Photo courtesy Michael Sullivan/Sheridan Press
Tahnee Robinson, sophomore, is from the small American Indian community of Fort Washakie on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming. She is currently the leading scorer in the NJCAA with an average 30.2 points per game.
Shootin’ hoops in Sheridan
By
Jack McNeel, Today correspondent
Story Published:
Jan 13, 2009
Story Updated:
Jan 13, 2009
SHERIDAN, Wyo. – Tahnee Robinson, with Sheridan College, ranks near the top of junior college women basketball players in the country. She was recently named a national player of the week in November in the NJCAA and leads the nation in scoring with an average 30.2 points per game. Those are incredible accomplishments for anyone, and probably surprising considering Robinson is from the small American Indian community of Fort Washakie on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming.
Robinson is much more than just a prolific scorer. Her coach, Frank McCarthy, knows that best. “The thing about her, she not only can score but she’s our best defender, our best passer, our best rebounder, and she just understands the game incredibly well. She has some great habits of playing hard. If somebody gets a steal – a lot of times kids will give up and maybe go to only half court – she’ll always sprint the length of the court. It’s hard to get a habit like that. I think a big credit of that is her mom.”
Robinson is enrolled Northern Cheyenne, her dad’s ancestry, but grew up on the Wind River Reservation. She was raised in a traditional family, going to sun dances and used to pow wow regularly. “I grew up around grandfather who was Eastern Shoshone and he’d talk to us in Shoshone and when I was younger I took Shoshone class. I used to jingle dress dance and I still have a jingle dress I’ve never worn so it’s there waiting for me,” she said.
Basketball came into her life early. “I’ve grown up around basketball since I was a little baby,” Robinson said. “My mom would take me to basketball tournaments with her and I used to play midget basketball and stuff like that.”
Her mother, Sara Robinson, coached her and a team from Fort Washakie when Tahnee was a young girl. “She was a standout even then,” Sara said. “The Creator had given her a lot of gifts. It was readily apparent from birth. When she was young she was faster than everybody, taller than everybody, stronger than everybody, but she also has always worked at that gift.”
“She was real close to her grandmother and she tried to instill in Tahnee that because of all the gifts the Creator had given her to not be conceited or too proud and to always be thankful and never to look down on people. She does that. She tries to remain really true to that.”
It probably helped that she was always surrounded by athletes. Both parents were college athletes. Her grandfathers and uncles played college basketball. That helped provide the work ethic it takes to get to that level.
Her parents had to make a difficult decision when Tahnee started seventh grade to send her to nearby Lander, Wyo. which is just off the reservation and predominantly non-Indian. The decision was made based on what they felt was best for her. It caused some problems, on both sides, but she has overcome that.
Her high school career was spectacular. She was a member of the varsity starting five as a freshman and became all-state that first year in both basketball and volleyball. “I got all-state all four years in a row and was Gatorade Player of the Year my senior year for the state of Wyoming,” she said. Few athletes have achieved those accomplishments anywhere in the country.
Coach McCarthy met her that summer. “We pick the top 10 kids in Wyoming and bring them to Sheridan for a week. Then Montana comes down and plays and we go up there and play. Wyoming doesn’t beat Montana a lot but the year she was on the team we won both games.” She had already signed with the University of Wyoming but McCarthy said, “If it doesn’t work out there I’ll always have a scholarship for you.”
The words turned out to be prophetic. At the University Tahnee became pregnant, got married and dropped out of school. The marriage ended and her baby boy, Julius, is now primarily being raised by his grandparents. “A lot of schools just wrote her off,” Sara said. McCarthy stood by his earlier promise and she enrolled at Sheridan in the fall of 2007. “She’s had the opportunity to leave for bigger schools and play three years for them but she made the decision she couldn’t leave coach McCarthy,” Sara added.
McCarthy is elated to have her. “She’s a tremendous person with a tremendous amount of responsibility on her. She’s a great role model for the younger girls. She’s quite a player.”
And what are her goals? “I really want to be an All American. I’d like my team to go to Nationals. Once you’re there so many more opportunities open up for you. When I leave Sheridan I want to be happy with the way everything was. Right now I’m happy with the way everything’s going.”
And after that, “I really want to go to a [Division 1] school and keep playing. After I graduate I want to go overseas and play. That’s what I’m hoping for anyway.”
