Magnum Rolle
Encyclopedia
Magnum Rolle is a Bahamian
professional basketball player currently with the Atlanta Hawks
of the National Basketball Association
. Born in Freeport, Bahamas
, Rolle did not play basketball until his freshman
year in high school and was taught by his coach at St. George's High School, Darrel Sears. After his senior year at St. George's, Rolle transferred to the Laurinburg Institute
in North Carolina, where he was an integral part in leading the team to an undefeated record and the national prep school championship. He was considered a five-star prospect out of Laurinburg, and committed to play at Louisiana State University
(LSU).
Rolle came off the bench on a team that reached the Final Four
in his freshman campaign. After his sophomore
year, he transferred to Louisiana Tech
in 2007 and was forced to skip the 2007–08 season as a redshirt
. While a junior
, Rolle tripled his points-per-game average from 4.0 to 12.2. He was named to the All-WAC
(Western Athletic Conference) Defensive Team and All-WAC Newcomer Team. In his senior
year, he led the WAC in block
s and finished fourth in career blocked shots at Louisiana Tech despite playing only two seasons.
He was drafted with the 51st pick of the 2010 NBA Draft
by the Oklahoma City Thunder
and was subsequently traded to the Indiana Pacers
. Rolle was waived by the Pacers on October 25, at the end of training camp chosen with the third overall pick in 2010 NBA D-League Draft by the Maine Red Claws. After two games with the Red Claws, Rolle was waived due to injury.
He was signed by the Atlanta Hawks on April, 11, 2011.
. His mother is Maryse Rolle, a painter, and he has three siblings. He was named after Tom Selleck
's TV show Magnum, P.I.
He can trace his ancestry to freed slaves and is a distant cousin of National Football League
(NFL) players Myron
, Antrel
, and Samari Rolle
.
Originally a soccer player, Rolle did not play basketball until he was 14, when local coach Darrel Sears saw him walking across a basketball court and saw Rolle's great height. Sears asked if he knew how to play; Rolle said no. Sears asked him to try shooting from the foul line. His first shot, according to Rolle, completely missed the backboard and fell into the bushes behind it. At the time Rolle was not interested in the game and only attended Sears' practices because free fried chicken was provided.
events. He averaged 20.3 points and 13.6 rebound
s per game while enrolled at that school. Rolle first dreamed of playing in the National Basketball Association
(NBA) when he was 16 years old, after he came back from a basketball camp in Arkansas
, but had some academic issues to work out. Rolle's grade point average (GPA) was 1.0 early in his career at St. George's, forcing him to repeat ninth and tenth grade. Due to a drive to succeed academically and athletically, he eventually raised his GPA to 3.0.
In 2003, following his senior year at St. George's, Rolle attended the Nike All-America Camp and convinced his mother to let him attend a preparatory school
in the United States, where he could showcase his abilities and hone his talents. They eventually settled on the Laurinburg Institute
, a small school in North Carolina founded in 1904. Due to an unrepaired leak, the school's gymnasium was condemned in 1997, and the basketball team was forced to play home games as far as 30 miles (48.3 km) away. In Rolle's only year at the institute, his team went 40–0 and won the national prep school championship. Under head coach Chris Chaney, Rolle recorded a per-game average of 10.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.5 blocked shots and had a field goal
and free throw
percentage of 64 percent and 76 percent, respectively.
Rolle also played with the Arkansas Wings on the Amateur Athletic Union
(AAU) circuit while at the Laurinburg Institute. He received scholarship offers from Arizona
, Florida State, Kansas, Kentucky
, LSU
, and North Carolina
. After verbally committing to Florida State in March 2004, Rolle reopened his recruitment in July. He decided on LSU, to which fellow Laurinburg teammate Chris Johnson had already committed, and signed his letter of intent
on November 18, 2004. Rolle was listed as the eighth-best power forward
in the class of 2005 and 32nd overall recruit by Rivals.com
.
, Rolle made his collegiate debut, playing 14 minutes and scoring six points while also grabbing three rebounds. Rolle shot 4-of-8 from the field and contributed season bests in rebounds (10) and points (8) to help lead LSU past Nicholls State
. He equaled his season high in points against the Vanderbilt Commodores
on February 2, 2006, in only nine minutes of playing time. The Tigers surprised many with a Final Four
run, and in that game Rolle led the team in rebounds with eight, recorded two points from 1-of-1 shooting, and blocked a shot, all in 14 minutes of playing time. Despite this performance, LSU's opponent UCLA ultimately prevailed, 59–45. During the 2005–06 season, Rolle averaged 2.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 8.7 minutes per game as a freshman, picking up 21 blocks on the year.
