LEWISTON, N.Y. — Dominic Robb didn't feel out of place while working out with the Niagara University men's basketball team this summer.

A suggestion from a Colgate University recruiter gave him the idea to take an extra year to mature physically.

Robb, who is a 2014 Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic graduate and Gibsonia resident, decided it was the right move and spent a year at the Hunn School of Princeton in New Jersey. It's a college preparatory school that doesn't impact his NCAA eligibility.

Robb ended up drawing interest from several schools before deciding on the Purple Eagles, who finished 8-22 last season.

“It was mainly because of my age,” said Robb, who is 18. “I was always the youngest one in my classes, I started kindergarten a year earlier. I was hearing from a schools and a lot of them said a year of prep school would be good for me.”

The 6-foot-8, 215-pound forward averaged 14 points, nine rebounds and three blocks per game in his year at the college prepatory school.

He was a first-team All-Mid-Atlantic Prep League selection and named to the second team on the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Prep A All-State team.

“I enjoyed a lot of it,” Robb said about prep school. “It was a big eye-opener, because we had a tough schedule. It really taught me a lot of stuff about battling people that were better and more recruited than you.”

Purple Eagles coach Chris Casey expects Robb to see time as a freshman. Niagra competes in the Division I Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. The Purple Eagles last made the NCAA Tournament in 2007.

Casey said he doesn't want Robb to worry about scoring his freshman year.

“He's going to get tossed into to the fire,” Casey said. “That's the best way to learn. We want him to defend, rebound, run the floor and block shots. The offense will come as you get more experience, you can effect the game in other ways.”

Working into the system has made for a unique summer for Robb. Gone are the days when he could spend several weeks lounging around.

Casey said the summer program is basically like an eight-week training camp. The time together is limited by NCAA rules.

“I've been here for six weeks now and have been constantly lifting and working out,” Robb said. “I've been getting to know the team and coaching staff as well.”

How much time Robb will see his freshman year will be determined by how hard he works. Casey just wants to see him get better as a basketball player.

“In our system, a forward is a forward,” Casey said. “We don't pigeon-hole guys with a position and that's all they do. We want Dom to be able to guard different positions, handle the ball and post up and score around the basket.”

Robb is still working on many of those tools. The extra year let him catch up physically. Now, his task is catching up to the Division I level.

He'll still be one of the youngest guys on the floor.

“A lot of guys I go against on my position are stockier and don't have the wingspan I do,” Robb said. “I use that to an advantage, where it's blocking shots, chasing a loose ball, getting a rebound or getting a shot off over them. Exploit leverage and position get around that he may be stronger or older.”