With a string of games in November where she scored more than 40 points, who would bet against her?
Tuesday, Mar 9 at 6:33 PM carlareebonz wrote ...
We LOVE Tahnee Robinson....UNR is blessed to have her!!!! don't we all wish we could play at the level and with the intensity that she does. She seems natural on the court, playing ball and doing it well!! Don't be sooooo quick to judge. We should be SUPPORTING our native athletes not condeming them....Nevada is PROUD to have a sister on the University level court, and NV NAtives have come out in full support......shouldn't we all just be happy for her!!! All my relations!!!
38952461Monday, Feb 1 at 7:18 PM Troy T wrote ...
Well I Am happy that DIB has had such a culturely rich life I know some natives that arent Caucasians but because they were raised by caucasions ,Actually consider themselves Caucaians and wont be believe otherwise,I would only hope that people like DIB would share thier culturely rich heritage with those less fortunate but would like to learn.
36794622Monday, Feb 1 at 6:49 PM Troy T wrote ...
AM DUDE Well I try to avoid using insulting comments such as Idiotic as it derails Intellectual conversation .Anyway ,Tahnee shouldnt be a primary role model in anychilds life its like Charles Barkly said "My job is to put a ball through a hole ,not to be your kids parents.But that doesnt mean that she cant be"one'of your kids role models.
36792337Monday, Feb 1 at 11:46 AM Dude! wrote ...
Yeah, DIB made some pretty idiotic comments. "she was raised in a traditional family.... danced jingle, pow wows, grandpa used to speak Shoshone to them..." And worried about skin color? Well I hope DIB is not the primary role model in their daughters lives, I can think of a better one too.
36760422Sunday, Jan 31 at 6:06 PM Troy T wrote ...
Sorry I was just trying to shed some light on the Whole white boy White girl thing, such as DIB spoke of wich is basicaly a Taboo subject.But your right Im blowing spit bubbles now so Ill just STFU, drive 200 miles south and see for myself.
36731752Sunday, Jan 31 at 2:15 AM Dude!! wrote ...
You're just rambling on and on to yourself now. Go Tahnee and NU, or is it UN?
36705419Saturday, Jan 30 at 5:30 PM Troy T wrote ...
Read from Ill be the first one
36689072Saturday, Jan 30 at 5:29 PM Troy wrote ...
well maybey going with it is the wrong thing to do since we really are being referred to as something we are not but attempting to correct it could land us in big troubleor cause us to go into denial about ourselves so I guess the best thing one can do is be true to our own feelings work hard like Tahnee has getEducated and the rest should fall into place thats how I see it .
36689007Saturday, Jan 30 at 5:16 PM Troy T wrote ...
Read from Ill be the first one.
36688547Saturday, Jan 30 at 5:14 PM Troy T wrote ...
or problems in life that doesnt mean that we are not so called white boys or white girls but its not the end of the world either of course being called a whit boy or girl doesnt refer to ones skin color but the way we talk and act.or we are called it if we do not follow thier leadership I say if youn are called a white boy or girl go with it it might be your only strong point
36688432Saturday, Jan 30 at 5:02 PM Troy T wrote ...
Ill be the first one to tell you I am what is referred to as a white boy by some natives. Although my skin is very dark ,its just something I grew up with its just the way I am Im sure my friends and family that refer to me as such still love me and would grieve me at my funeralI am also aware that some people use the accusation to hide behind from thier own shortcomings
36687882Monday, Jan 25 at 11:41 PM Troy wrote ...
I see though that the Wolf pack is 10 and 9 and 4 and 1 conference play as of 1- 26 -10 So I imagine she is having fun at D1 level and getting a education as well
36360839Monday, Jan 25 at 7:33 PM Troy wrote ...
Like I said I was just kidding, Kinda as our womens team wich is very good they just kinda stumbled out of the gates. They are not as attractive a draw for recuitment as our mens team. ...read from "well let me elaborate"
36348864Monday, Jan 25 at 7:21 PM Troy wrote ...
In answere to your Question about how do I measure success Well The important thing I believe is that one Has fun,and gets an education.Wether or not her team does well,is SoSO or even does poorly if shes happy having cracked D1 basketball then thats all that matters
36348302Monday, Jan 25 at 6:08 PM TROY wrote ...