, the Tigers returned four starters, including Glen "Big Baby" Davis
, and LSU fans hoped that Rolle would replace the shot blocking skills of Tyrus Thomas
, who had left early for the NBA. As such, Andy Katz
of ESPN named them the fifth best team in the nation in the preseason. Rolle's averages improved slightly to 4.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 16.7 minutes per contest, with nine starts and 31 blocks. He had a season-best nine rebounds against Tulane
on December 22, and recorded his first double-digit scoring night against the Tennessee Volunteers on March 8, 2007, in the SEC Tournament
, when he shot 5-for-7 from the field in 18 minutes for 10 points. However, two herniated discs in his back impeded further progress. The Tigers finished the year 17–15 and 5–11 in SEC play.
Rolle left the LSU program on May 23. LSU coach John Brady claimed this was due to concerns over Rolle's development. Darrel Sears, his former high school coach, said Rolle had been unhappy with LSU since December 2006, and that Brady had been making snide comments about Rolle for a while. After Rolle left LSU, he was courted by Division I schools Wyoming, Marshall
, Oral Roberts
, Delaware
, Louisiana Tech
, and South Florida
. Although initially interested in South Florida due to its proximity to his Bahamas home, Rolle chose to transfer to Louisiana Tech to play under Kerry Rupp
.
the 2007–08 season
due to transfer rules. In his first game as a Bulldog
, on November 15, 2008, he registered nine rebounds and eight points, including four consecutive points within the last minute, to propel Louisiana Tech past Louisiana-Lafayette, 61–59. Rolle's first double-double came against Grambling State on November 18, with 12 points and 14 rebounds. He led the team in scoring with a then-career high of 17 points in a blowout
78–55 loss to #10 UCLA on December 28, while also contributing seven rebounds. On January 29, 2009, Rolle had a perfect night from the field, shooting 11-for-11 with 23 points. In a 60–52 defeat at the hands of Utah State on February 7, Rolle fell and injured his hip early in the game, but he came back later to finish with eight points. He had a season high 25 points to go along with 11 rebounds and four blocked shots in leading the Bulldogs to a victory over Murray State 69–60 on February 21. In the next game, an 80–71 win over New Mexico State, Rolle equalled his season high in points (25) and grabbed 12 rebounds.
During the 2008–09 season, Rolle started 30 games for the Bulldogs and averaged 12.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game. He registered five double-doubles while scoring in excess of 10 points on 18 occasions. After the season, Rolle was named to the All-WAC
Defensive Team and All-WAC Newcomer Team. In addition, the Louisiana Sports Writers Association recognized Rolle as a member of the All-Louisiana third team. Louisiana Tech teammate Kyle Gibson was named to its first team.
Rolle briefly flirted with the 2009 NBA Draft
. He declared for early entry in the draft, but did not hire an agent
. After talking to NBA spokespeople, who said he was a borderline second-round selection, Rolle considered staying in college an extra year to earn a degree. He eventually pulled his name out of the draft, thus ensuring his college eligibility.
in a 99–94 defeat of the Cougars on December 29; Rolle also grabbed 10 board
s. In the semifinal of the WAC tournament
, against the #1 seeded Utah State Aggies
, Rolle injured his ankle less than three minutes into the game, a factor in the Bulldogs' 30-point loss. They finished the regular season 23–10, including a 9–7 record in conference. That was good enough for an invitation to the 2010 CollegeInsider.com Tournament
(CIT), in which Louisiana Tech defeated Southern Miss in the first round despite missing Rolle. In Rolle's final collegiate game, he contributed nine points off the bench despite a 69–40 rout of the Bulldogs by Missouri State in the CIT's quarterfinals.
During the 2009–10 season, Rolle started 33 games, in 24 of which he scored in double figures and in 11 of which he had double-doubles. He rejected more shots than anyone else in the WAC, averaging 2.1 blocks per game, and finished fourth in career blocked shots at Louisiana Tech despite playing there for only two seasons. Rolle also posted averages of 8.4 rebounds per game, third in the WAC (behind Luke Babbitt
of Nevada and Chis Oakes of San Jose State), and 13.9 points per game, 12th in the WAC. His field goal percentage was 51.1, tied with Babbitt for third in conference and behind Tai Wesley
of Utah State and Ike Okoye of Boise State. At the conclusion of the season, Rolle was named to the Lefty Driesell All-America Defensive Team, All-WAC Defensive Team, All-WAC Second Team, and All-Louisiana Second Team. He graduated from Louisiana Tech with a bachelor's degree in sociology
in March 2010, becoming the first person in his family to earn a degree.
, Rolle hired Fletcher Cockrell to be his agent. ESPN
, NBADraft.net, and DraftExpress.com projected him to be a possible mid-to-late second-round selection. He worked out with NBA teams the Washington Wizards
, Phoenix Suns
, Milwaukee Bucks
, Charlotte Bobcats
, and Indiana Pacers
. Dave-Te' Thomas of CBS Sports
said that Rolle had a good wingspan and was very athletic. He added while larger NBA forwards might push him around, he was an intense player and would not back down if challenged. Thomas compared Rolle to former LSU teammate Tyrus Thomas
.
