one of the great things Ive been able to watch over the last couple years, Danville football coach Marcus Forrest said.

Robinsons abilities on the court contrast with his low-key personality off of it.

Hes content to play video games with friends with a preference for Jalen Milroe and Alabama on College Football 25 and lead by example in the gym.

Not that hes afraid to show his competitive edge on the floor, like when he was whistled for a hard foul at Peoria Notre Dame on Jan.

17.

Or in Pontiac, where Robinson was a key part of a win against Plainfield North after the Vikings dispatched West Aurora the previous day.

You wont find a more quiet, game-driven player, Gouard said.

And it takes a lot for him to bring out emotion, but when emotion comes out, watch out.

Diltz and Jerry Reed have known and been teammates with Robinson for more than a decade.

Robinsons father coached the trio in youth baseball, when his athletic endeavors were just beginning.

They havent stopped since.

Hes always been the leader of every team hes been on, Reed said.

I played basketball and hes always been a leader at basketball.

It became a normal thing for everybody, for him just to be the best at everything.

That chemistry is still evident more than a decade later.

Hes always been there through it all, Diltz said.

Weve been through sweating it off together, working our butts off in the summer ever since we were little.

Its always been great to have him around as a teammate.

Robinson who has five siblings is the only one in his immediate family who has seriously taken to athletics.

Athletics are a track that he might continue with after high school.

Perhaps as an athletic trainer, he envisions.

And Robinson has gotten some attention from junior college and Division II basketball programs for next season.

I want to play college basketball after high school, Robinson said.

I dont know what college yet.

Im just trying to see if I can get any offers.

But Robinsons first order of business is helping the Vikings chase their first Class 3A regional title since 2019.

Or their first sectional title since 1994.

Or their first state tournament appearance since the Vikings finished third in 1993.

My last four years here have been great, Robinson said.

I hope to make a great run my last year here because Im going to miss it when its over..

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