Icing on the cake: Gorman’s Robotham named state Gatorade Player of the Year

GARRETT VALENZUELA / SPECIAL TO THE SUN

Noah Robotham, left, dribbles past Shaquile Carr Friday, Feb. 28, 2014 as Bishop Gorman defeated Canyon Springs 71-58 in the Nevada state championship game at Lawlor Event Center in Reno.

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Saturday, March 22, 2014 | 2 a.m.

Before the high school basketball season started last November, Bishop Gorman senior point guard Noah Robotham sought the advice of a Gael legend.

Johnathan Loyd, a senior at Oregon, has much in common with Robotham. They both were four-year varsity players for the state power, helping Gorman win multiple state championships. Both are pass-first point guards known for their leadership. And both are undersized — Robotham at 6-foot and Loyd at 5-foot-8.

On Friday, the similarities continued.

Robotham was named Nevada’s Gatorade Player of the Year, becoming the fourth Gorman player in the past 25 years to win the award. Loyd was the 2010 recipient.

“I asked (Loyd) if he had any tips. What do I have to do to get it done?” Robotham said. “He told me to just play my game.”

Robotham did that and then some.

He led Gorman in scoring with 16 points, 7.1 assists and 3.1 steals per game. Gorman won its third straight state championship and became the first Gael team in seven seasons to defeat national power Findlay Prep.

“The coaches instilled confidence in me,” Robotham said. “Of all my four years here, I was definitely most comfortable this year.”

He joins an exclusive list of winners.

Gorman grads C.J. Watson (2001 and 2002) and Shabazz Muhammad (2011 and 2012), and Luke Babbitt (2006 and 2007) of Galena High in Northern Nevada were each two-time Gatorade winners and are in the NBA.

Marcus Lawrence of Gorman in 2006 also won the award.

“I’m extremely humbled to be part of a great tradition and to be part of a select few, especially at Bishop Gorman,” Robotham said. “I looked up to those guys before me.”

Like a true point guard, Robotham took little credit for his achievement.

He credited junior post players Chase Jeter and Stephen Zimmerman, a pair of blue-chip recruits, for drawing constant attention from defenses. He mentioned backcourt mate Obim Okeke and wing Nick Blair.

“Those guys took the pressure off me,” he said.

Robotham has scholarship offers from San Jose State and Akron, and heavy interest from schools such as Oregon State. He previously had a Boston College offer and was supposed to be on a recruiting trip this weekend, but Steve Donahue was fired this week as the Eagles' coach.

Ray Brewer can be reached at 990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21.