Stanley Robinson, who led UConn to Final Four in Detroit, dies at 32

Birmingham, Ala. — Former UConn basketball player Stanley Robinson has died of unknown causes at a family residence in Birmingham. He was 32.

Jefferson County Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates said Robinson was found unresponsive by a family member Tuesday at 7:45 p.m. in his hometown. He was pronounced dead at the scene 11 minutes later.

Robinson, who had turned 32 on July 14, played at UConn from 2006-10. The 6-foot-9 forward started 103 career games and averaged 9.8 points and 6.2 rebounds over four seasons.

He was Alabama’s Mr. Basketball at Huffman High School and was a starting forward on the Huskies’ Final Four team in 2008-09, making it to Ford Field. Michigan State beat UConn to make it to the championship game.

Yates said Birmingham police are investigating the death but that no evidence had been found of foul play or trauma. He said official cause of death was pending results of toxicology analysis and other tests.

“I am truly heartbroken,” said Hall of Famer Jim Calhoun, Robinson’s coach at UConn. “Stanley was such a beautiful person, caring and giving. He was a gentle soul, too gentle for this world.

“He was not only loved by his teammates, but everybody who met Sticks liked him. He will always be a Husky.”

Robinson was drafted by the Orlando Magic in the second round of the 2010 NBA Draft but was waived on the last day of camp. He played professionally internationally in places such as Canada, Iceland and Chile.