Robert Whaley

Visited 8/23/02, verballed 9/17/02, signed 11/13/02.

03/19/04: Robert Whaley says he made two "good" decisions. The first was to leave the University of Cincinnati basketball team. The second was to rejoin it. "I think it was good to get myself right," said Whaley, speaking publicly Thursday for the first time since he left the team Feb. 23 and rejoined it earlier this week. "I didn't think I could help my team. I really needed that (break). I feel so much better. Now, I kind of see the light."

Whaley said his decision to return basically came down to him "missing" the sport that the 6-foot-10 junior center had played since he was in kindergarten. In his first season with UC, Whaley also realized that he could severely jeopardize a potential future of playing professionally.

Whaley will be in uniform and be available to play in fourth-seeded UC's first-round NCAA Tournament game against No. 13 East Tennessee State this afternoon at Nationwide Arena. UC coach Bob Huggins indicated that whether Whaley plays will depend on the situation.

"Whether it's two minutes or three minutes or four minutes a game, I'm willing to accept that," said Whaley, who last played in UC's Feb. 21 win against Louisville. "Anything to help the team out."

That is a totally different attitude than what Whaley had before making the decision to take time off. Whaley -- the former junior-college All-American whom UC recruited to help it try to win a national title -- had reached a breaking point, completely fed up with his poor play and his inability to adapt to Huggins' hard-driving style. "It was like it wasn't even me out there playing," said Whaley, who is averaging 6.2 points and 2.7 rebounds in just 13.8 minutes per game. "I look at tapes now, I'm like, 'Man, I was soft. Oh, man, that ain't me.' "

During his hiatus, Whaley continued to live in the dormitory with some of the UC players, attended classes, lifted weights and visited practices. He was constantly questioning himself. "Is this what I really want to do?" Whaley said. "Is this the right path for me? Is this what God's got in store for me to play ball or what? I was just so mentally frustrated."

Ironically, the person Whaley says caused a lot of his frustration also helped him snap out of his funk: Huggins. Whaley and Huggins met or talked almost every day during Whaley's time off. "We kept a good relationship with each other," Whaley said. "I kind of listened to him. I think he understood me perfectly. I don't think he thought it was a bad decision."

Through his conversations with Huggins, Whaley said he finally realized that the coach didn't mean anything personal by all those times Huggins yelled at Whaley in practice and made him sit on the bench in games. "He would ask me how am I doing as a person?" Whaley said. "That helped me a lot, just getting to know him. He's really concerned about me. He never once turned his back on me. He's not giving up on me, so I'm not giving up on myself."

Said Huggins: "I think it takes time for people to gain trust. I've never thought that just because you have a name on your door that people are automatically going to trust or believe in you."

Understanding how difficult it is for some players to adjust to Huggins, Whaley's teammates were willing to forgive him. "It's hard to come in and play for Huggs your first year, especially when you've been able to get away with what you want to do all your life and then have somebody as strict as he is," said sophomore Armein Kirkland, adding that the players and coaches had a meeting with Whaley before the decision was made for him to return. "It's not a democracy with (Huggins). It's a dictatorship. (Some players) try to change it, but you can't change it. It's either his way or no way, and I think Rob is realizing that now. "Everybody deserves a second chance, and I just hope that he takes advantage of it." - Cincy Post.com


02/24/04: At about 3 p.m. Monday, the University of Cincinnati basketball players and coaches retired to their locker room to view tape in preparation for Wednesday's game against Saint Louis. When they emerged, UC coach Bob Huggins gathered them on the court and said, "Rob's not going to be with us."

And with that, the UC career of two-time junior college All-America center Robert Whaley apparently came to an end. "I think Bob Huggins has spent an unbelievable amount of time trying to work with him," associate head coach Dan Peters said Monday. "If that kid can't make it here ... Huggs tried. He really tried."

According to Brian Teter, UC's associate athletic director for external relations, Whaley called Huggins Monday and told him he was leaving the team.

Whaley, a 6-foot-10, 260-pound junior center from Benton Harbor, Mich., transferred to UC before this season from Barton County (Kan.) Community College. He was the centerpiece of UC's recruiting class.

After averaging 16.9 points and 7.7 rebounds for Barton County last season, he was expected to keep defenders from focusing on UC forward Jason Maxiell.

But Whaley, 21, who started UC's first three games before undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery Dec. 3, was never able to adjust to Division I basketball. He leaves the program after averaging 6.2 points and 2.7 rebounds in 20 games. "I just need a break right now," Whaley said in a prepared statement released by UC. "I need to get my head cleared and think about some things. I wish the team the best and hope they have a great season." Whaley could not be reached for further comment Monday.

His mother, Sonia Wright, contacted by phone in Benton Harbor, said she hadn't talked to Whaley and didn't know he had left the UC program. "We all wish Rob the best in his future endeavors," Huggins said, also in a prepared statement. "I hope that he gets things sorted out and is able to be the best student-athlete he can be."

Huggins declined to elaborate. Teter said Whaley is not expected to return this year.

Whaley was chided by Huggins for taking too long to recover from surgery. The UC coach compared him unfavorably with Bengals offensive lineman Levi Jones, who had similar surgery without missing a game.

Prodded by Huggins, Whaley returned in time to play 14 minutes vs. Clemson Dec. 17, totaling four points and four rebounds, but later said he believed he came back too early. Huggins did not take Whaley to New Orleans for the Jan. 7 Conference USA opener against Tulane because he failed to "fulfill his obligations to the team."

Two days before the Feb. 3 Xavier game, Whaley told the Enquirer that he wonders "all the time" if he made a mistake by choosing to attend UC. "I don't ever get off the bench," he said.

He played only four minutes against Xavier, then played 21 in the Feb. 7 game at Houston, scoring a career-high 17 points. But he was unable to sustain that kind of production. He played 10 minutes in UC's win over Louisville on Saturday and failed to score.




01/28/04: "Robert Whaley needed some encouragement after a rough weekend. So, a few hours before Tuesday's practice, the embattled University of Cincinnati junior center did what he has done seemingly thousands of times during his first season with the Bearcats: called home to Michigan to chat with his mom and pal, Sonia Wright.
"She was like, 'I haven't seen you yell or just go after the ball for so long,' " Whaley said.

Mom motivated Whaley, and he went out and gave one of his best hustle efforts of the season in practice that afternoon. Then, he came back to Shoemaker Center on Wednesday night and had one of his best games as a Bearcat, scoring 10 points and grabbing a season-high seven rebounds to help lift eighth-ranked UC to another blowout victory, an 80-57 win against East Carolina in front of 12,098 fans.

It was important for Whaley to play well because someone needed to pick up the rebounding slack for reserve sophomore power forward Eric Hicks, who did not play because he has an infection in his hip area. Hicks, who did not practice Tuesday, probably will be all right to play in Saturday's home game against rival Charlotte.

It also was important for Whaley to play well because the Bearcats (15-1, 6-1 Conference USA) are going to need more frontcourt help with the schedule getting much tougher in the coming weeks. Among those challenges are home games against Charlotte (12-5, 4-2) and fourth-ranked Louisville (16-1, 6-0) on Feb. 21 and road games against No. 19 Wake Forest on Feb. 15 and Alabama-Birmingham (12-5, 5-1) on Feb. 18.

Whaley's performance certainly wasn't anywhere near what coach Bob Huggins expects out of the former junior-college All-American. He converted just 20 percent of his field goals. However, it could be used as a confidence-builder for Whaley, who has had a devil of time adjusting to Huggins' hard-driving personality and being a consistently hard worker. "Rob's made some strides," Huggins said. "The challenge now is not to go backwards."

Big strides, considering Whaley played just two minutes in last Saturday's 36-point win at Southern Miss. Huggins said Whaley didn't play much because the coach wanted to give minutes to the players who earned them. Yet again, Whaley was down, wondering if he could make it much longer in the UC program.

Whaley, who is averaging 6.8 points and 2.6 rebounds per game, was down for most of December because Huggins questioned Whaley's desire to rehabilitate as quickly as possible after he underwent minor knee surgery earlier in the month. (By the way, the knee is feeling really good, he says, smiling.) Whaley felt like that earlier this month, when he did not make the trip to Tulane because he failed to fulfill some extra work requirements that Huggins mandated he do.

Whaley says he has contemplated quitting the team and returning home to Benton Harbor, Mich., several times. And every time that crosses his mind, he calls home to mom. Said Whaley: "I've called her a lot: 'Mom, I'm ready to come home. This is B.S. I'm ready.' But she always tells me things that put me back in focus."

Like on Tuesday. Whaley says there was a reason why Sonia Wright hadn't seen her son let out an excitable yell after a thunderous dunk or dive on the floor for a loose ball in a long time. "After my sophomore year in high school," Whaley said, "I lost the love for the game. I just can't go out there and love every minute of the game. So many distractions. When you're No. 1, whoa, you wouldn't believe how many distractions there are."

Whaley cited some legal problems and the pressure of always being the center of attention as being among distractions that caused him to lose interest in playing. The 6-foot-10 Whaley's superior skills helped him float through the rest of high school and junior college. This season, however, it got tough -- "I've sat on the bench more than I ever have in my whole life," he said -- reinforcing Whaley's lack of love for playing.

But, Whaley insists, that conversation with Sonia two days ago sparked something. Whaley, who entered the game with more fouls (35) than rebounds (30) this season, hustled like he'd never before as a Bearcat. He wasn't afraid to go in the post and battle for rebounds. And even though UC had a comfortable lead with just more than two minutes left, Whaley dove on the floor for a loose ball.