I believe it was a Gamble, a gamble that he won. Would Tahnee benifit by making A similar move ,Probably not Like I said I was just kidding,Kinda.I am Proud that a fellow Native cracked the Big time and I wish her much success. ......Read from "Well let me elaborate"
36344142Monday, Jan 25 at 5:53 PM Troy wrote ...
Success I think is up to the individual The Athelete I spoke of Quit A lossing NCAA team to play under the One of the winningist coaches in History Between Bobby Knight and Adolph Rupp I believe,Was a MEMBER of a NAIA,Conference and National Championship Team
36343059Monday, Jan 25 at 5:45 PM Troy wrote ...
Well Let me elaborate on my comment about not being able to hit free throws If you cant hit those Then you probably also dont know the Passing game.Tahnee I read can do Both very well.I am not a member of OIT Athletics and I Opologize for sounding like a scout I was just kidding
36342447Monday, Jan 25 at 11:20 AM Back at Troy wrote ...
Do you know how hard it is to make a D1 team? I'm not even sure what you mean with your free throw comment. I think FT's should be money, but it doesn't stop guys or gals from being considered top players. Also, not sure where you got that she wasn't happy playing D1 ball. As far as athletic success, she's living out here dream, she's playing D1 and handling her business. She's worked too hard to drop down a few levels. What is "success" in your eyes?
36312899Friday, Jan 22 at 7:46 PM TRoy wrote ...
or even more directly may I suggest O.I.T LOL
36166527Friday, Jan 22 at 7:43 PM Troy wrote ...
We had a guy at O.I.T that actually quit The NCAA To play in the NAIA And went on to win a national championship here and followed it up with a Cascade championship his senior year So if Miss Robinson is not happy May I suggest NAIA
36166369Friday, Jan 22 at 7:31 PM Troy wrote ...
I did not say she was a ball hog.I was just saying that there is more to her Game then scoring points. However I would not put to much emphasise on her playing D1 ball as a measurement of her success For I have seen NCAA players that couldnt hit a free throw if theirlife depended on it.
36165737Friday, Jan 22 at 11:51 AM Back at Troy wrote ...
Not sure what you're trying to say. She's starting for her team at a D1 program AND flourishing. Not many Natives even make a D1 team, much less break the starting lineup, much less have significant in-game contributions. I'm all for sharing the ball too, but don't diminish what she's doing. Here's hoping they keep up their conference run and make the NCAA womens tourney.
36131412Wednesday, Jan 20 at 7:27 PM Troy Townsend wrote ...
Also ,I see so many people using scoring stats to show how well a person is succeding at team sports Yet I am learning that no matter how many points you score, if you cant Give the ball up your not that great anyway. learn this first or your hoop dreams will fizzle Gauranteeit
36022429Wednesday, Jan 20 at 7:16 PM Troy Townsend wrote ...
Tahnee Robinson ,Native descendant playing College hoops,I have to admire that,Forget about negative comments made about her not being full blooded, some people act like Full blooded people cant do no wrong. Im Klamath, Paiute and 1/4 mexican,chinese,Proud of it.
36021877Tuesday, Jan 12 at 11:39 AM Coach Webster wrote ...
She's playing D1 ball at Nevada, averaging about 12.8 points per game, they're 3-4 since she started playing and 2-0 in conference play. Way to go Tahnee, keep it up. With the exception of one game where she scored 1, she's been in double figures every other game with 21 pts and 19 pts her top two scoring games in her young D1 career. Keep going!
35381009Friday, Oct 30 at 2:19 PM franklin d whiteman jr wrote ...
i am also a basketball player i am northern cheyenne to i was raised over here on my moms rez here in washington on the Lummi rez i now live on the Tulalip rez by seattle wa it is cool to see someone like tahnee doing good i hope she keeps her eyes on GOD and keep going forward it just shows any of us can do good job tahnee
31341847Thursday, Oct 15 at 1:57 AM Anonymous wrote ...
No matter what people say, YOU WILL SUCCEED! More power to you Tahnee!
30598542Tuesday, Sep 29 at 1:31 AM Oregon Lady wrote ...
Don’t hate. Hate the game!
