During the mid-2000s, Angel Robinson and Brianna Edwards were among Minnesota’s top girls’ basketball players.
Today, Robinson and Edwards are making noise as two of the state’s top girls’ basketball coaches.
Their coaching abilities were on display Nov. 26 when the Tartan Titans, coached by Robinson, and the Minneapolis North Polars, led by Edwards, competed in a nonconference game.
More on that later.
For this columnist, it was about coming full circle with the two young coaches.
You see, I covered Robinson and Edwards during their high school days and kept up with them as they embarked on their collegiate careers.
Both had interesting journeys.
Robinson’s journey
After starring for the St. Paul Johnson Governors during her ninth and 10th years (2003-2005), Robinson, a 5’9” guard, transferred to St. Paul Central and became the state’s most dominant player.
As a senior in 2007, she teamed with Kiara Buford, Georgie Jones, Theairra Taylor, Ebony Black, and Megan Howard to lead the Minutemen, then led by Hall of Fame coach Willie Taylor, to the Class 4A state title while earning numerous accolades including Minnesota Miss Basketball and Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year.
Robinson starred at Marquette University in Milwaukee from 2007 to 2011 and was inducted into the school’s athletic Hall of Fame in 2018.
She currently teaches special education at St. Paul Johnson High School.
Edward’s journey
Edwards burst onto the prep girls’ basketball scene during the 2008-2009 season while a senior at Minneapolis North.
The 6’1” forward teamed with eighth-graders Seyanna Johnson, Chelsy McGee, Talaya Rich, and Allina Starr — leading the Polars, then coached by Hall of Famer Faith Johnson-Patterson, to a Class 2A state championship runner-up finish.
After earning All-State, All-Metro, and All-Tournament honors, Edwards embarked on a four-year collegiate career at Providence College in Rhode Island.
Today, she is the development director at the Power of People Leadership Institute.
The Game
With energetic coaches Robinson and Edwards pacing the sidelines, the game itself was fast-paced, as North emerged with a 70-51 victory.
Senior guard Brooklyn Pettis led the Polars with 26 points, while junior backcourt mate Kennedy Robinson added 10.Angelina Funches and Traniah Jones scored 14 points apiece to lead Tartan.