Is he falling in love again? "That love is gradually coming back," Whaley said. "People have yet to see the real me. It's coming." - CincyPost.com




10/19/03: "The kid has more baggage than a cargo plane. We know that. The college basketball player-as-sociology-project is nothing new. Robert Whaley is UC's biggest risk-reward recruit since Dontonio Wingfield. We know how Wingfield turned out.

We know the climate has changed at UC, that even passionate UC and Bob Huggins fans questioned Whaley's admission. We know Nancy Zimpher, the new UC president, is not the big fan Joe Steger, the old president, was. She will be cheering. Also, watching. We also know Huggins has never been paid to produce scholars. Until he is, we won't judge him that way.

We know what Robert Whaley has done. We'd like to see what he can do. We aim to give him that chance. If it doesn't work, we'll crank up the Second Guess Band. For now, Whaley should play on. He's 20 years old with a 9-month-old son. He's a 6-foot-10 manchild with the same dreams, fears and background we've written about for years: raised by his mom, mentored by his high school coach, badly influenced by straying friends, dreams of the NBA. Wants to do right. Tries. Fails. Tries again. Jury very much out.

He listens to a rapper from his down-and-dirty hometown of Benton Harbor, Mich. Fatsola plays on Robert Whaley's Discman, a cut called "Self Made Record." I'm worth my wait in gold, so you gotta pay me; I'm a Benton Harbor legend, like Robert Whaley

Whaley the hometown legend had Muhammad Ali check out one of his high school games. Ali lives on a farm in nearby Berrien Springs. Whaley himself looks a little like Ali, a face that's strong and soft at the same time. Ask Whaley, "What's the nicest thing anybody ever said to you?" He says, "I'm gonna think about that." He has no trouble recalling the worst thing: "The last time I was home, one of the guys I grew up with told me, 'I can't wait for you to come home and be like the rest of us.' "

Like the rest of us? "Thugs. Nothing to live for."

Lou Harvey saved his life. These are Whaley's words. Ask Whaley if life allowed him one do-over, what would it be, he says quickly, "Leaving Coach Harvey's house and going back home."

When a juvenile judge had seen enough of Whaley the 6-7 eighth-grader in his courtroom, he said, "Son, I'm going to send you away." Harvey took Whaley in instead. He was his high school coach and became Whaley's legal guardian. It worked for three years, until Whaley tired of the discipline and left after 10th grade. "If I'd have stayed, none of the trouble would have happened," he said. "Worst mistake of my life."

Whaley isn't specific about his transgressions. "My problem? I was always taller, so I hung with the older crowd, doing older things. Other than Coach Harvey, the only role model I had was my mom, but she worked three jobs and was never around."

He wants to do well. This is what he says. Until now, he has taken the easy way out. "It didn't work. I've found that sometimes, the hard way is the best way."

It's why he came to UC. Huggins' first words to the two-time junior-college all-American problem child were, "All you get from me is a hard time and a pair of sneakers."

"I was used to coaches coming in there and blowing me smoke. There wasn't no smoke blown. He told me he was gonna work the mess outta me," Whaley says.

For his part, Huggins says: "I think he understands he needs it. Before Rob got here, he really hadn't worked very hard." Whaley says his best friend is his girlfriend, Tequela Blackwell, the mother of Robert Jr. You ask him, "What's the nicest present you ever got?" He says, "Can I say my son? He inspires me. I'd rather go to my grave than have him grow up the way I did. I want to be a father figure from Day 1."

Whaley says his life "has been like a movie. So many ups and downs." What's the working title, you ask. "We Fall Down, But We Get Up," Whaley says.

His perfect day is a good breakfast, lifting weights, getting to class on time, working on his game, talking to his mother on the phone and going to bed. His oldest sister is an Army veteran. One of his other sisters played five years in the WNBA and is now an assistant women's coach at Indiana. The last time they played one-on-one, she beat him. Whaley says it was several years ago. He says he let her win.

Whaley describes himself as "very intelligent, outspoken, kind-hearted and friendly." He describes his game as "unselfish and dynamic. I want to say I'm a hard worker, but I'm working so hard to work hard, you know? I got to admit, I was lazy, but all that is changing. It's got to." Whaley has a jump hook he says is "unblockable."

Huggins says Whaley is skilled but doesn't know how to play. Once the UC weight room carves away some of his excess marbling, Huggins says Whaley will resemble Danny Fortson. But Whaley lacks Fortson's assertiveness and need for the ball. "He's a good passer," Huggins says. Whaley works out with Jason Maxiell, one of the most try-hard players Huggins has had.

Whaley is coachable, if only because he's mature enough to understand he has no choice. The skeletons aren't in his closet. They're dancing around the room. He's on probation for a year since June, when a judge convicted him on two counts of misdemeanor battery, stemming from a fight in February. If he violates it, he goes to jail.

That came two years after a mistrial was declared in a case where police charged Whaley with criminal sexual conduct.

So we ask Huggins: "Is this the biggest risk-reward guy you've taken in a long while?"

"I suppose," Huggins says.

"Is he still at risk?"

These days all players are at risk, Huggins says. "I think he's a really nice kid." Is he? Seems to be. Whaley is open, friendly, speaks softly, admits much, cares deeply. Wants to do well. The jury is out.

A sportswriter's biggest fear is being conned. You write nice things about someone and he makes you look silly. It's why cynicism rules most days. But there are times to squint your eyes, and there are times to open them wide.

This seems a time to open wide and let Robert Whaley in. Second chances mean more than second guesses, unless they are blown. It's not what happens to you. It's what you do about it. Whaley has that figured out. We fall down, but we get up. Whaley's own Self Made Record started spinning Friday. Play on.” - Enquirer.com



08/03/03: "Van Coleman of Hoopmasters.com rates the Bearcats' class No. 8. Coleman calls center Robert Whaley "the No. 1 junior-college prospect in the country" with "all the tools to dominate in and around the basket." - Enquirer.com

07/17/03: Listed as the best Juco prospect in the USA. - CBS Sportsline.com

07/02/03: "The man they call "Huggs" isn't flippant about giving them. But the arrival of Robert Whaley on the University of Cincinnati campus Sunday night called for one from Bob Huggins.
"He gave me a big hug and said, 'Welcome. It's about time you got here,' " Whaley said the UC basketball coach told him as they met on the very Shoemaker Center court where Huggins will expect a lot from his heralded new recruit this upcoming season.

Huggins' greeting couldn't have been more appropriate. Not only has Whaley's journey to UC been held up, but so has his venture to big-time college basketball. Legal problems have caused the detours, and Whaley seems to be very much aware that one more slip-up could lead to a dead end and quash his dreams of playing in the NBA. Whaley said he hopes to take that step after one season at UC, but that will only be possible if he takes care of business on and off the court, the latter being most important. "It's a brand new chance -- one of the last chances that I'll have," Whaley said Tuesday night before watching new teammates Field Williams and Jason Maxiell play in the Deveroes Summer League at Oak Hills High School.

Indeed, Whaley will go to jail if he violates a one-year probation that a judge last week ordered Whaley to serve. Whaley pled no contest last Thursday in Barton County, Kan., in a plea deal that lessened the two felony counts of aggravated battery he was originally charged with to two misdemeanor counts. That allowed UC -- which permanently dismisses athletes convicted of a felony -- to opens its doors to Whaley, who had been arrested for his involvement in a fight on his Barton County Community College campus in February in which police said Whaley used a baseball bat and a chair leg.

Whaley's probation mandates that he write one letter a month to the court informing it of his progress, and that he pay $4,199.02 in medical-bill restitution. Whaley said he has no problem with the plea agreement. "I just think it's one of those ordeals that everybody goes through," Whaley said. "It's just made me a better person."

Whaley, of Benton Harbor, Mich., originally signed with Missouri but ended up at Barton County after Mizzou coach Quin Snyder rescinded his scholarship offer while Whaley was on trial after being charged with third-degree and fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct. A Michigan judge declared a mistrial in June 2001, but Mizzou did not re-offer a scholarship to Whaley, who while in high school lived with Mizzou associate head coach Tony Harvey when he was an assistant at Eastern Michigan. Whaley, who is so close to Harvey that he refers to him as his brother, said he is not bitter toward Mizzou and often talks to Harvey.

Whaley, a two-time junior-college All-American, had the second-chance point reiterated during a brief meeting with UC athletic director Bob Goin on Tuesday. Goin said last week that he intended to tell Whaley that "it's a clean slate and don't abuse it," and Whaley walked away from the meeting feeling like his troubles had gotten that much smaller in the rearview mirror. "Our conversation went pretty good," Whaley said. "He told me what he expects of me: Just be a normal student and do good." Whaley said he is grateful for the chance that Goin and Huggins have afforded him, saying of the latter: "I think I need him as much as he needs me. He's like a father figure."

Whaley, who some recruiting analysts say is the best player out of junior college for the upcoming season, has already shifted his focus to preparing to help the Bearcats try to recapture the Conference USA title after a miserable 2002-03 season. He played a pick-up game with his new teammates Monday and went through his first UC weight-training session Tuesday.

Whaley said he and Maxiell, who will be a junior, have hung out a lot since the 6-foot-10 center arrived, and UC's projected starting post players plan to be workout partners leading up to the season. Maxiell "is just teaching me the ropes, telling me what to expect out of conditioning and what to expect out of Huggs," said Whaley, who averaged 16.9 points and 7.7 rebounds per game last season.

No one is more excited about Whaley's arrival than Maxiell, a 6-7 power forward who was often double-teamed last season as UC's only low-post offensive threat. He got so frustrated at times that he publicly chastised his fellow frontcourt teammates for their lack of desire to get rebounds, and even went as far as to tell The Post that he couldn't wait until Whaley showed up.

