Jeremiah Robinson-Earl Gives Villanova Commencement Speech

Villanova Men’s Basketball product, New Orleans Pelicans big man and now Villanova alumnus Jeremiah Robinson-Earl served as the university’s 2025 commencement speaker on Friday, May 16, encouraging the graduating class to go forward and make a difference in the world, no matter what professional field they look to enter.

“It’s about shaping the world,” Robinson-Earl said in his address. “Whoever you are, whatever field you are in, it doesn’t matter; your voice can make a difference in the world.”

Robinson-Earl played for the Wildcats from 2019 to 2021, a two-year starter who earned Big East Freshman of the Year honors in his first season and co-Player of the Year the following year. He averaged 12.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.6 blocks per game that season. Robinson-Earl stands 6-foot-8 and weighs 240 pounds. Despite winning a regular season conference championship, the COVID-19 Pandemic kept Villanova out of the NCAA Tournament (along with the rest of the league) during his freshman season; the Wildcats made the Sweet Sixteen the following year.

An early second round pick (No. 32 overall) of the Knicks in 2021, New York flipped him to Oklahoma City in a draft night trade. He’s put up 7.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game across parts of four seasons in the NBA, coming off the bench for the Thunder and the Timberwolves.

Despite spending just two seasons on the Main Line, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl completed his degree through online classes, earning a diploma in general studies from Villanova’s College of Professional Studies (CPS).