With heavy heart, American High basketball player continues to excel

Charles Quincy Robinson’s backyard basketball court now sits empty.

It’s a really cool half-court, complete with a blacktop surface and white lettering that reads:

“TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE NO FEAR NO REGRETS”

Robinson, a 6-foot-3 basketball standout at American High, used to play in his backyard countless times with his father, Charles Robinson -- the man he considers, “my only real parent.”

But since Charles Ranier Robinson died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 43 on August 30, his son hasn’t ventured into his backyard.

“I’m handling it pretty well, I think,” Robinson, an 18-year-old senior, said of the loss of his father. “It’s hard most days. It’s definitely hard.

“But I believe in God. I have faith in Jesus Christ, and I know there is another destination after this Earth.”

American High coach Bruno Brigitte said he has tried to help Robinson deal with his grief.

“He can be emotional, but he is functioning,” said Brigitte, who has known Robinson for six years. “He is just now emerging, thanks to basketball.

“A few weeks ago, he was like a powder keg. He would lash out.”

Robinson’s biological mother, Tania Davis, lives in Ohio.

“I visit her sometimes,” Robinson said. “But it’s mainly been me and my dad.”

Robinson lives with his step-mother, Tiffany Robinson.

They recently had breakfast at First Watch, which was his father’s favorite breakfast place.

“That was nostalgic,” Robinson said. “Every day is a struggle. We find new ways to cope.”

As for “lashing out”, Robinson views it a different way.

“I feel like I have to speak up for myself because I don’t have a parent here like other players do,” Robinson said. “I speak up while also being respectful.”

Robinson also lives with two younger siblings: his nine-year-old brother Maxxon and their sister Brooklyn, 5.

“I try to set an example for them – make sure they have someone to laugh with, talk to and cry on,” Robinson said. “I try to be that male figure and big brother.

“I love them. There’s not much I wouldn’t do for them, and I think they know that.”

As for his teammates, Robinson just wants them to treat him like they would anyone else.

“I don’t want pity or sad hugs – none of that,” Robinson said. “I don’t want to focus on the bad. I want to focus on good things. That’s what my dad taught me.”

Thankfully, there are a lot of good things in Robinson’s life.

For example, he is averaging 7.0 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.3 steals for an American High team that is off to a 7-1 start.

“Maybe the stats don’t show it,” Brigitte said, “but he’s a monster on defense and on rebounds. He’s a great piece on our team.

“He has that ‘dog’ mentality – aggressive, relentless and fearless.”

Off the court, Robinson is doing well in school – he has perfect attendance and a 3.9 grade-point average.

He also has an interest in becoming a firefighter because he likes helping people.

In August, before his father died, Robinson said he saved the life of a fellow student who was having an epilepsy seizure.

“Everybody stopped and looked, but I took action,” Robinson said. “I put him on his side so that he wouldn’t bite his tongue or choke.

“It looked he hit his head pretty good.”

Robinson said he doesn’t know the student’s name, and he doubts that the kid is even aware who saved him.

But that’s not the point.

“I just wanted to bring him some comfort,” Robinson said.

Ironically, that’s exactly what Robinson is looking for in his own life.

When things get really bad for Robinson emotionally, Brigitte knows where to find him.

“He will be at a basketball court somewhere,” Brigitte said. “He will spend hours out there if he has to.

“I’m glad he is being written about because he needs to know that people care about him, and they do.”

Brigitte, a tough coach, has had to adapt a bit in how he deals with Robinson.

“If I ask him how he’s doing, he’ll just say ‘fine’ because he wants to project strength,” Brigitte said. “I have to let him come to me.

“He knows I won’t sugarcoat things. I will tell him what’s wrong. But I will also tell him how to fix it.”

Robinson, who played for Calvary Christian in his freshman and sophomore seasons, said Brigitte is the main reason why he transferred to American for his junior and senior years.

“Aside from basketball,” Robinson said, “(Brigitte) is someone I can talk to – he’s real and honest.”

Ginette Torres, the assistant athletic director at American, praised Robinson, and his father, too.

“Quincy is an amazing young man, and he has overcome so much,” Torres said. “His dad left a lasting impact on our program. In fact, we have implemented his motto – “Do Everything Possible.”

Charles Robinson was in real estate, and he was the executive pastor of Now Church in Broward County.

He was also quite a basketball player.

“He was super athletic, and he could really shoot,” his son said. “He wouldn’t just let me win. If I wanted to win, I’d have to fight for it.”

Robinson was in the hospital at his father’s bedside when Charles passed away.

“He was unable to respond,” Robinson said, “but I told him how much I love him.”

In a sense, Robinson takes his father with him everywhere he goes because he wears his ashes in a necklace.

Robinson also thinks about all the great times he had with his father as the two of them would often go from park to park – or even to an L.A. Fitness in North Miami Beach – looking for basketball games where they could compete.

“Not a lot of people can say they experienced the 18 great years I had with my father,” Robinson said. “I know my father is in heaven. He was a good man.

“At least he is no longer in pain, and that brings me peace.”