Whaley and Maxiell are expected to be one of the most dominant frontcourt tandems in college basketball. Maxiell saw how dominant he and Whaley can be during Monday's pick-up game. "He's a big boy, and he's quick and he's strong. He was scoring," Maxiell said. "The other postmen that we were playing against weren't trying to help out on me, they were trying to help out on him. So it helped my game out and opened up the perimeter shots. "Next season is going to be fun." - CincyPost.com


06/27/03: "One of the first people Robert Whaley will meet this weekend when he arrives at the University of Cincinnati is athletic director Bob Goin, who said he will inform Whaley of the expectations he'll face as a member of the UC basketball program. "He'll come in under our rules," Goin said. "We'll have a talk about our expectations of him. I think it's got to be pretty clear that he's got to be in the right place at the right time, not the wrong place at the wrong time."

Whaley, who is expected to arrive in Cincinnati on Sunday, pleaded no contest to two Class B person misdemeanor counts of battery Thursday in Barton County, Kan., as part of a plea bargain agreement that will allow him to avoid jail time.

The 6-foot-10-inch junior college All-America center from Barton County Community College was sentenced to two consecutive terms of six months in the county jail. The sentences were then suspended, and Whaley was placed on probation for one year in lieu of serving the time.

He also was ordered to pay court costs and restitution to two male victims. One suffered a deep cut around his eye, the other a bruise on his arm. If Whaley violates the terms of his probation, he will serve the jail time. "He's on probation with me," Goin added. "That's what probation means. Behave yourself. I'm going to expect that from him." UC coach Bob Huggins declined comment, referring questions to Goin. Whaley could not be reached.

Whaley, from Benton Harbor, Mich., was charged May 6 with two felonious counts of aggravated battery in connection with a Feb. 9 incident in Barton County after a basketball homecoming game against Garden City Community College.

Two Garden City students were hospitalized after the incident. Barton County undersheriff Gary Vaughan described the incident as "kind of a brawl" during which a leg of a chair or something resembling a baseball bat was used. "We reached the agreement primarily out of deference to the victims," said assistant county attorney Douglas Matthews. "They were concerned that something needed to be done with the injuries they suffered. They were interested in compensation for that. They decided that if the matter could be resolved with an order from the court to pay restitution, they would be satisfied with that." Matthews estimated that the compensation to the victims would total several thousand dollars.

Dennis J. Keenan, Whaley's attorney, said Whaley agreed to the plea "in order to keep from inhibiting his educational and athletic pursuits. "Had he not entered these battery pleas, this process would have been hanging on for another six months," Keenan said. "In the meantime, he would have been ineligible to continue with his schooling and his athletic pursuits."

Keenan said Whaley was the victim of selective enforcement. "This was a very unfortunate incident," Keenan said. "The security people at the college should never have allowed the process to reach the point that it got to. It was estimated that there were between 50 and 75 people (involved in the incident)," Keenan said. "He was the only one charged, even though there were lots of allegations against other people. He was the one who seemed to stand out because he's the largest."

Had Whaley been convicted of the original felony charges, he would have been ineligible to participate in athletics at UC under the school's policy. Whaley averaged 16.9 points and 7.7 rebounds last season.

Goin said he hopes to have Whaley enrolled in summer-school classes for the second term of the summer quarter, which begins July 17. He said he believes in giving young men and women second chances. "One of the great things about college is that it's one of the few times in your life where you truly have a chance to start fresh," he said. "You can walk in the door and have all kinds of baggage, but you can leave it at the front door. You're judged by your actions once you come in that front door." - Enquirer.com


06/24/03: "Whaley is our #1 Juco prospect and has all the tools to dominate in and around basket on the offensive end." - HoopMasters.com

06/14/03: "Junior-college All-American center Robert Whaley, the prize of one of the nation's top recruiting classes, will not -- and possibly may never -- arrive in Cincinnati until his pending legal matters are resolved. Whaley was arrested last month on two felony counts of aggravated battery and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in Great Bend, Kan., where his junior college is located, on June 26." - CincyPost.com

06/07/03: Listed as the #1 juco player in the country. (Nick Williams, #5) - CBS Sportsline

05/21/03: ". . . court officials in Barton County, Kansas, on Monday set a preliminary hearing for 1pm June 26 for UC basketball recruit Robert Whaley, a junior-college center who was charged May 6 with two felony counts of aggravated battery in connection with a Feb. 9 incident." - Enquirer.com


05/08/03:
http://www.cincypost.com/2003/05/08/uchoop05-08-2003.html

05/08/03: "Junior-college center Robert Whaley will not be part of the University of Cincinnati basketball program until the felony charges brought against him Tuesday in Barton County, Kan., are resolved. If he's convicted of the aggravated battery charges, he'll be permanently dismissed from the UC athletic department before he ever puts on a UC uniform.

UC spokesman Tom Hathaway said Wednesday that athletic director Bob Goin considers incoming recruits subject to the athletic department policy regarding felony charges. According to that policy, Hathaway said, "Anyone charged with a felony is suspended from all activity in his or her sport until the charges have gone through the legal process. "Anyone convicted of a felony charge is permanently dismissed from the program."

Goin, contacted Wednesday at the groundbreaking ceremony for UC's Varsity Village project, said he wasn't aware of the charges and declined comment until he knew more. UC basketball coach Bob Huggins also declined comment.

Whaley was arrested Tuesday and charged with two felony counts of aggravated battery in connection with an incident that occurred early on Feb. 9 in Barton County after a basketball homecoming game against Garden City Community College. "We had a couple of people from Garden City Community College who were assaulted after a dance," said Gary Vaughan, Barton County undersheriff. "Mr. Whaley was identified as one of the people doing the assaulting. We may have other arrests coming."

Whaley was arrested on the Barton County Community College campus just outside Great Bend and was jailed before a $10,000 bond was posted Tuesday night.

Whaley, a 6-foot-10 sophomore center and two-time junior-college All-American, averaged 16.9 points and 7.7 rebounds last season. He signed a letter of intent with UC last fall and is considered the centerpiece of Huggins' incoming recruiting class.

According to Vaughan, two Garden City students were hospitalized after the incident. "It was kind of a brawl," Vaughan said.

If Whaley pleads not guilty at his May 19 arraignment, a preliminary hearing will be held to determine if there's enough evidence to warrant a jury trial. Vaughan said the police report indicated that the leg of a chair or something resembling a baseball bat was used in the assault.

Ryan Wolf, the Barton County coach, did not return phone calls from the Enquirer on Wednesday. Dr. Veldon Law could not be reached for comment, but Law told the Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune that he wasn't surprised by the charges. "It's sad a young man like this has gotten into this situation," Law told the paper. "It is regrettable that young people make these kinds of choices." - Enquirer.com


4/9: Whaley was named second team, All-JUCO, by the NJCAA.

3/25: "James White has a sense of what Whaley will do for the Bearcats because they played against each other in camps. "He's a great inside presence," White said. "He can do a lot. He has a lot of post moves. Everything is going to open up when you've got guys inside who can score." - CincyPost.com

3/10/03: "The Barton County Community College men’s basketball team saw its season come to an end Sunday afternoon in Salina, falling to Cloud County Community College, 86-80, during Region VI quarterfinal play at the Bicentennial Center. The loss ends what was a great season for the Cougars, who finish 28-4 and with the No. 4 ranking in the final NJCAA poll."

Whaley's season ending stats -
Started 29 games, averaging 27 mins pg.
Shot 50% from the floor, but just 57% from the line.
Averages 16.9 ppg on 14 shots per game.
Averaging 7.7 rebs pg, one steal pg and about two blocks pg.
Also averages about 2 turnover's and 1 assist pg.
- Barton County website

3/4/03: "One of the most interesting notes about the current Barton County team is that (Louisville signee Nouha) Diakite and his current teammate, 6-foot-10 forward Robert Whaley will be conference foes next year with Diakite at Louisville and Whaley at Cincinnati. In fact, it's a safe bet that at one point or another next year Diakite will square off in the post against Whaley. "We're good friends and we talk about it," Diakite joked. "He says he's going to score 50 points against me and I tell him okay, then I'll score 52." - CardinalSports.com

2/26/03: Whaley had 35 pts and 4 rebounds in a win over Cloud County. It was his highest output of the year. Whaley was 15-24 from the field and 5-6 from the line. - Mike Ryan

2/19/03: "Robert Whaley posted a double-double. . .leading Barton County with 22 points and 12 rebounds." - Barton Cty website

2/18/03: "University of Cincinnati signee Robert Whaley, who was involved in a fracas on his junior-college campus last week and was subsequently suspended indefinitely, will be reinstated to the Barton County (Kan.) Community College team today, head coach Ryan Wolf said Monday night. Whaley, a junior-college All-American center, was struck by a baseball bat while trying to break up a fight in the parking lot of his dormitory on the night of Feb. 8, Wolf said. Whaley, who is 6 feet 10 and 265 pounds, was not injured. Four of his teammates also were involved and were subsequently suspended. They sat out last Saturday's game. No arrests were made, Wolf said. "He was suspended for a game for using poor judgment," Wolf said of Whaley, who will play in Wednesday's game against Hutchinson (Kan.).

Both UC head coach Bob Huggins and recruiting coordinator Andy Kennedy said they are aware of the incident, and that Wolf has informed them that the situation has been dealt with. Whaley leads the national power Cougars (23-3) in scoring (16.8) and rebounding (8.0).

Whaley, of Benton Harbor, Mich., originally signed with Missouri, but head coach Quin Snyder rescinded Whaley's scholarship offer while the player was on trial on a charge of raping a 13-year-old girl. A Michigan judge declared a mistrial in June 2001, but Mizzou did not re-offer a scholarship to Whaley.

