‘The Kind of Player Who Doesn’t Come Around Very Often’

Suffolk University basketball star Keenan Robertson shares a few things in common with one of his favorite NBA players, the Boston Celtics’ phenom Jayson Tatum. Their home courts are just a few blocks apart. They are each multi-talented performers with a polished set of skills. And when the game is on the line, both step up and deliver.

“It’s like I have this driving force inside me to succeed,” says Robertson, Class of 2025. “Over the years, people have had certain expectations of me as a player and I didn’t want to fail them or myself.”

A four-year starter for the Rams, the 6-foot-5 forward finished his collegiate career with a total of 1,846 points, third on Suffolk’s all-time list.

This past season, Robertson averaged 22.8 points per game (the 13th-best Division III mark in the country), along with 7.4 rebounds. As a team captain, he led Suffolk to a record of 20-8 (the first-ever 20-win season in school history) and a berth in the Conference of New England (CNE) championship game. In the playoffs, the Rochester, New York native erupted for a career-high 43 points during the Rams’ 96-85 semifinal win against Endicott College, sinking ten of his 14 three-pointers.

“Being part of a brotherhood where everyone was fighting for a common goal is something that I will never forget,” he says.

A three-year All-Conference selection, Robertson earned many awards, including being selected to the National Association of Basketball Coaches All-District 2 First Team—the first known Ram in program history to receive the honor.

“Players like Keenan don’t come around very often,” says Suffolk Head Coach Jeff Juron. “He is a great player who continued to get better from year to year because of his work ethic. Although he was the star of the team, he was humble and unselfish, and wanted to be coached hard in order to grow and reach his potential.”

Robertson, in turn, calls Juron “a very important mentor. If I had a problem outside of basketball, he would always be there to help me through the situation.”

A criminal justice major and an AD Honor Roll selection numerous times, Robertson also thrived in the classroom, thanks in part to the lessons in self-discipline, teamwork, and time management he was taught while shooting hoops. “I’ve learned that nothing comes easy, and you have to work just as hard to get good grades as you do on the basketball court,” he says.

After graduation, Robertson hopes to continue his basketball career in Europe. His long-term plans include applying to law school, perhaps to test his skills on a different kind of court.