What do all the great UNLV basketball teams throughout history have in common? The answer: A true point guard who is the floor general for the team. A point guard who is unselfish and looks to get his teammates the ball. A point guard like transfer Noah Robotham.
Success for UNLV tends to revolved around point guards like Kevin Kruger, who led UNLV to its last Sweet Sixteen appearance, or Mark Dickel, who led the 1998-99 Rebels to its only conference title in the last 27 years. Program history includes point guards like Robert Smith, who led UNLV to its first Final Four appearance in 1977, and the most storied point guard in UNLV history, Greg Anthony, who led the Rebels to their only NCAA National Championship.
Each exhibited the leadership, confidence, and playmaking skills to take their teams to the next level.
UNLV coach Marvin Menzies has some important decisions to make before the Rebels hit the court this fall, including who the starTing point guard should be between Robotham and sophomore Amauri Hardy. The graduation of starting point guard Jordan Johnson created a large hole in the Runnin’ Rebels offense. This has UNLV looking for someone new to run the point and they have a perfect opportunity to start a player who is a great fit for the team: Robotham.
A University of Akron transfer and native Las Vegan, Robotham is a pass first, pure point guard who excels at running the team. He is an efficient playmaker with a nearly 3-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio while at Akron. Robotham is the smart choice for the starting point guard spot because he can be a coach on the floor, he makes his teammates better, and he is a winner.
In addition, he was born and raised in Las Vegas and has strong family values and ties to the city. His father taught him the game well and it shows. Noah is not just a pass first point guard but he has the tools to score the ball from the three main areas on the court: three point range, mid-range, and interior scoring. With his scoring ability, defenders must play him as a scoring threat; he can have the defense collapse on him and he looks for the open man to score.
Getting questions about what to expect from Noah Robotham this season… Toughness, defense & a consistent 3 point shooter. Not a run n gun PG, but more of a game manager. Can probe the defense with dribble penetration and always finds the open shooter. Will be a solid leader.
— Jeffrey Waddilove (@JeffWaddilove) August 8, 2018
A local high school product, Noah attended Bishop Gorman High School and was named Gatorade Player of the Year his senior year (2014), averaging 16 points and 7.1 assists per game. Noah also had a solid freshman year at Akron averaging 9.4 points and 3.3 assists per game while averaging just under 40% from the three point line.
While at Akron, Noah had some setbacks with injuries but has recovered and is ready to come back full strength. Noah has a lot of support from those in the Las Vegas basketball community who have watched him play over the years.
When asked his opinion of Noah, Robert Smith, former UNLV star point guard, gave him strong praise.
“I have watched Noah since he was a little kid and grow through the years,” Smith said. “He has strong family values and his father helped teach him the game the right way. Noah is a true point guard who has no problem getting his teammates the ball and help elevate their games. He also has the ability to score when his team needs him to and can knock down the three.”
Another former Rebel that watched Noah grow through the years is former UNLV shooting guard, Sudden Sam Smith.
“Noah is a little small for his position but he is the definition of a pure point guard,” Smith said. “A lot of credit has to go to his Dad working with him through the years. Noah is crafty and reminds me of a Steve Nash-type of player. UNLV made a mistake not getting him out of high school.”
Both of these former Rebel stars agree Robotham is a pure point guard who looks to get his teammates the ball. This is the type of point guard UNLV utilized during the Tarkanian era. Of course there is no guarantee Robotham will become the next great point guard for the Rebels. However, he has the tools of an elite pure point guard and possesses a great basketball IQ.
Noah Robotham's career steal rate of 2.1 percent would have ranked him second on UNLV last year. He should generate plenty of deflections for the Rebels next season: pic.twitter.com/UF3pUiEqKW
— Mike Grimala (@MikeGrimala) April 30, 2018
Former NCAA assist leader/point guard for UNLV’s first No. 1 nationally ranked team and current congressional candidate, Danny Tarkanian, remembers Noah’s playmaking skills when Noah was in middle school and high school.
“He was a very smart player with an extremely high basketball IQ, higher than many professional players in the league right now,” Tarkanian said.
Robotham is the perfect fit as the Rebels next starting point guard. A local kid who grew up going to Rebel games and who has strong family values. He is an efficient, crafty, pure point guard similar to all the great point guards in Rebel history.
You do not have to take my word for it, just take the word of the former great Rebels who have seen him grow and develop over the years and have nothing but high praise for him as a player and a person.