But, according to Wolf, Whaley has been doing fine other than last week's incident. "He's been fine academically," Wolf said. "He's been fine on the court. He's been fine off the court." Whaley is the prized recruit in UC's 2003 class and is expected to help the Bearcats be a Final Four contender next season." - Cincinnati Post

2/17/03: "There is really no chance in the world for Whaley to go to the NBA. He realizes what he needs to do. Has more lift and balance than Danny Fortson. He is big and wide." - paraphrased by K Wedinger from the WLW/Huggins show

2/8/03: Whaley had 13 pts and 8 rebs in a win over Garden City. For the year he averages 50% from the field and 56% from the line.

1/29/03: "He played well. He showed the most athleticism out of a big man that I have seen. He has a great outside jump shot and has expanded his game to 3's although I wouldn't advise him to take any. He is dominant when he wants to be.
His only problem is that he is very lazy at times. He'll walk down the court on a fast break or just slack off on some plays.
I talked to a scout from Toronto when I was watching and he said he didn't think whaley is ready for the nba and wouldn't advise him entering the draft. He said he had the skills and could be a great player, but he doesn't take it serious enough.
Coach Wolf said he rarely hits the weight room. He has improved much from last year when I saw him though. He has probably lost about 20-30 pounds since I saw him his freshman year at Barton which is a very good sign. He looked intimidating and would easily start for Cincy right now. He's got great ball handling, and passing skills. He just needs to be more explosive when he goes up in the post. I think Huggins will fix most of these problems though.
Lets just hope Whaley is up for the challenge and doesn't quit." - from a post-er on Rob's Voy board.
http://www.voy.com/48656/


1/25/03: "Robert Whaley just missed a double-double with 9 points and 10 rebounds." Barton County is now 19-2 on the year, ranked #7 in the country. - Barton Cty website

1/7/03: "Robert Whaley led the Cougars with 19 points on 8-of-18 shooting..." in a loss to Seward. - Barton Cty website

12/11/02: At the holiday break, here are some stats of Robert Whaley.
Started 13 games, averaging 27 mins pg.
Shooting 52% from the floor, but just 56% from the line.
Averages 17.5 ppg on 13 shots per game.
Averaging 8.1 rebs pg and one steal pg and just over one block pg.
Also averages about 2 turnover's and almost 1 assist pg.
- Mike Ryan


12/7: "Robert Whaley may have scored 27 points and grabbed seven rebounds for Barton County on Friday in the Cougars' opening victory at the Jayhawk Shootout on Friday, but it wasn't exactly a masterpiece performance. Whaley, a Benton Harbor, Mich., native who signed in the fall with Cincinnati, is simply a dominant physical talent. He scored 16 of his 27 points during a first half Barton run that saw the Cougars open up a 13 point lead.

Barton Head Coach Ryan Wolf feels that Whaley could put up even bigger numbers if he play with a consistent intensity and energy on a daily basis. "Rob has been kind of up and down for us," Wolf said. "He could be the next Kenyon Martin, or he could easily be the next B.J. Grove -- it's up to him what he wants to do. I think he's pretty focused and he's playing harder now," Wolf continued. "His grandmother died, and that kind of set him back for a while, but he's playing better right now and scoring. He's eager to get to Cincinnati next year."

In Whaley, Cincinnati literally lands a man-child with the potential to dominate games on a nightly basis in the Conference USA level. "Robert can score, and if he gets in better shape, he can be a good rebounder," Wolf said. "He's really skilled, and I think he gives them a scorer to go along with [Jason] Maxiell in the post. Consistency is the biggest question mark with Robert," Wolf continued. "But if he doesn't do that, he won't last very long at Cincinnati."

Indeed, Cincinnati Head Coach Bob Huggins is known for bringing out the best in his players, and has an often confrontational style that produces results from his squad. Initially, there was a lot of talk about Whaley jumping to the NBA out of junior college. Wolf estimates that there have been 15 pro teams who have been through in the past year to take a look at Whaley and his potential. "The NBA is not an option at this time, and he's going to go to Cincinnati," Wolf stated. "Some of the NBA teams that have been to see him think he's ready for the pros, others do not. I think he's pretty much set on going to Cincinnati." - RivalsHoops

12/6: "Robert Whaley was simply too much for an undersized Highland squad to cope with on Friday afternoon at the Jayhawk Shootout. Whaley, a 6-10 sophomore from Barton County C.C. who signed in the fall with Cincinnati, scored 27 points and converted a late game three point play to lift the Cougars to a 74-63 victory." - RivalsHoops

11/15: "...the word we get from those who have seen Whaley play this fall, he still doesn't play hard all the time and often doesn't use his size to dominant inside the way he should and, as a result, it appears that he still has the same old question marks that haunted him in high school." - HoopScoop

11/14: "Rob is the best big man available regardless of class. He has great hands. He can score. He is just what we need to complement Max (current forward Jason Maxiell)." - Bob Huggins, UCBearcats.com

11/14/02: "Whaley was a first-team All-American last year who averaged 19.1 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.1 blocked shots. "Every year, one or two junior-college guys are on the NBA radar," said UC assistant coach Andy Kennedy, who serves as the program's recruiting coordinator. "He is the guy this year. I hope he realizes he still has a ways to go as far as conditioning and everyday approach to working hard. "We went through this huge process when we were recruiting him and told him, `If you're not sure, don't tell us you are or we're going to burn everybody else. But he assured us he's coming to college." - Enquirer.com

10/2/02: Named the best Juco Center in the country. - Sporting News

9/24/02:
http://www.sportsline.com/collegebasketball/story/5744523
Robert Whaley sat in room 315 of the Berrien County (Mich.) Court House and watched two lawyers debate his actions, pick apart his mental health and argue over his future. He watched 12 jurors take it all in and hold his life in their hands. He listened to doctors and cops analyze every facet of his life.

It was June of 2001 and Whaley was facing 15 years in prison for criminal sexual conduct with a 13-year-old girl; a friend of his youngest sister claimed Whaley raped her on Thanksgiving eve 2000 in the small Benton Harbor, Mich., trailer home his family lived in. The one-time No. 1 high school player in the country did what he could -- testified on his own behalf ("I just didn't rape that little girl," he proclaimed), thanked supporters, followed his attorney's advice. But when the jury room closed and his fate hung in the balance -- hoop stardom or prison -- it hit harder than a cannon ball to the stomach. "That feeling is a feeling I can't really explain," Whaley said. "I sat there and watched two (lawyers) bounce with my life, play with my life like it was some kind of joke."

After three long days of deliberation the jury was deadlocked. Six people thought Whaley did it, six didn't. The case was declared a mistrial. The prosecutor's office decided not to retry. Whaley was free ... free to again pursue a basketball career with so much potential. Whether that potential would ever be reached -- whether he was destined to return to court someday -- remained in doubt as long as Robert Whaley kept acting like Robert Whaley (substance abuse, attitude problems, academic trouble). That was 16 months ago and the story of Robert Whaley picks up far from Benton Harbor and its chronic unemployment and rampant poverty.

Whaley calls little Great Bend, Kan., and Barton County Community College home now, a place he fled to after the trial to put his life and game back together. After Missouri rescinded its scholarship offer and his senior season was wiped out, he needed this -- a place with few distractions but plenty of time to reassess priorities. As best as it can be judged, he has succeeded on both accounts.

Last season, the 6-foot-9 forward was named first team NJCAA All-American, averaging 19 points and seven rebounds a game for his 22-10 team. He was recently named NJCAA preseason player of the year. Maybe most important, he hasn't gotten in any trouble since he enrolled at Barton. "This was the best thing for me," Whaley said. "I needed time like this to work on my game, work on my character. The best thing for me was to get away from Benton Harbor. I needed to get a new life, start new."

Last week, Whaley orally committed to Cincinnati, choosing the Bearcats over Oklahoma, Iowa State and Florida State. It was a decision that was both a statement about the future and a realization of the past. Whaley still has new levels to reach, but he is a long way from that Western Michigan courthouse.

"He's really a fun kid to be around," said Ryan Wolf, the fourth-year coach at Barton and a former player at Minnesota. "He's done really well here. You heard the stories, but that isn't his reality here. He really is a hell of a kid to be around." This isn't to say coach and player haven't butted heads. But Wolf is a hard-headed disciplinarian who specializes in being tougher than the toughest kid that shows up on his patch of Kansas Plains. With each test of wills, however, Whaley grew, the coach said. With each challenge laid before him, he has learned to focus.

You never really know if someone has changed, just as you never really know what a person is truly about in the first place. But Wolf swears by his player and his player swears everything is different. "The trial taught me so much," Whaley said. "It's strange to say, but I'm glad I went through something like that. I learned a lot from it. People who've got problems need to go through episodes like that. It's what it takes to wake up."

There is no debate Whaley needed to wake up. He lived in a world without discipline, where he was the biggest star of a tiny town, where there were no rules, no expectations, no accountability for his actions.
Even before the trial, he had a lengthy juvenile record, a history of truancy from school and a series of run-ins with police. Whaley admitted in court that on the night in question, he had spent the previous hours partying with three girls in his small bedroom, drinking and smoking marijuana. He later drove them home despite being drunk, then stopped by another girlfriend's house before coming home, where his sister and friend were up late watching television. His mother was in the trailer the entire time. Whaley said it was just your average night in his out-of-control life.

