Phil Ward is biased, of course, but the Wayzata boys’ basketball coach has yet to see many players this season that hold a match to Trojans senior guard Eric Robertson.

“If there's five out there, I’d like to see them,” Ward said. “He is playing un-be-lievable. And it’s not just scoring. This guy’s defending with blocked shots, getting us nine rebounds a game. He’s everywhere doing everything. And doing it with so much courage.” 

Even opposing coaches have taken note. 

“I was talking to [Hopkins coach] Kenny Novak and he said, ‘I can’t believe how good he is,’” Ward gushed. “He’s turned his whole game on this year.” 

Robertson, who averages 19.4 points per game, was on full display Wednesday night at home against Orono, dropping a game-high 32 points on the Spartans in a 77-56 victory. 

“He’s really fun to watch,” Ward said. 

Robertson’s leadership has been key this season for Wayzata (9-2), a team that was essentially without half of its top six players to start the season because of the football team’s run to the Class 5A Prep Bowl on Thanksgiving weekend. 

With those players gassed from a grueling season on the gridiron, the Trojans started the basketball season 2-2. 

“Everybody has got their own set of excuses,” Ward said. “But those guys had no legs. They had three days of practice [before the first game] and I felt really bad about that. I realize it’s part of the game, but that hurt the way people thought of us as a top team.” 

Wayzata began to resurface at the St. Thomas holiday tournament. The Trojans went 3-0, defeating then-No. 2-ranked Cretin-Derham Hall 68-64 in the finals. 

 “We’re playing better; that tournament is where we started to find things a little bit,” Ward said. “Eric, Chris Burt and to a certain extent Eric’s brother Zach really have carried us through while the football players found their legs for those first six, seven games. They’ve really gotten it done.” 

Robinson has yet to make a college decision, a process that has led to some scholarship offers pulled because other players struck first. Offers from Eastern Kentucky, West Point and the Citadel, among others, were out there and Ward believes more could – and should – roll in. 

“This is important to him,” Ward said of Robertson’s move to the next level. “He’s taken it kind of slow, but he’s playing so much better right now I think he thinks he might be able to garner something higher. There’s a couple he really likes, and he’ll make a decision here soon.” 

Wayzata continues its season Saturday at Coon Rapids.