29825339Wednesday, Sep 16 at 10:40 AM real native wrote ...
for those of you who think you know all about other peoples lives, should take a look at your own relatives and see how their lives have turned out. i have known tahnee since she was younger and no one is perfect, especially native americans. anyone who can come back from those types of downfalls deserves accolades . good lauck tahnee i hope you make it to the WNBA.
29229054Tuesday, Sep 8 at 10:43 PM OldShoshoneWomen wrote ...
She is a proud shoshone women, thats what her momma is. She had her opportunity at UW, then she gets pregnant but instead of going back home and do nothing she starts from the bottom and works her way back up. This means shes hard working and nobody can ever take that away from her. Most importantly shes going to get her education. I have met her a few times and she is a humble intelligent women just like her great grandmother, the late Sandra St.Clair...I commend Ms. Robinson.
28903111Monday, Aug 17 at 6:26 PM punky wrote ...
I have known the Robinson family for a long time, very good people, tradition and cultural has been a part of thier life as long as I could remember (sarah danced indian, played ball) so has tahnee, Tahnee does look Native and is representing the Native American people in a very commendable way, please people leave little Julis out of this, he is so cute, you could tell Tahnee loves her son very much. Good luck Tahnee!! Tim and Sarah are good grandparents!
27880476Friday, Aug 14 at 2:52 AM nevada native mom wrote ...
I've known Tahnees family for many years and they are good people. She graduated Highschool and became pregnant as a grown adult woman!! I let my daughter read this because she is a role model. I want my daughter who is an exceptional athlete herself know that there are native women out there like her trying to suceed outside the reservation. I'm excited that she will be playing here in Reno and we will be there so my daughter can see what she is capable of and where hard work will take you!
27734059Friday, Jul 31 at 6:29 PM n. cheyenne4life wrote ...
bs she she can have twice the glory than any other person who graduates. cuz she has a kid and BALLLIN! unlike those hataz so keep on keepin on guurrll n represnt yo tribes no matter wat any 1 says maybe they're jelous of ur blood. plus u kno how 2 stay fly 4 a mama.
27137011Tuesday, Jul 14 at 5:18 PM Danielle Phillips wrote ...
I think that it's great that she is following her dreams and decided to return to a cc school from a D1 program and continue her education and basketball career. It'll be something her son can be proud about someday. I'm sure she sees him still, as well! Kudos to you Ms.
26062969Wednesday, Jul 8 at 5:27 PM DIB? wrote ...
is she native? looks like a white girl to me. my bad she MUST be since she someone made her a jingle dress that she keeps in her closet. last I knew being NATIVE is more than having a DIB say you're enrolled somewhere . It's a shame she doesn't know anything about her heritage. last I heard she was claiming to "proud shoshone woman." i can think of better role models for my daughter
25643687Friday, Jul 3 at 4:41 AM native lady wrote ...
Tahnee is absolutely amazing! She is my close friend and I think achieving her education through basketball is not a crime. Sure people have obstacles, but its how you persevere. So haters keep hatin, cuz really you don't matter, she will get what she needs done.
25349344Tuesday, Jun 2 at 11:36 PM cheyenne Mommy. wrote ...
Dang it's crazy too see how many people will talk bad about someone who is doing something good.. This young lady really has something going for her self. So what if she had a baby and the grandparents take care of him.. She's doing the right thing by staying in school so in the future she will have a good job to support her boy. dont hate just cause your jealous. be happy that a native woman is actually making headlines.. Soo proud of this girl keep up the good ball playing...
23125944Tuesday, May 19 at 2:46 PM Josie [two two] wrote ...
she's my Hero at Native bball! =]
21747662Tuesday, May 19 at 2:41 PM ChandraS. wrote ...
she's a really gooood bball player! && so what if she got pregnant she's probly a great mom! =]
21747297Monday, May 4 at 1:36 AM Forget the HATERS wrote ...
negative comments are funny. Why is getting pregnant in college a terrible thing? She is an adult and she obviously has the support of her family so she can play and be a part of her child's life. Many of my college friends are having babies and getting married (planned and unplanned) They're ADULTS. So many men have babies and go over seas and pursue their hoop dreams...why are they not reprimanded? Her situation is no different. Let her finish her education, play basketball, and be a mother
20877647Monday, May 4 at 12:49 AM ?? 2 wrote ...