And in many ways it was just your average story in Benton Harbor, a downtrodden 36,000-person city on Lake Michigan. At the time the city's unemployment rate was 20 percent, 51 percent of its children lived below the poverty line, and Whaley attended a high school with a 36.5 percent dropout rate and 13.2 percent teen pregnancy rate. And Whaley lived in a broken home in the poor section. Which is why he now avoids Benton Harbor even though he remains close to his mother, and his girlfriend, Tequela Blackwell, still lives there. Last year, instead of returning home for Christmas, he stayed in Great Bend and celebrated with the Wolfs. He didn't go back this summer and has no immediate plans to return. "I mean, I've changed a bunch since then, a whole bunch," he said. Said Wolf, "He thinks he has the maturity now to go back, but he knows the best thing is to stay out of that place. His mom doesn't want him back there either."

Whaley says he doesn't drink any more. He says he doesn't stay out late any more. He says he spends his time working out, studying and talking to his girlfriend on the phone. His best friend at Barton has turned out to be Nouha Diakite a 6-10 Frenchman headed to Louisville, who doesn't speak much English and considers shooting free throws a good way to pass a Saturday night. That's not the type of guy Whaley used to hang with. "We talk about not putting yourself in bad positions," Wolf said. "Nothing good happens after midnight, that type of stuff. He's listened."

Whaley said the trial made him realize all of those things. "I know nothing can hurt me but me and the decisions I make," he said. "Every decision I make now is a good one."

Being a Bearcat
That would include, presumably, his choice for college. Cincinnati coach Bob Huggins is known for his hard-driving coaching style, his demanding personality and his program's ability to maximize individual talent. Playing at Cincinnati is about being up to the challenge, being man enough to handle the rigorous weight training that is designed to lower body fat, increase strength and improve quickness. It is about being mentally tough enough to deal with Huggins day in, day out in practice.

It isn't for the lazy, the uncommitted, the faint of heart ... three things that used to describe Whaley. "When I visited, the players there told me how hard they work," Whaley said. "They work really, really hard. Real hard. But that's what I need. I kind of like that. Coach Huggins will work the hell out of me and that's good."

Wolf thinks it is telling not just that Whaley picked Cincinnati, but his other finalists all include no nonsense, tough coaches such as Kelvin Sampson, Larry Eustachy and Leonard Hamilton. "When he got here, he probably didn't want anything to do with those kinds of guys," Wolf said. "Now he knows he's got to prove himself."

Whaley said it was his half-sister, Quacy Barnes, a WNBA veteran and former Indiana star, who pushed him over the top for UC. "She was a big factor, she's in the pros, so she obviously knows what she is doing," Whaley said. "She said without a doubt Cincinnati is the school I should go to. She said they turn out pros and make you work and that is exactly what you want and need."

Huggins is prohibited from speaking about Whaley until he signs a binding national letter of intent in November. But the Bearcats coach and his staff, particularly assistant Andy Kennedy, did a lot of talking during the recruitment.

Wolf said the Oklahoma staff was similar, talking to him and others at Barton about Whaley's character, traveling to Benton Harbor to meet with family and others, pouring through court records.

Whaley is aware these programs were gambling on him, betting he isn't a felon who got away with it, but a 20-year-old fit for campus life. He says he won't let Huggins down. "Coach Huggins got to know me," Whaley said. "I think he understands me. People that get to know me -- and don't just make assumptions about me, but who get to know me a bit better -- they know I'm not what people think. They know that is in the past."

What is in Whaley's future is intriguing. Wolf says his game has made significant strides since the end of his high school career, when he was often criticized for being lazy and out of shape. As a high school sophomore, he was a spectacular talent and was rated above current NBA players such as Tyson Chandler and Eddy Curry. But scouts soured on him as a senior. "The best thing for him was to get out of Benton Harbor where everyone was telling him how great he was while he sat on the couch and got fatter every day," Wolf said. "His potential is unlimited because he's so skilled. Now he has to take it to the next level, control his weight and not just work hard, but really push himself to the next level."

Whaley says he is working on that and will continue to. There remains the chance he can play his way into the top 10 of next June's NBA Draft, although that won't be easy.

Junior college prospects haven't panned out in recent drafts, and scouts say they are less likely to grab unproven JC stars. If he is in the top 10, Whaley said Huggins wants him to go pro. If not, he'll enroll at UC. "He said he'd give me a hug and tell me to go," Whaley said. "But right now I really want to go to college, I'm really focused on college."

Sixteen months removed from nearly having control of his future wrested away, Robert Whaley says he is a changed man, realizes what he almost lost and has made the most of his life at a junior college in a small town in Kansas. He says he can't stop thinking about the future. "I'm so determined now," he said. "There is no stopping me. Nothing." - Wetzel, CBS Sportsline

9/24/02: Named the best Juco Center in the country. - Street & Smith's College Basketball Preview

9/24/02: Named the best Juco Center in the country. - Lindy's College Basketball Preview

9/19/02: “The revelation that the Cincinnati Bearcats had secured a commitment from center prospect Robert Whaley passed rather quietly on a warm fall day. Ohio State's Buckeyes are making a rare appearance in town to face the Bearcats football squad. The Bengals are exploring new depths at the bottom of the NFL. The Reds are about to play their final games in Cinergy Field. Pete Rose and other Big Red Machinists will follow that with a sold-out softball game to close what once was known as Riverfront Stadium. Bob Huggins landing a recruit with some excess baggage did not seem extraordinary in this atmosphere.

The facts were cited in the papers and on radio talk shows: Whaley, a 6-10, 270-pound center once rated the top prospect in his prep class and now the No. 1 player in junior college ball, became the second player to commit to the Bearcats. He previously signed with Missouri while a senior at Benton Harbor High in Michigan, but was released from his letter of intent after going on trial for criminal sexual conduct. That case ended in a hung jury, and prosecutors declined to pursue a second trial. The news produced only a modicum of protest.

This would have pleased Whaley if he were around to listen. Whaley has another year at Barton County Community College in Kansas before he enrolls at Cincinnati, but he contends by then he'll have proved he merits this sort of second chance. "People probably aren't past it, but I'm past it," Whaley said. "I'm not glad I went through something like that, but it really taught me a lot. Sometimes you need to go through something like that to learn what life is really about. I learned you've got to watch everything, watch the people around you, make the right decisions, be a better person. I always tell my teammates: 'If you're not living right, it'll follow you.' I think it was God telling me he gave me this talent, he can take it away. I learned. I've got to live right and I've got to be right."

Whaley's first year at Barton County passed uneventfully, save for the fact he reasserted himself as a skilled, agile, powerful big man. Because of his reputation, he was as closely watched as any junior college player. Barton coach Ryan Wolf wondered at first what sort of person he was getting but figured he had to take a chance on a player with such size and talent. "He's a really nice kid to be around. His work ethic kind of surprised me," Wolf said. "I think the best thing for him was getting away from Benton Harbor, everybody telling him how good he was."

In his freshman and sophomore years at Benton Harbor, Whaley was frighteningly good. He wasn't simply bigger than other players his age. He played with force. He understood how to use his body. He was a clear choice as the top player in a class that eventually saw Kwame Brown, Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler chosen within the first four picks of the NBA draft.

The drive that led Whaley to this pinnacle was lost once his reputation was established. "I just quit working," he said. "I just felt that I was that good that I could quit working." His play at the adidas ABCD Camp before his senior year was pathetic. There was no life, no energy. "He just walked up and down the court," Wolf said. Whaley's status as a prospect crumbled. Analyst Dave Telep dropped him all the way to 48th in his class, between Ohio State recruit Matt Sylvester and Georgia Tech's Ismail Muhammad.

Whaley's stay at Barton County has been markedly different. For a team that finished 22-10 and reached the quarterfinals of the NJCAA's Region 6 -- the Cougars lost to national runner-up Coffeyville -- Whaley averaged 17 points and 7 rebounds as a freshman. He was named first-team All-American, then responded to that by increasing his appetite for weight training and individual skill work. "He does everything well," Wolf said.

"I had stuff all wrong. I was thinking all wrong," Whaley said. "Now, it's just like I'm on a different level. Every time I hit the court, I feel like it's my last game. Right now, I think I'm the best that I've ever been."

Whaley said he will not enter the NBA draft after his second year at Barton County unless he is guaranteed a top 15 position. Given the vagaries of such guarantees -- Qyntel Woods was told he would be a top-five pick and wound up a late first-rounder -- and the questions that persist about his character, he is almost certain to wind up at Cincinnati. The unfortunate byproduct of the NCAA's rules against coaches commenting on recruits is that Huggins can't explain his decision to pursue Whaley when the issue is most relevant. By the time Whaley signs a letter of intent in November, which will free Huggins to have his say, the question will have less impact. It's fairly obvious Huggins will follow whatever course he believes in regardless of what public perception may be. It is less turbulent to follow that conviction when the public is otherwise occupied.” - DeCourcy, Sporting News

9/19 - here is a report from Big Apple Sports that lists what some of the major recruiting services say about Whaley -

Big Apple Sports -
Robert Whaley, a 6-10 forward at Barton, has given a verbal commitment to Cincinnati for the 2003-04 season. Whaley, who received first team NJCAA All-American honors as a freshman last season, averaged 16.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.3 blocks while connecting on 57% of his field goal attempts. He was also named to the first team in both the Jayhawk Conference - West and Region VI as he led the Cougars to a 21-9 mark. As a high school senior, Whaley had signed with Missouri in the fall of 2000. He sat out most of his senior year after being indicted on sexual assault charges. The Tigers released him from his letter of intent in June of 2001 after his case ended in a mistrial and authorities declined to retry the case.

