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By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

When a new basketball season rolls around, LaGrange High graduate Chaquave’ayr Robinson will once again be on the court, doing what she loves to do while trying to help her team win.

There will be one major difference, though.

While Robinson will still be playing the sport in LaGrange, she’ll now be doing it as part of a college team.

Robinson has agreed to join the women’s basketball team at LaGrange College, and she’ll be wearing the number 13 jersey when the season gets underway in November.

Robinson made it official on Monday when she signed with LaGrange College, with her family members, friends, former teammates and coaches there to celebrate the moment with her.

“This has kind of been a goal of mine since I started basketball,” Robinson said. “My first time playing basketball was in the third grade in the recreation league, and I just fell in love with it.”

When LaGrange High head coach Stephen Tuck was talking with LaGrange College coach Jasen Jonus, he gave Robinson a glowing recommendation.

“He asked me if she’d be a good fit, and I said she’d be a perfect fit,” Tuck said. “From top to bottom, academic-wise, playing-wise, she’s a perfect fit. She went and had a visit, and they were good to go.”

Robinson was a versatile player at LaGrange High who could play any position on the court while contributing offensively and defensively.

Last season, Robinson, along with fellow seniors Kamelah Kelley and Madison Coverson, provided critical leadership on an inexperienced team.

“She was always consistent,” Tuck said. “You knew what you were going to get out of her each and every day, and she always tried to do anything I asked her to do. Defensively, she was one of the best players I’ve coached, and she was always able to make a play whenever I needed it.”

Wearing the number 13 will have special meaning for Robinson.

During her time at LaGrange, Robinson was friends with Dylan Norvell, and the two were teammates in track and field.

Sadly, Norvell died in a car wreck in April, and Robinson will honor him by wearing his jersey number at LaGrange College.

“Coach Jonus sent me a list of numbers that were available, and I saw number 13, and that was my first option because of Dylan,” Robinson said.

OF NOTE: For more photos, go to Facebook.com/LDNSports