??..you have no concept of what a role model is based on your own judgement, seek and understand her life then you will hopefully have the intellingence to define your own Role model definition instead of the one your non-native teach you at school in in the media.
20877202Wednesday, Apr 15 at 1:36 PM Motherhood vs. hoopdreams wrote ...
How is having a baby and leaving it with the grandparents and ex-husband commendable? Many girls have a baby and NO they dont' give up. They realize that being a mom is WAY more important. Better yet some young women have and raise their baby WHILE going to school. They don't push off the child on someone else just because they want be an all-star and play college. They make sacrifices, balance motherhood w/ hoop dreams... NOT TRADE ONE FOR THE OTHER!
19628367Wednesday, Apr 15 at 11:48 AM Aliosn wrote ...
Tehnee you are a role modle to me I wented to give up in my schooling cuase I had gotten pregnant I thought that every one would put me down but I am almost done with school one more year to go. No matter what people say you are there living and rasing your child by your self with your parents. Do not give up you go and play your heart out hope you go over seas. To all that thinking babies are a bad thing you are wrong.
19620507Friday, Mar 20 at 12:43 AM recmom wrote ...
just like us to be putting down our own kind. like a bucket of crabs always trying to pull down the one wanting to get on top. you should be asshamed. what if it was your daughter or son? i don't even know this girl but will back her up anyday. Is that how we support our youth? shame, shame, shame, shame..... it's no wonder our 30somethings are still living at mommy's and daddy's or grandma's.
18297242Sunday, Mar 15 at 9:37 PM Boulder Flats Fans wrote ...
Tahnee will always be a role model to the young people of WRIR! You go and achieve your dreams young lady and don't let anyone drag you down! She is proof that there are better things out there, especially for the youth of WRIR! We are standing tall behind you, praying and cheering for you!
18074541Friday, Mar 13 at 4:28 PM Rezident wrote ...
Not to mention she missed games in HS for a broken hand because she got mad at her boyfriend and punched a locker. Actually it's good that she still likes playing ball with all the pressure growing up. Hope it all works out for her and her son.
18002162Tuesday, Mar 10 at 1:03 AM D wrote ...
Not to mention the DUI she got in high school.....
17767707Tuesday, Mar 3 at 2:48 PM LIL MELIS wrote ...
There are some negative comments about Tahnee getting pregnant on this blog..but I applaude her she was blessed with a child, a gift from god. I've been fortunate enough to watch Tahnee in her younger years play from Jr High thru High School...she is soo talented. She is a role model and there will always be jealously among natives when one is doing well. Many girls will quit completely after getting preg. Maheo watch over you Tahnee in your endevours with school and Basketball
17430707Monday, Mar 2 at 8:47 PM Donna wrote ...
Hellooooooooooo, did it not say she was married. Role model any day. you go girl!!!
17390692Wednesday, Feb 11 at 12:56 PM D. Webster wrote ...
I thought this was a good read and it's good to see a Native having success at the college level seeing as that's a very rare thing. So she got pregnant. Nobody would bat an eye if a male player got someone pregnant. She could've gave up and went home like everyone else does, but she's in school and doing very well in basketball. C'mon, she leads the nation in scoring. I hope everything continues to work out for her, and having a kid doesn't take away her role model status. Keep going Tahnee.
16340937Tuesday, Feb 10 at 9:43 AM Jason wrote ...
she good..leave it at that...
16267369Monday, Feb 9 at 8:05 PM native coach wrote ...
Sounds like a great ball player. I'm am very glad for her. But I must admit that I was going to have my own 10yo daugther read this ....until I read that she got pregnant. Double standard ... I know. But thats the way it is. I hope she reaches all her goals!
16246974Thursday, Feb 5 at 3:11 PM Indian Mom wrote ...
Excuse me, this young lady proved that she is still a role model despite getting pregnant. She accepted the choice she made and still kept on working towards the goals she set for herself. She kept her head up and brought a beautiful baby into this world fulfilling one of the traditional roles of being an Indian woman, we are the keepers of life in that we nurture and sustain the future generations to ensure that our way of life will continue. Proud of you Tahnee!
16074099Tuesday, Feb 3 at 1:42 PM ?? wrote ...
Role model? excuse me but getting pregnant in college is not role model.
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