NEW YORK — If Jeff Robinson heads to Europe to play basketball this season, Seton Hall may be able to form an all-European starting five.
Andre Barrett plans to play in France, and Jeremy Hazell is weighing offers from Israel, Italy and Spain. Former Seton Hall players Brian Laing and Jamar Nutter have also played in Europe.
“Right now I’m waiting for some feedback from a couple teams over there, mainly Germany, Italy and Spain right now,” the 6-foot-6 Robinson said Thursday night at Baruch College after playing in the Nike Pro City League with Hazell for The Uptowners, who were eliminated from playoff contention.
“I’m just waiting to see what the contract is going to look like and stuff like that,” added Robinson, a former Elizabeth (N.J.) St. Patrick star who averaged 12.1 points and 6.4 rebounds last season for the Pirates.
Asked to reflect on his Seton Hall career and the turbulent Bobby Gonzalez Era, Robinson said the hardest stretch came after Gonzalez was fired in the spring of 2010, leading to the hiring of Kevin Willard.
“The changing of the coaches, us being alone during the process of finding a coach, then the thing with ‘Stix’ [Robert Mitchell],” he said, referring to Mitchell and former Seton Hall player Kelly Whitney’s arrest for robbery at gunpoint.
“There was just a lot of stuff going on at that time that we really didn’t have nobody to sit down and talk to,” Robinson added. “We pretty much had to take care of each other.”
Robinson said he spoke with Gonzalez last week and they maintain a friendly relationship.
“He’s doing good and he wishes us the best,” he said.
On Thursday, Hazell left to play in Dyckman Park just before The Uptowners’ game was over.
He was there in time to watch Minnesota Timberwolves forward Michael Beasley get into an argument with a heckling fan and push him in the face with an open hand. Hazell also attempted to cover Kevin Durant on Monday when the Oklahoma City Thunder forward went off for 66 points at Rucker Park.
As far as his overseas plans, Hazell, like Robinson, is waiting to see what develops.
“He’s pretty much waiting for the same thing,” Robinson said.
Hazell is represented by Seth Cohen, Andy Miller reps Robinson and Keith Glass is Barrett’s agent.
After playing in Barcelona, Spain for a year and a half and winning the Spanish League in 2009-10, Barrett said he’s planning on signing in France.
“As far as contract-wise, everything is guaranteed [in France],” he said. “A little bit of better money and you just know you’re going to get your money.
“I mean, it’s good competition, a lot of guys are going to be in that league.”
The 5-10 Barrett spent four years in the NBA with a variety of teams, but said the lockout hurt his ability to work out for teams this summer.
“I’m definitely trying to get back,” he said. “I was supposed to have some workouts, but with this lockout you can’t even work out at the facility, so everything is pretty much cancelled. A lot of guys are going overseas.”
Before he departs, Robinson said he’s taking summer classes and finishing his diploma while practicing with the current Pirates team.
“They’re going to be pretty good,” Robinson said. “They’re real disciplined.”
Robinson singled out Jordan Theodore, Aaron Cosby and 6-11 center Aaron Geramipoor for their play.
“Aaron Geramipoor, he’s getting a lot stronger and a lot better in the post,” Robinson said. “They’re going to be very good when Eugene [Teague] starts playing [in 2012].”
Robinson also likes former Paterson Catholic standout Fuquan Edwin, a rising junior just named a first-team All-Jersey Shore Basketball League selection.
“Fuquan is going to be amazing next year,” he said. “He’s going to be a big surprise for the Big East.
(Photo courtesy The Trentonian)
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