On June 25, Rolle was chosen in the draft as the 21st pick of the second round and 51st overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder
. His rights were traded to the Pacers for Ryan Reid
, who was the 57th overall pick, along with undisclosed cash considerations. Rolle was the first NBA player drafted out of Louisiana Tech since Paul Millsap
was picked by the Utah Jazz
with the 47th pick of the 2006 NBA Draft
. In addition, he was the first Grand Bahama
ian selected in the draft ever. Bahamas Minister of Youth Sports and Culture Charles Maynard and Minister of Works and Transport Neko C Grant congratulated Rolle on his historic achievement.
, garnering averages of 28 minutes, 13.4 points, seven rebounds, and two blocked shots per game. On opening day of the summer league, the Pacers beat the Orlando Magic
86–77 behind Rolle's 13 points, five rebounds, two blocks, and a steal. In the second game, an 80–69 loss to the New Jersey Nets
, Rolle scored nine points, brought down three rebounds, and rejected three shots. Against the Utah Jazz
, Rolle's 10 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks facilitated an 83–74 Pacers win. The fourth game, which The Bahamas Tribune said was the most thrilling of the summer league, featured a 27-point deficit erased by Indiana for a comeback win over the Boston Celtics
. Rolle had a double-double, with 19 points and 11 boards. The Pacers and him wrapped up the Orlando Summer League with a 77–73 defeat by the Oklahoma City Thunder
, in which Rolle posted 16 points, eight rebounds and two blocks.
, was named one of the "steals of the draft" by The Boston Globe
. Rolle was invited to the Pacers' training camp, where he injured his head, requiring stitches. On September 28, the Pacers announced they had officially signed Rolle to a two-year contract, but his salary was not disclosed. In five preseason games, he averaged 1.8 points per game and 1.4 rebounds per game.
However, he was waived on October 25, at the end of training camp, in order to shrink the roster to NBA-mandated 15 players. The Pacers tried to trade Dahntay Jones
and Solomon Jones
to keep Rolle, but the trade fell through and the Pacers were reluctant to drop Solomon Jones due to a lack of depth in the frontcourt
. Had he made the roster, Rolle would have earned $510,000, but instead he made $50,000 in a buyout.
and the Charlotte Bobcats
. According to Red Claws general manager Jon Jennings
, several D-League teams thought he had the most upside of anyone on the draft.
On November 26, Rolle was waived by the Red Claws because of a knee injury which was due to keep Rolle out 'indefinitely'. In two games with the Red Claws, Rolle averaged 7.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game. His rights were retained by the Red Claws.
The Bahamas
The Bahamas , officially the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, is a nation consisting of 29 islands, 661 cays, and 2,387 islets . It is located in the Atlantic Ocean north of Cuba and Hispaniola , northwest of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and southeast of the United States...
professional basketball player currently with the Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
of the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
. Born in Freeport, Bahamas
Freeport, Bahamas
Freeport is a city, district and free trade zone located on the island of Grand Bahama of the North-west Bahamas. In 1955, Wallace Groves, a Virginian financier with lumber interests in Grand Bahama, was granted 50,000 acres Freeport is a city, district and free trade zone located on the island of...
, Rolle did not play basketball until his freshman
Freshman
A freshman or fresher is a first-year student in secondary school, high school, or college. The term first year can also be used as a noun, to describe the students themselves A freshman (US) or fresher (UK, India) (or sometimes fish, freshie, fresher; slang plural frosh or freshmeat) is a...
year in high school and was taught by his coach at St. George's High School, Darrel Sears. After his senior year at St. George's, Rolle transferred to the Laurinburg Institute
Laurinburg Institute
Laurinburg Institute is a traditionally black preparatory school in Laurinburg, North Carolina. The school was started in 1904 by Emmanuel Monty and Tinny McDuffie at the request of Booker T. Washington....
in North Carolina, where he was an integral part in leading the team to an undefeated record and the national prep school championship. He was considered a five-star prospect out of Laurinburg, and committed to play at Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
(LSU).
Rolle came off the bench on a team that reached the Final Four
Final four
Final Four isa sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament, most notably NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final round...
in his freshman campaign. After his sophomore
Sophomore
Sophomore is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the second year of study at high school or university.The word is also used as a synonym for "second", for the second album or EP released by a musician or group, the second movie of a director, or the second season of a...
year, he transferred to Louisiana Tech
Louisiana Tech University
Louisiana Tech University, often referred to as Louisiana Tech, LA Tech, or Tech, is a coeducational public research university located in Ruston, Louisiana. Louisiana Tech is designated as a Tier 1 school in the national universities category by the 2012 U.S. News & World Report college rankings...
in 2007 and was forced to skip the 2007–08 season as a redshirt
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
. While a junior
Junior (education)
"Junior" is a term used in the United States to describe a student in their 3rd year of study . A Junior is considered an upperclassman...
