Fresno State Athletics
Alumni Spotlight: Robin Draper
11/30/2023 3:18:00 PM | Women's Basketball
We continue our Alumni spotlight series with one of head coach Jamie White's first players during her tenure at Fresno State, Robin Draper (2011-2015). Draper played under head coaches Adrian Wiggins, Raegan Pebley and Jamie White during her time at Fresno State. Draper is a Fresno native and came out of San Joaquin Memorial high school. As a Bulldog, Draper was a part of the back-to-back Mountain West Championship teams (2013, 2014). Draper was also named to the Spring Academic All-MW team her sophomore year. Draper played in 97 games and started in 60 games throughout her career with 31 starts her final season. In Draper's junior year, she was ranked No. 4 among the team in points with 193 and ranked No.3 in made three-pointers with 45.Â
Q: What is your current profession and where do you work?Â
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Draper: My current profession is a 3rd year general surgical resident at UCSF Fresno, working mainly at Community Regional Medical Center in downtown Fresno. The most enjoyment I get from my current profession is being able to work with patients from the Central Valley. Being from Fresno and working as a physician here, I have the opportunity to treat the people in my community and this is very special to me.Â
Q: How did your time at Fresno State prepare you for your career and life after college?Â
Draper: I had the most amazing four years at Fresno State while playing on the women's basketball team. I was able to graduate with both a full academic and athletic scholarship, and this experience prepared me to be more disciplined with my time, my schedule and with my goals for life beyond college. Also, during my time, I had three different head coaches and staff in my four years. This prepared me to be able to work with different team members and adjust to a variety of coaching styles and organizations while maintaining a cohesive team.Â
Q: What is your favorite memory as a student-athlete?Â
Draper: My favorite memory as a student athlete was the day that I received a full athletic scholarship at the start of my Junior year. I was initially a walk-on to the team with a full academic scholarship through Smittcamp Honors College, however, in between my second and third years, I was awarded a full athletic scholarship from my coaching staff and team, and this was one of my best memories.
Q: What do you miss most about your time at Fresno State and being a Student-athlete?Â
Draper: I miss being a part of something as special as being a student-athlete. That community is unlike anything anyone will experience in life. I always felt supported by the community, by our academic team and by the athletic staff during my four years, and that is something that is unique as a student-athlete. Fresno State and the Bulldog spirit has been instilled in me my whole life and being able to live through that for myself was very special to me, as well as, to be able too share it with my family and community.
Q: Looking back at your career, what is one word you'd use to describe it?
Draper: One word I would use to describe my career at Fresno State would be DONT-STOP-WONT-STOP.
Q: What is the biggest piece of advice you would give to current student-athletes?
Draper: A piece of advice I would give the current student-athletes is to find the time to enjoy the NOW. Each day - school, basketball, social groups and family, will consume your time and you'll find yourself already halfway through the year and wonder where did the time go? It is much easier to say then do, but I promise you, if you can take a few minutes and a few breathes to just take in all that you are doing and all that you are accomplishing, you will find so much joy (even when you have the bad days). It'll also make reflection on your time at Fresno State in future endeavors so much more meaningful and you will be able to explain all the growth you have made.
Q: If you could give a message to the Fresno State family, what would it be?Â
Draper: For my Fresno State family, THANK YOU for always being there and supporting myself and my teammates during our time at Fresno State and even beyond. Being a Fresno local and sharing my experience with you, was more than I could've asked for in my college experience. I will always be Bulldog Born, Bulldog Bred and will always support the Fresno State Women's Basketball team!
"Fresno State Athletics - Elevate: Imagine the Possibilities" - The Elevate Campaign provides a visionary roadmap to enhance and construct a series of athletic facilities to help further position Fresno State Athletics for sustained competitive success nationally, while also further serving as a source of pride and economic growth throughout California's Central Valley. For more information, visit GoBulldogs.com/elevate
Q: What is your current profession and where do you work?Â
Â
Draper: My current profession is a 3rd year general surgical resident at UCSF Fresno, working mainly at Community Regional Medical Center in downtown Fresno. The most enjoyment I get from my current profession is being able to work with patients from the Central Valley. Being from Fresno and working as a physician here, I have the opportunity to treat the people in my community and this is very special to me.Â
Q: How did your time at Fresno State prepare you for your career and life after college?Â
Draper: I had the most amazing four years at Fresno State while playing on the women's basketball team. I was able to graduate with both a full academic and athletic scholarship, and this experience prepared me to be more disciplined with my time, my schedule and with my goals for life beyond college. Also, during my time, I had three different head coaches and staff in my four years. This prepared me to be able to work with different team members and adjust to a variety of coaching styles and organizations while maintaining a cohesive team.Â
Q: What is your favorite memory as a student-athlete?Â
Draper: My favorite memory as a student athlete was the day that I received a full athletic scholarship at the start of my Junior year. I was initially a walk-on to the team with a full academic scholarship through Smittcamp Honors College, however, in between my second and third years, I was awarded a full athletic scholarship from my coaching staff and team, and this was one of my best memories.
Q: What do you miss most about your time at Fresno State and being a Student-athlete?Â
Draper: I miss being a part of something as special as being a student-athlete. That community is unlike anything anyone will experience in life. I always felt supported by the community, by our academic team and by the athletic staff during my four years, and that is something that is unique as a student-athlete. Fresno State and the Bulldog spirit has been instilled in me my whole life and being able to live through that for myself was very special to me, as well as, to be able too share it with my family and community.
Q: Looking back at your career, what is one word you'd use to describe it?
Draper: One word I would use to describe my career at Fresno State would be DONT-STOP-WONT-STOP.
Q: What is the biggest piece of advice you would give to current student-athletes?
Draper: A piece of advice I would give the current student-athletes is to find the time to enjoy the NOW. Each day - school, basketball, social groups and family, will consume your time and you'll find yourself already halfway through the year and wonder where did the time go? It is much easier to say then do, but I promise you, if you can take a few minutes and a few breathes to just take in all that you are doing and all that you are accomplishing, you will find so much joy (even when you have the bad days). It'll also make reflection on your time at Fresno State in future endeavors so much more meaningful and you will be able to explain all the growth you have made.
Q: If you could give a message to the Fresno State family, what would it be?Â
Draper: For my Fresno State family, THANK YOU for always being there and supporting myself and my teammates during our time at Fresno State and even beyond. Being a Fresno local and sharing my experience with you, was more than I could've asked for in my college experience. I will always be Bulldog Born, Bulldog Bred and will always support the Fresno State Women's Basketball team!
"Fresno State Athletics - Elevate: Imagine the Possibilities" - The Elevate Campaign provides a visionary roadmap to enhance and construct a series of athletic facilities to help further position Fresno State Athletics for sustained competitive success nationally, while also further serving as a source of pride and economic growth throughout California's Central Valley. For more information, visit GoBulldogs.com/elevate
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