Conrad, Cedar Creek alumnus, competing in the land of giants
- Jim Irish
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 14 hours ago
By Jim Irish
St. Edward's courtesy photos and by Jim Irish
In a sport that places a premium on height, Robert Conrad is an outlier.
A mere 5-foot-11, Conrad, a member of Austin's St. Edward's University basketball team, plies his trade against competitors who are up to 10 inches taller.
Not to worry.
What Conrad, a 2024 Cedar Creek High School alumnus, lacks in height, he counters with quickness and athleticism.
"I think playing at a height disadvantage makes me stick more to my strengths, using my speed as well as my skill with the basketball," Conrad said.
Against Lone Star Conference opponent Lubbock Christian at home on Friday, Conrad drove into the lane and scored on a short floater one minute after entering the contest.
"He give us something we don't have: energy. ..."
-- St. Edwards head coach Andre Cook about Conrad
He hit his next three shots -- all layups -- and finished a perfect 4-for-4 from the field. He also hit the front end of a technical foul after being knocked down setting a screen by an opponent. He scored nine points off the bench in almost 23 minutes of play in an 87-71 loss.
Conrad, a sophomore, hasn't broken into the starting lineup yet despite sporting a higher scoring average than two starters.
St. Edward's coach Andre Cook has designated Conrad the team's sixth man.
"He gives us something we don't have: energy," said Cook in his 17th season as head coach. "He's such a great kid. Great family. Everything he does, he does at max effort -- practice, class, weight room. He's impossible not to appreciate."
Cook said his other wings are strictly shooters, while Conrad "drives to the basket (and delivers) athleticism and defensive intensity on the ball."
In 16 games this season, Conrad is averaging 8.8 points per game in 20 minutes of action. He is second on the team in steals with 25.
More important, Conrad is hitting 52% of his field goal attempts and not wasting any shots.
"That's where I get most of my points, off the dribble," Conrad said. "They don't really expect it."
Following his effort against conference leader Lubbock Christian, Conrad scored 13 points on 6-of-7 shots for 13 points in a 90-68 mauling of Midwestern State at home on Sunday.
"That's where I get most of my points, off the dribble. They don't really expect it."
-- Robert Conrad
The Hilltoppers (14-2 overall, 3-2 in conference) are currently ranked No. 17 in the nation and one of five conference teams ranked in Division II's Top 25.
Conrad arrived at St. Edwards through the transfer portal from San Antonio's Trinity University. As a freshman, he averaged 10 minutes of playing time and scored 4.2 points per game for Trinity.
The primary impetus for the transfer was to allow his parents, Robert and Lena, to see him play more frequently. St. Edward's is only 30 minutes from the Conrad home in Cedar Creek.
"I really like it where I'm at," Conrad said about St. Edward's. "I'm in a good spot."
At Cedar Creek, Conrad was the go-to athlete and was selected the district MVP as a senior.
He is playing off the ball at St. Edward's and relying on his quickness to penetrate inside.
"I don't mind it," Conrad said about not playing point guard. "Whatever I can do to help the team win."
Conrad is just as focused on his academics with a 3.8 grade point average in accounting in his first semester.
"I love that we have him for a few more years," Cook said.
Jim Irish is a freelance writer in Bastrop, Texas
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