Comments from PrepStars:
Whaley is no late-bloomer. He was widely ranked as a top-25 prospect in the Class of 2001, and made Missouri fans very happy when he inked with the Tigers as a senior. But charges of sexual assaul (the result was a mistrial) ended his career before it began in Columbia, and Whaley put his past behind him and had a banner season at Barton. Now that he by all accounts has reprioritized his focus to hoops and has improved his work ethic, the biggest fear for Cincinnati -- which is effectively removing itself from contention with other big men -- is that Whaley could apply for the NBA draft next spring. But provided that he does end up on UC's campus, Whaley should be a force in Conference USA. He chose the Bearcats over LSU and others.

Comments from HOOP SCOOP:
It comes as no surprise that 6'10 Robert Whaley from Barton County (JC) KS, who is the consensus #1 ranked junior college player in the nation, has verbally committed to the University of Cincinnati. As a matter of fact, we predicted as much in late August. We also mentioned Whaley in the same breath with former Bearcats All-American Danny Fortsen. Sure, Whaley is a physical specimen just like Fortsen, but he's not self-motivated like Fortsen and, as a result, he doesn't always dominate inside like Fortsen. Instead, Whaley is really more comparable to Dermarr Johnson from Pittsfield (Maine Central Institute) ME. If you will recall, we ranked Johnson no higher than #32 at the adidas ABCD Camp during the summer of 1998 not based on college and pro potential, but based on performance in camp. And the same thing happened with Whaley two years later when we ranked him #29 at the adidas ABCD Camp. And the word we get is that Whaley still hasn't become the dominant force on a consistent basis that he needs to become in order to live up to the incredible expectations. In other words, we're talking about a 6'10-man-child with incredible skills, mobility, and versatility for somebody his size. But just like Johnson, first at Pittsfield (Maine Central Institute) ME with Max Good and then at Cincinnati with Bobby Huggins, Whaley needs somebody who will get him into the best shape of his life and push him to the limit.

Comments from Prep Spotlight:
Whaley, who has been a household name in recruiting circles since he was a 6'8 eighth grader, is a powerful blend of size, strength, and surprising skills. He is one of the top prospects to come out of the Junior college ranks in the last 10 years and was considered at one time a better prospect than Eddy Curry & Tyson Chandler. Whaley, now a star at Barton County Community College will have a huge decision to make come next spring. He is currently projected as an NBA lottery pick and that may be too much to pass up. However it works out, Cincinnati fans can celebrate for now, and it's great to see Robert on the right path to success. - Edited by: Big Apple Sports at: 9/18/02 11:13:26 pm


9/19/02: "Robert Whaley does not want to take the easy way out. That's why he called University of Cincinnati coach Bob Huggins on Tuesday night and verbally committed to attend UC and play basketball. The 6-foot-10, 270-pound center/forward from Barton County (Kan.) College was named the preseason junior-college player of the year in Basketball Times by scout Tony Jimenez. The biggest hurdle facing Cincinnati may be getting Whaley not to jump straight to the NBA. Whaley said if he is certain to be a top-15 or top-10 pick in June's NBA draft, he will turn pro. “I'm taking it one day at a time,” Whaley said. “I need to lose weight. I need to cut down on my body fat. If I get the chance to go in the first round as a legitimate pick, I will go. (Huggins) was cool with that.”

This was UC's second commitment from a preseason junior-college All-American. Kansas State transfer Nick Williams, a 6-4 guard from Chipola College in Marianna, Fla., also has committed. Cincinnati has two scholarships available.

Whaley said he loved his weekend recruiting visit last month and felt comfortable with UC players and staff. “At Cincinnati, I know that I will have to work. I'm so determined right now to make it,” he said. “I want to go to a school that's going to make me work real hard. I've lived a rough life, and I feel like I've got a chance to change my whole lifestyle, and I'm really ready to change it.”

Whaley attended Benton Harbor (Mich.) High School but missed most of his senior season after being indicted on sexual assault charges. He was accused of forcing a 13-year-old girl to have sex with him at his family's mobile home in November 2000. According to an Associated Press report, Whaley told jurors the girl fondled him while he slept on a couch, then jumped on top of him while he was waking up. Whaley said he pushed off the girl when he realized what was happening. A jury could not reach a verdict, and the case was declared a mistrial and was not re-tried. But Missouri, with which Whaley originally had signed, released him from his national letter of intent. Barton County coach Ryan Wolf said Whaley has “done fine” on and off the court at Barton County. “Not one problem,” he said. Whaley said the incident is "behind me now." He said he was never scared during the trial because he knew the truth of what happened. "That whole ordeal motivates me. It makes me even hungrier. It matured me. It's bad to say, but I'm kind of glad that I went through something like that. It really taught me a lot about life and about myself. If I don't take advantage of what's given to me, I can lose it. I don't think I'll ever get in a situation like that again. I'm too smart about that now. That all really helped me out as a person and a player." - Enquirer.com

9/18/02: "Whaley has committed to UC." - www.PrepStars.com

9/18/02: "Once the No. 1 prospect in his high school class and now the top junior college player in the nation, center Robert Whaley has committed to join the Cincinnati Bearcats for the 2003-04 season. Whaley, who is 6-9, 270 pounds, lost his position as the top player in the 2001 recruiting class because of an uninspired performance as a junior at Benton Harbor (Mich.) High and during the summer preceding his senior year. He lost a scholarship offer from Missouri because of his arrest on criminal sexual conduct during his senior year. His trial ended in a hung jury, and prosecutors declined to retry the case. He wound up at Barton County (Kan.) Community College, where he excelled as a freshman and earned the respect of coach Ryan Wolf. "He doesn't live up to his baggage," Wolf said. "I was worried when we first got him. He wants to be a player. He works hard off the court. He's a really nice kid to be around. His work ethic kind of surprised me." Whaley had talked about spending as little time as possible playing in college before entering the NBA draft but now says the only way he would file for early entry out of Barton County is if he were guaranteed a top-15 position. "I've learned you can't listen to everybody," he said. "I've got the people that I trust." - DeCourcy, Sporting News

9/18/02: "Robert Whaley, the once troubled 6-foot-9 high school prodigy who developed into a first-team junior college All-American last season, verbally committed to Cincinnati on Tuesday. He will join the Bearcats for the 2003-2004 season. "He committed (Tuesday) night," said Ryan Wolf, his coach at Barton County (Kan.) CC. As a high school sophomore and junior in Benton Harbor, Mich., Whaley was considered the nation's No. 1 player. But his game sagged and his future turned bleak during his senior year due to substance abuse problems and a charge of criminal sexual conduct with a 13-year-old girl. After wiping out his senior season and costing him a scholarship at Missouri, Whaley's trial ended with a hung jury. Berrien (Mich.) County prosecutors declined to press further charges, leaving the teenager a free man. Whaley enrolled at Barton County, a junior college powerhouse where his game again soared and, maybe most important, he steered clear of any major trouble. He averaged 19 points and seven rebounds per game last season and earned NJCAA All-America honors despite being just a freshman. In choosing Cincinnati, Whaley has assured everyone involved he will not declare for the NBA Draft next spring. His physical gifts make him an exciting prospect, but he seems convinced he could use at least one season under demanding Bearcats coach Bob Huggins. Whaley should be the nation's top JC player this season. Unless Akron, Ohio, swingman LeBron James shocks everyone and attends college, Whaley should be considered the nation's the top recruit, whether from high school or junior college, going into the 2003-04 season." - Wetzel, Sportsline.com

9/18: "Whaley, who has been a household name in recruiting circles since he was a 6'8 eighth grader, is a powerful blend of size, strength, and surprising skills. He is one of the top prospects to come out of the Junior college ranks in the last 10 years and was considered at one time a better prospect than Eddy Curry & Tyson Chandler. Whaley, now a star at Barton County Community College will have a huge decision to make come next spring. He is currently projected as an NBA lottery pick and that may be too much to pass up. However it works out, Cincinnati fans can celebrate for now, and it's great to see Robert on the right path to success." - PrepSpotlight

9/4/02: "Cincy is sitting in strong position with Whaley, who happens to be the very best juco sophomore in the nation. The Bearcats actually may have more to fear from the NBA, as opposed to another school." - Harrington, PrepStars

8/26: "We also suspect that the Bearcats will get Whaley sometime in the not too distant future, but taking a commitment from this physical specimen, who isn't as skilled or in as good a shape as Danny Fortsen at the same stage, has some risk, because there are people out there who think Whaley is ready for the NBA Draft. However, we're not in the group. Instead, we think two years with a head coach who will push him to the limit is exactly what Whaley needs. And, like so many guys in this day and age, it also could be worth a lot more money to him down the road." - HoopScoop

8/26: "(Nick) Williams and Robert Whaley, a 6-foot-10, 270-pound center/forward, visited campus at the same time and spent a lot of time together. Whaley is expected to make a decision within a week. He is from Barton County (Kan.) Community College, where he averaged 19 points and seven rebounds last season. He originally signed with Missouri out of Benton Harbor (Mich.) High, but was released from that commitment in June 2001 after being indicted on sexual assault charges. A mistrial was eventually declared.

