WKU commit and Chalmette High School center Mitchell Robinson is fouled as he shoots during their game against Ballard High School on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017, at Bowling Green High School. (Austin Anthony/photo@bgdailynews.com)

Western Kentucky basketball fans filled Bowling Green High School’s gymnasium on Saturday to get their first personal glimpse at the future of Hilltopper hoops.

The finale of the Wes Strader Schoolboy Classic featuring Chalmette High School from Chalmette, La., drew flocks of WKU fans to see 7-foot center Mitchell Robinson play in the same city where he’s signed to continue his college career.

Louisville Ballard defeated Chalmette 75-63, but Robinson, who signed a national letter of intent to play for WKU in November, still put on a show with 21 points, eight blocks and seven rebounds.

“It felt great to me because I’ve never been here before,” Robinson said. “I just wanted to play for them. Hopefully we can make something happen this year.

“(Ballard’s) a great team. I didn’t think they were going to do us like that, but they’re pretty good.”

Robinson had eight points and six blocks in the first half before going off for 13 points in the third quarter. Robinson capped his scoring with back-to-back alley-oop dunks and received a standing ovation from those in attendance as he checked out of the game with a minute remaining.

“I think I did all right,” said Robinson, who played a conservative fourth quarter after drawing four fouls. “I was just a little too tired. … (The fans) showed me that they’re really going to care for me to be out there next year and play for this school.”

Robinson entered the game averaging 24.7 points, 12.5 rebounds and 5.5 blocks per game for Chalmette (19-10).

Ballard (22-5) led 38-29 at halftime and the Owls cut the lead to three late in the third quarter thanks to a pair of free throws from Robinson. Chalmette coach Butch Stockton thought his 7-foot center put on a show for the Hilltopper fans in attendance, but was overall disappointed in his team’s response to Ballard’s pressure.

“Very good trip for us,” Stockton told the Daily News. “I thought Mitchell put a great show on. He’s been well with (the trip). He wanted to win and wanted everyone to play better. We just didn’t do a good job.”

The five-star McDonald’s All-American is the Hilltoppers’ highest-ranked signee during the modern recruiting service era and the school’s first ever McDonald’s All-American. Robinson is ranked as the No. 4 prospect nationally in the 2017 class by 247Sports and No. 6 by Rivals and Scout.

Hilltopper legend Jim McDaniels sat courtside for the first half of Robinson’s game. McDaniels was considered one of the nation’s top high school recruits in 1968 from Allen County-Scottsville High School. He helped WKU to the 1971 Final Four and shares the school’s all-time scoring record with Courtney Lee at 2,238 points.

Former WKU coach Jim Richards (1972-78) watched Robinson play, as did current WKU assistant coaches Quannas White and Shammond Williams, who happens to be Robinson’s godfather.

Robinson and his Owls teammates practiced in Diddle Arena on Friday night before playing Ballard on Saturday, then attended the WKU-Marshall game. Robinson received a standing ovation in Diddle Arena during the game.

Robinson will join 2017 signees Josh Anderson and Lexington Dunbar’s Taveion Hollingsworth at WKU this fall.

Before Robinson boarded a charter bus heading to Diddle Arena on Saturday afternoon, he expressed his gratitude for the hospitality for a weekend in Bowling Green.

“Hopefully they can come watch me play this year,” Robinson said.

 – Follow sports reporter Elliott Pratt on Twitter @EPrattBGDN or visit bgdailynews.com