Stephen Edelson

@steveedelsonAPP

It was the ultimate act of fandom, creative in concept, enthusiastic in execution and noble in purpose.

Because while all the wins and national exposure are important, it’s the actions of supporters like Erica Schaeffer, an 11-year-old from Point Pleasant, that serve as the true signs Monmouth University basketball has indeed reached another level.

She’ll be on the fan bus Friday headed for Albany along with her dad, Eric, her mom, Mary Jane, and 14-year-old sister Kathryn. They’ll do it again Monday if the top-seeded Hawks are in the MAAC championship game.

But as the first-year season ticketholders’ original stack of 56 ducats in section K, row 9, began to dwindle, Erica Schaeffer started to realize she might not get to see her favorite player, Justin Robinson, anymore.

``I talked to her about Deon Jones and other players who are playing overseas,’’ Eric Schaeffer said, ‘’And I told her, `you know, that’s a distinct possibility for Justin, coming from a smaller school,’ and that it’s just a reality. It might happen.’’

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Well, that was not acceptable to Erica Schaeffer. Not when it comes to the soon-to-be two-time MAAC Player of the Year. The one who dazzled her and her family in the handful of games they attended last season, and who she got to know when they religiously attended his Jersey Shore Summer League games, and who said ``Happy Birthday’’ to her at a game in January.

So she hatched a plan to try to keep Robinson within sight, mailing out heartfelt letters to all 30 NBA general managers, laying out her case for why they should give him a chance. Not that the 5-8 point guard hasn’t done enough to put himself on draft boards around the league, but the personal touch of a young fan can go a long way.

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``My dad was telling me that Justin may go overseas,’’ she said, ``so that made me think that I would try to help Justin stay here because I want to see him play again. And just meeting him and how he’s so nice, I wanted to see him play here and become an NBA player.

``I just wanted to tell the teams how nice he is as a person and how good he is as a player and how he can change their team.’’

In the letters she detailed Robinson’s record-setting career on the court and the kind of person he is off of it, before she concluded them by noting:

When you first enter the OceanFirst Bank Center in West Long Branch, NJ, you see a sign that reads “BELIEVE COMPETE SUCCEED.” Justin, along with everyone that has watched him, believes in his talents. The way in which he competes is off the chart. With your help, he can succeed as an NBA pro. Thank you for your time.

She personalized each one. On the Knicks’ letter there was ``PS: He’s from Kingston, N.Y.’’ And to the 76ers she added ``PS: The Sixers are my father’s favorite team, and I know we’ll get season tickets if he comes there. #theprocess.’’

Then, wouldn’t you know, she got a response in the form of an email from Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey. Then another from the Atlanta Hawks. And on Monday, Schaeffer, a fifth-grader at Nellie Bennett Elementary School, arrived home to find a hand-written note from Detroit Pistons GM Jeff Bower.

Who knows how many more she’ll receive in her campaign to put Robinson front-and-center in the minds of NBA decision-makers.

The bigger picture here is that this, right here, is the blueprint for taking a college basketball program where it’s never been. It starts at bedrock, energizing the fans you have, while cultivating new ones like Erica Schaeffer, her sister and her parents.

It traces directly back to head coach King Rice, who has surrounded himself with good kids, who also happen to have some talent, and an incredibly dynamic, charismatic player like Robinson.

The Schaeffers have met every single player on the Hawks’ roster, and been impressed with all of them.

``We’re going to miss (Robinson) but we’ve already committed to next season,’’ Eric Schaeffer said. ``We extended our tickets, and it’s because of coach Rice. He just has such a great group of guys there. They are all so nice and they’re great with the kids and they’re appreciative and humble. So we thank King Rice, we thank the families of these kids for raising such gentleman. And it’s just a really good group I want my kids to be around, just to see how people conduct themselves.’’

And if you’re an NBA general manager, please check your mailbox. Because Erica Schaeffer’s right. Justin Robinson will make any team he’s a part of better.

Staff writer Stephen Edelson is an Asbury Park Press columnist:sedelson@gannettnj.com