Barton coach Ryan Wolf told www.rivalhoops.com that Cincinnati's main competition for Whaley is the NBA. UC is the only school Whaley plans to visit. "If he doesn't enter the NBA draft, I'll think he'll come to UC," Williams said of Whaley. With Williams' commitment, the Bearcats have three scholarships left to offer." - Enquirer.com

8/22: "Barton County (Kan.) CC forward Robert Whaley, who was named first-team NJCAA All-America as a freshman, is scheduled to take an official visit to Cincinnati this weekend. Coming out of Benton Harbor (Mich.) High, Whaley signed a national letter of intent with Missouri. But the 6-10 Whaley missed his senior year after being charged with criminal sexual conduct in the alleged rape of a 13-year-old. The trial ended with a hung jury and Berrien County (Mich.) authorities decided not to retry him. Mizzou released him from his letter of intent. He put his game back together at Barton as a freshman, averaging 19 points and 7 rebounds a game, while avoiding any major trouble." - Sportsline, Wetzel

8/21: "Our Ohio Editor Chris Johnson doesn't think the Bearcats chances are very good of getting Whaley, because it's already being rumored that he will be a lottery pick in next year's NBA Draft. Hopefully that's based on the fact that he's gotten a lot meaner and tougher inside than he was when we last saw him the summer before his senior year in high school. If you will recall, Whaley has always been a physical specimen and had incredible natural talent, but in high school he had no idea that he was a 6'10 man-child. And, if he still doesn't, playing for somebody like Cincinnati head coach Bob Huggins would certainly provide the toughness that he needs to make the big bucks down the road in the NBA. As a matter of fact, two year with Huggins would be worth a lot more financially down the road than just one year." - HoopScoop

8/21/02: Two junior-college basketball players are scheduled to make official recruiting visits to the University of Cincinnati this weekend, their coaches say. One is Robert Whaley, a 6-foot-10, 270-pound center/forward from Barton County (Kan.) College, where former Bearcat Jamaal Davis played. Whaley has no visits to other schools scheduled, said his coach, Ryan Wolf. The other is Nick Williams, a 6-4 guard from Chipola College in Marianna, Fla., where incoming UC junior Kareem Johnson played. Williams started 25 of 29 games last season at Kansas State and averaged 9.0 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists a game in 28.2 minutes. Both players are probable preseason junior-college All-Americans, recruiting experts say. Whaley started slow in his first season at Barton County but ended up averaging 19 points and seven rebounds, Wolf said. Among UC's competition for Whaley is the NBA. "Robert Whaley's as good a player as there is in junior college," said Jerry Mullen, who publishes Mullen's Roundball Review. "He's an NBA player — great hands, soft touch. I think he can be an (NBA) lottery pick (next spring) if he chooses to go that way." Neither Wolf nor Mullen has any idea whether Whaley plans to turn pro in the spring or attend a Division I college. "I think he wants to find a school that will help him develop and a coach who will push him to the next level,” Wolf said. “If you want to become the best player you can be, coach (Bob) Huggins is definitely one of the guys you look at playing for. If he wants to be a top-5, top-10 (NBA draft) pick, he needs to go to school." Whaley signed with Missouri out of Benton Harbor (Mich.) High School, where he missed most of his senior season after being indicted on sexual assault charges. The case was declared a mistrial and Michigan authorities declined to re-try the case. In June 2001, Missouri released Whaley from his letter of intent." - Enquirer.com

Aug 2002: from the Barton County Comm Coll website -
- Freshman Season at Barton County
Whaley was one just four freshman 1st Team All-American's last year after coming on strong in Jayhawk West Conference action. During confernce play, Whaley avearged nearly 20 points a game and 7 boards in 28 minutes. Twice last season Whaley scored 30 points in a contest. He also had a pair of 29-point outings. For the season, Whaley averaged 17 points, 7 boards, and 3 blocks. Ranked as the top big man in junior college by the Midwest Scouting Service.
- High School/Club
Whaley was a four-year starter and letterman for Benton Harbor. As a senior, averaged 24 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists per contest. As a junior, contributed 25 points and 15 rebounds per game. Whaley is being touted as one of the nations top big men by various scouting publications.
- Barton County Honors
1st team All-American - 2002
1st team All-Jayhawk West - 2002
- High School Honors
All-State - 2001
All-State - 2000


Aug 2002: "Whaley was a four-year starter and letterman for Benton Harbor. As a senior, averaged 24 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists per contest. As a junior, contributed 25 points and 15 rebounds per game. Whaley is being touted as one of the nations top big men by various scouting publications." - Barton Cty Comm Coll

8/21/02: Moved back to active.


undated article - Looking at the man, all nearly seven feet and 255 lbs of him, you might assume he plays basketball. You might even assume he’s good … but you have no idea. Robert Whaley’s intimidating exterior and dominating skills on the basketball court define what people think of him, but not what they know.

Whaley, or "Big Rob" as many of the students on the BCCC campus refer to him as, grew up in Benton Harbor Michigan in a rough, poverty stricken neighborhood. He picked up a ball in kindergarten, but only started to play organized basketball in grade 9. Unforeseen was the fact that before he would graduate from Benton Harbor High School, he would be the number one ranked high school player in the country.

Whaley received recruitment letters from just about every college in the US. "My letters could probably fill up half of this (dorm) room," he said. There was even talk of him going straight into the NBA. Just prior to graduating Whaley was forced to sign with the University of Missouri although his preferred choice was to attend Michigan State University. That is when life began to change for the top college prospect. After getting into some trouble, his contract was terminated with UM.

Since he had not taken any tests such as SAT or ACT, he looked for a suitable junior college for his freshman year. Barton had the best reputation for the men’s basketball program so Whaley invested in researching the school.

His ultimate goal in life is still to make it to the NBA. And it is a goal that is not in far reach of the freshman, who has already had scouts from the Portland Trailblazers attending his practices this year. Whaley admitted it will take a lot of hard work and determination for him to achieve his goal, also noting that maturing will be a big part as well.

Whaley already has the exposure. He got that rather early in high school. "I woke up one morning and Dick Vital was sitting on the end of my bed," he recalled. It was at an elite invitation-only and camp that Whaley begged to be let into. He came out of the camp as the number three player.

After being asked if he would go to the NBA after one or two years at Barton he said "Right now I’m taking it one day at a time. I don’t think tomorrow is promised to anyone, so I should take the chance while I can." However, this does not mean that Whaley will be without an education from a four-year school in the future. He plans to take courses in the NBA off-season to earn a degree in computer programming.

Along with being a team player, which is rare to find in highly-recruited-nationally-ranked players, he is also a really nice, down-to-earth person. The night before his first game he could have been mentally preparing and relaxing in his room, but instead he came to my unit and sat in what appeared to be a little chair juxtaposed to him, and gave this interview with an attentive, friendly look in his eyes and an open time limit. This must have been his hundredth interview, with more important ones like coveted basketball read SLAM magazine under his belt, yet he approached it with no less enthusiasm and candor than as if it was his first.

Goal-oriented Whaley paused slightly when asked about a back-up plan if things did not work out with the NBA. "I don’t believe God would have kept me around if he didn’t mean for me to make it," he responded. Along with God, his main influences have been his mother and his high school basketball coach and role model, Louis Harvey. Harvey was like a father figure to Whaley, always helping him with his challenging life decisions, while keeping his best interests in mind. The best of Whaley is seen in his attitude. "If I could be remembered as anything," he said, "I would want to be remembered as the person who was determined to make it." - undated article from the Barton Cty Juco website, as far as I can tell.


8/11/02: "Cincinnati is expected to make a run at C Robert Whaley of Barton County (Kan.), considered the top Division I prospect among junior college players." - DeCourcy, Sporting News

5/15/02: "Robert Whaley did not have to wait to be interviewed. Following Barton's 89-87 loss to Coffeyville C.C. on Sunday at the Region VI quarters, he caught JUCO Junction/Rivalshoops.com off guard by coming up to us and telling us of his plans for the immediate future. "I'm coming back to Barton next year," he said in a soft voice. "Isn't that what you wanted to know?" Whaley has become accustomed to the drill of being interviewed since he was a high school phenom in Benton Harbor, Mich. The 6-10, 240 pound freshman power forward/center from Barton County C.C. in Great Bend, Kan., had committed to Missouri out of high school, but a number of legal and academic issues forced him to go the junior college route. This season at Barton, Whaley averaged 16.8 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game. He started in 28 of the Cougars' 31 games, shooting 57 percent from the field and just 56 percent from the free throw line. Whaley has an excellent combination of size and agility for a 6-10 player, and it's a major reason why many NBA scouts have been to Barton games this season.Barton Head Coach Ryan Wolf said that most NBA teams have sent scouts to evaluate Whaley, but added that five to six NBA general managers have been in to take a look at him as well. One of the more interested parties, Wolf said, was Atlanta Hawks GM Pete Babcock. "Cincinnati is really the only college recruiting him," Wolf said. "He can't go back to Missouri, but a lot of people feel he will wind up in the NBA after next year." So for now, Whaley appears to be happy and doing well at Barton, which is a good thing for a young man who had lived such a troubled past." - Rivals Hoops

4/23/02: "While there was a lot of talk about 6-10 Barton County freshman man-child Robert Whaley bypassing the Division I ranks for the NBA, a number of high Division I programs have been in to take a look at the talented big man this spring. JUCOJunction caught up with Barton County Head Coach Ryan Wolf on Monday afternoon, and he said that Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Seton Hall, Kansas State and Louisiana Tech have all been in to Great Bend, Kan., in the past week to look at Whaley and his 6-9 freshman front court partner Nouha Diakite. "A lot of people will probably come out again during the last week of April," Wolf said. A 240 pound freshman power forward/center, Whaley had committed to Missouri out of high school, but a number of legal and academic issues forced him to go the junior college route. This season at Barton, Whaley averaged 16.8 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game. He started in 28 of the Cougars' 31 games, shooting 57 percent from the field and just 56 percent from the free throw line. Whaley has an excellent combination of size and agility for a 6-10 player, and it's a major reason why many NBA scouts came to Barton games this season. "The NBA is a long way away right now," Wolf said. "I think he will just take a look at it at the end of next year." - Rivals Hoops

12/18/01: "freshman Robert Whaley....is averaging 14.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.2 blocked shots per game". - Chris Monter

