Robbins leaving large footprint at Upper St. Clair
Junior named Almanac MVP
Ryan Robbins doesn’t mind following in the footsteps of others because that path has led to success.
Robbins hails from a talented basketball family but he’s likely to cement his legacy in football as his father did and as other Upper St. Clair High School alumni have. He is a 6-foot-7, 280-pound 3-star college prospect at offensive tackle that happens to be quite talented at basketball.
For that Robbins thanks his mother as well as his siblings.
During her playing career at Mt. Lebanon High School, the former Kim Seaver scored 1,849 points and grabbed 1,248 rebounds. She went on to star at Virginia Tech, setting records and attaining honors, while finishing among the Hokies’ Top 10 players in some offensive categories.
Kate and Tyler Robbins were 1,000-point scorers at USC. Kate helped USC to three WPIAL finals before matriculating to Marist University. Tyler led the Panthers to back-to-back WPIAL championships before he moved on to Miami, where the Ohio school finished as the only undefeated team during the regular season of college basketball this winter.
Seaver and Tyler both were recognized during their scholastic careers as Almanac MVP in basketball. Robbins joins the duo. The junior, who averaged a double-double every outing, and captained the Panthers to a three-peat as district champions, has been named the 2026 Almanac Most Valuable Player for boys basketball.
“I’m really honored to be selected,” Robbins said. “It’s a great achievement.”
Robbins added that it “feels great” to replicate the distinction of his mother and brother.
“My mom was the one who really built me up to be where I am right now,” Robbins said. “Definitely, my hoop skills come from her legacy. So it’s a great honor to accomplish something that she has.
“My siblings helped me a ton,” Robbins continued. “My brother led the way for me and I kind of filled in his position from last year to this year. It definitely made it so much easier for me just playing after him, backing him up and learning from him.”
Robbins learned from his father the sport that is at the forefront of his future. Tim Robbins played football at the University of Pittsburgh, first as a defensive lineman before transitioning to tight end. Eventually, he played all the offensive line positions.
“Like my mother, I owe my dad a lot,” Robbins said. “He developed me as a football player to where I am today. It definitely means a lot to be following in his footsteps.”
While Robbins says he can catch a football, he is a tackle being recruited for among other things his ability to play either on the right or left side. Because of his physique, Robbins is a natural at the position.
“The guards and centers have to be more stocky and they have to be stronger and more powerful to move bigger guys off the line,” he explained. “The tackle has to be more versatile. They have to be able to move. So they have to be longer and taller. Lucky for me I have that and good footwork.”
Basketball enhances his agility and makes him attractive to college recruiters. Currently, his parents’ alma maters are in the running for Robbins as are Penn State, Ohio State, Nebraska as well as Syracuse along with a plethora of southern ACC schools.
“Basketball helps so much with footwork in football and footwork definitely comes in handy because college coaches love to see that I can move as well as I can with being as big of a guy as I am. Footwork and how athletic I am are big pluses.”
USC boys basketball coach Dan Holzer agreed. He said that the ability to move around the basket and his skill level made Robbins “unstoppable” and that he benefits from being a two-sport athlete.
“The physicality and competitive nature you have to have in football was brought out on the basketball court. Ryan was so solid and consistent,” Holzer said. “His basketball IQ on both ends of the court are at a high level. He doesn’t jump out of the gymnasium but he doesn’t get into foul trouble either.”
Holzer noted that Robbins, who led the Panthers in scoring and rebounding, took his game to a whole new level in the playoffs. He raised his scoring average from 15 points to 18 points per game during the postseason. In addition to scoring 442 points this winter, Robbins racked up 325 rebounds for an average of 11.2 a game. He also blocked 2.3 shots.
“He made such an impact. He even was a presence defensively. His leadership among his teammates was phenomenal, too,” said Holzer, who noted Robbins was elected a captain though he was just a junior. “Ryan was so determined that his teammates followed. Thanks to him, we were one possession away from Hershey.”
A state championship in basketball and a WPIAL title in football are on Robbins’ radar for his senior year.
“I definitely want to pick up my fourth WPIAL championship and I’d like to get one for my football team and my school,” he said. “So that would mean a lot. That would seal my career.”
And cement his legacy.
“I want to let everyone know that the Robbins family is a tough deal,” he concluded.