Changed to 2003 recruit, since he went Juco

10/17/01: "Barton County C.C. of Great Bend, Kan., has sent many players to the middle and high Division I ranks in recent years, and this fall, the Cougar program has added some talented inside players to the fold. JUCO Junction/Rivalshoops.com caught up with Barton Head Coach Ryan Wolf, and he confirmed that 6-9 Robert Whaley enrolled at the Jayhawk Conference powerhouse. Whaley, a talented but often troubled big man from Benton Harbor, Mich., should team with 6-10 Diakite to form a talented front line at Barton. Whaley had signed with Missouri last fall, but some off the court legal issues and academic shortcomings forced him to go the junior college route. Whaley had been linked to West Virginia University quite heavily in recent months, although Wolf said he too is now wide open on colleges. In high school, Whaley had closed in on a final list of Michigan State, CINCINNATI and Missouri. One of the top big men in the Class of 2001, the offensively skilled Whaley averaged 21 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, three steals and five blocks per game last season at Benton Harbor." - Rivals/Juco Junction

1/16/01: Listed as the 27th best player in his class. - Brick Oettinger

6/17/00: "6'9 PF/C Robert Whaley led his Benton Harbor team to two impressive wins in day one. Him and 6'9 teammate Jeff Ferguson were awesome on the glass and seemed to grab every rebound. They will make a strong case for the top team in Michigan next season. Whaley was in rare form last night and was as dominant as I feel he should be all the time. He scored on dunks, short jumpers and a few 15 ft baseline shots that caused one basketball scout in attendance to say "Whaley reminds me of a young Elvin Hayes" - MidWest Hoops

6/13/00: "Whaley, a 6-9 BF, and Jeffrey Ferguson, a 6-10 C are two more names to add to this year's growing list of early commitments. Both players committed to the Tigers while on the Missouri campus for their summer basketball camp. The Mizzou coaching staff, in particular Assistant Coach Tony Harvey, did a great job recruiting the Michigan pair. These two commitments once again show the importance of connections and establishing personal relationships with recruits. In this case, Ferguson currently lives with Tony' father, while Robert has lived with him in the past. All Star Report spoke with Michigan Mustangs AAU coach Christopher Grier this morning about the decisions. "Missouri has a great campus. Both have a great relationship with Tony. They respect Quin a lot. And they're down on the campus for three or four days. When you combine all of these things it's just a great situation," said Grier. Whaley stands 6-9, and weighs in at about 240 lbs. He is an athletic prospect whose size and strength help him to create space inside. He chose the Tigers over Michigan State, CINCINNATI, Michigan, Syracuse, and a host of others. As a junior Robert averaged 21 points and 11 rebounds per game for Benton Harbor High." - All Star Report

6/10: "Name: Robert Whaley School ('99-'00 record): Benton Harbor High School - Michigan (21-4) Class: Sophomore Vitals (Ht, Wt, Pos): 6’-9", 240, C Jersey: #54 Tatoo's: (1) A cross on his right arm and a (2) a dog on his left arm. Season Story: 19.2 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 2.1 BPG All-State (Class A) Summer Ball: Robert will play travel ball with the Michigan Mustangs this summer before returning for his junior year of high school. The Skinny: A major talent who still hasn’t reached his full potential. Robert has extremely soft hands for a big man and can dominate around the hoop. His footwork and passing abilities are way above average, making him a force in the middle. To excel, Robert needs to develop more consistency in his all-around game. The Word: "Robert established himself his freshman year. We were playing our biggest rival - Bell Creek Central. He was real sick, but still started the game. At the start of the second half, I had him on the bench. The guy who took his place picked up two quick fouls. I didn’t even have to ask Robert to play - he already had the towel off of his head and was ready to go in. In the end, he scored 37 points and 20 boards even though he was really sick. He showed early what he could do." Coach Hall Wilhite, Benton Harbor High School - Hoopstv.com

5/27: "a nice sized 6-9, 245-pound forward from Benton Harbor High School in the state of Michigan, was a no show so far at the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions held in North Carolina. According to Rivals100hoops' publisher Dave Telep, Whaley did not make the trip for this talent-rich event for the AAU team, Michigan Mustangs. Whaley is a top notch player in the class of 2001. Whaley told the Insiders Report recently that he has an early top three of Michigan State, Cincinnati and Missouri. One of the top big men in the Class of 2001, the offensively skilled Whaley said he is also interested in Ohio State, North Carolina, Connecticut, Syracuse, Seton Hall, UCLA and UNLV. Whaley averaged 21 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, three steals and five blocks per game this past season at Benton Harbor. He says he has a 2.7 GPA and will take the SAT in June for the first time. Whaley will attend the adidas ABCD camp in July and will tour the summer circuit with Chris Grier's Michigan Mustangs program." - InsidersReport

5/17/00: "Quin Snyder still...has the inside track on a certain Top 10 player in the class of 2001. That player is Robert Whaley, from Benton Harbor, MI. Chris Grier, the coach for the powerhouse Michigan Mustangs tells Atlantic East Hoops that Missouri and young head coach Quin Snyder lead the race for Whaley. Also notable is the fact that Michigan State and Cincinnati are showing no signs of backing off either, despite the liking of the Missouri Tigers. Whaley has a nice game highlighted by his athleticism at 6'10, his long arms that block shots in bunches and he also showcases a nice soft touch around the paint. Whaley could improve his strength and rebounding to impact the scene even more next season. Also of note is that Whaley has family ties in Missouri." - Atlantic East Hoops

5/3: "he has an early top three of Michigan State, Cincinnati and Missouri. One of the top big men in the Class of 2001, the offensively skilled Whaley said he is also interested in Ohio State, North Carolina, Connecticut, Syracuse, Seton Hall, UCLA and UNLV. Whaley averaged 21 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, three steals and five blocks per game this past season at Benton Harbor. He says he has a 2.7 GPA and will take the SAT in June for the first time.
Whaley will attend the adidas ABCD camp in July and will tour the summer circuit with Chris Grier's Michigan Mustangs program." - Insiders Report

4/29: "The Show Me Shootout in Columbia, MO. is loaded with talent and has several of the top players in the country in attendance. In the top match up of the day 6'9 PF Robert Whaley showed 6'8 Davis Lee why he is rated as the #1 PF in the land by Midwest Hoops. (Lee is #3). Whaley blocked 6 of Lee's shots and had 13 pts, 9 rebs, and 12 blocked shots for the game. Lee also showed Whaley why he is considered the best offensive PF in the country. He scored 17 points and grabbed 8 rebs in another impressive performance. This game was just a practice as Lee's St. Louis Eagles team filled in for a no-show team from Arkansas. In a side note, every Missouri University fan in the area came to watch Lee and Whaley match up. It is a battle between two players who Missouri is recruiting very hard for next season and both players went hard at each other. Both deserve to be in the top 10-15 players in the country. - MidWest Hoops

4/13: Named the 7th best player in the class of 2001 by Dave Telep of Rivals 100. - Named the 8th best player in the class of 2001 by MidWest Hoops

4/4/00: "Ohio Editor Chris Johnson still thinks Michigan State will be tough to beat for 6'9 Jr Robert Whaley from Benton Harbor (H.S.) MI, despite the fact that Whaley's legal guardians are Missouri assistant coach Tony Harvey's parents. Whaley has had some personal problems during the last year and, as a result, did not play well last summer, so he's dropped from top five to top dozen in the class nationally. However, if he gets his life in order, we could be talking about another potential superstar at the highest level opting for Michigan State next year !" - Hoop Scoop

3/13/00: "averaged 21 points and 16 rebounds per game this season while leading his team to a 19-3 record and the District championship. An aggressive and athletic physical specimen, told us that Michigan State is the clear leader for his services. Missouri, UCLA, Cincinnati, and Connecticut are the other four schools that he is considering at this time. He's been out to see Michigan State play Michigan twice this year, and he also travelled to Missouri to watch the Tigers take on Kansas. Robert holds a 2.7 GPA and he will take the SAT for the first time in April." -- AllStarReport

3/13/00: "Whaley Likes MSU. 6'9 241 lbs. junior (2001) F/C Robert Whaley from Benton Harbor, MI has averaged 21 points and 16 rebounds per game this season while leading his team to a 19-3 record and the District Championship. Whaley, an aggressive and athletic physical specimen, told us that Michigan State is the clear leader for his services. Missouri, UCLA, Cincinnati, and Connecticut are the other four schools that he is considering at this time. This spring and summer he will travel with the Michigan Mustangs and attend the ABCD Camp and the NBA Players Association Camp. - AllStar Report


3/9/00: "Robert Whaley from Benton Harbor, Michigan. Whaley has a nice inside game, and is a fierce rebounder who can also block shots. Last night he did a little bit of everything, helping Benton Harbor defeat Kalamazoo Central 78-63 in a Class A District Playoff game. Whaley scored 20 points, along with grabbing 15 rebounds and blocking 6 shots. Whaley is currently interested in Cincinnati, UConn, Kentucky, Georgetown, Michigan State, Michigan, Missouri, and Syracuse. - AllStarReport

2/8/00: "His top three right now are Michigan State, Cincinnati, and Missouri. Michigan State is the leader right now....averaging 18.8 pts, 7.6 rebs, and 1.5 blocks per game. Has a 2.5 GPA" - ACC Recruiting Update

Reportedly weighs 240 pounds.

1/28/00: Had 26 points, grabbed 24 rebounds,blocked 8 shots and had 7 dunks.

11/30/99: "I do like Michigan St., Missouri, and Cincinnati" - Robert Whaley

7/99: "Second best Junior in the country". - FullCourt Magazine
7/99: "Third best Junior in the country". - PrepStars Magazine
6/28/99: "Plays like Shareef Abdur-Rahim..." - MidWestHoops