, Rolle tripled his points-per-game average from 4.0 to 12.2. He was named to the All-WAC
Western Athletic Conference
The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS...
(Western Athletic Conference) Defensive Team and All-WAC Newcomer Team. In his senior
Senior (education)
Senior is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the 4th year of study .-High school:...
year, he led the WAC in block
Block (basketball)
In basketball, a block , not to be confused with blocking, occurs when a defensive player legally deflects a field goal attempt from an offensive player. The defender must not touch the offensive player's hands or otherwise a foul is called. In order to be legal, the block must occur while the shot...
s and finished fourth in career blocked shots at Louisiana Tech despite playing only two seasons.
He was drafted with the 51st pick of the 2010 NBA Draft
2010 NBA Draft
The 2010 NBA Draft was held on June 24, 2010 at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. The draft, which started at 7:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time , was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur...
by the Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder are a professional basketball franchise based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ; their home court is at Chesapeake Energy Arena....
and was subsequently traded to the Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
. Rolle was waived by the Pacers on October 25, at the end of training camp chosen with the third overall pick in 2010 NBA D-League Draft by the Maine Red Claws. After two games with the Red Claws, Rolle was waived due to injury.
He was signed by the Atlanta Hawks on April, 11, 2011.
Early life
Rolle was born on February 23, 1986 in Freeport, BahamasFreeport, Bahamas
Freeport is a city, district and free trade zone located on the island of Grand Bahama of the North-west Bahamas. In 1955, Wallace Groves, a Virginian financier with lumber interests in Grand Bahama, was granted 50,000 acres Freeport is a city, district and free trade zone located on the island of...
. His mother is Maryse Rolle, a painter, and he has three siblings. He was named after Tom Selleck
Tom Selleck
Thomas William "Tom" Selleck is an American actor, and film producer. He is best known for his starring role as Hawaii-based private investigator Thomas Magnum on the 1980s television show Magnum, P.I.. He also plays Police Chief Jesse Stone in a series of made-for-TV movies based on the Robert B....
's TV show Magnum, P.I.
Magnum, P.I.
Magnum, P.I. is an American television series starring Tom Selleck as Thomas Magnum, a private investigator living on Oahu, Hawaii. The series ran from 1980 to 1988 in first-run broadcast on the American CBS television network....
He can trace his ancestry to freed slaves and is a distant cousin of National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL) players Myron
Myron Rolle
-Tennessee Titans:Rolle was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He signed a four-year contract on June 14, 2010. However, the Tennessee Titans released him a year later on September 2, 2011.-Personal:...
, Antrel
Antrel Rolle
Antrel Rocelious Rolle is an American football safety for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Miami...
, and Samari Rolle
Samari Rolle
Samari Toure Rolle is a retired American football cornerback. He was drafted by the Tennessee Oilers in the second round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He played college football at Florida State....
.
Originally a soccer player, Rolle did not play basketball until he was 14, when local coach Darrel Sears saw him walking across a basketball court and saw Rolle's great height. Sears asked if he knew how to play; Rolle said no. Sears asked him to try shooting from the foul line. His first shot, according to Rolle, completely missed the backboard and fell into the bushes behind it. At the time Rolle was not interested in the game and only attended Sears' practices because free fried chicken was provided.
High school and prep school career
At St. George's High School in Freeport, Rolle quickly developed his basketball skills and also competed in track and fieldTrack and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
events. He averaged 20.3 points and 13.6 rebound
Rebound (basketball)
A rebound in basketball is the act of successfully gaining possession of the basketball after a missed field goal or free throw. Rebounds in basketball are a routine part in the game, as all possessions change after a shot is successfully made...
s per game while enrolled at that school. Rolle first dreamed of playing in the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
(NBA) when he was 16 years old, after he came back from a basketball camp in Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, but had some academic issues to work out. Rolle's grade point average (GPA) was 1.0 early in his career at St. George's, forcing him to repeat ninth and tenth grade. Due to a drive to succeed academically and athletically, he eventually raised his GPA to 3.0.
In 2003, following his senior year at St. George's, Rolle attended the Nike All-America Camp and convinced his mother to let him attend a preparatory school
University-preparatory school
A university-preparatory school or college-preparatory school is a secondary school, usually private, designed to prepare students for a college or university education...
in the United States, where he could showcase his abilities and hone his talents. They eventually settled on the Laurinburg Institute
Laurinburg Institute
Laurinburg Institute is a traditionally black preparatory school in Laurinburg, North Carolina. The school was started in 1904 by Emmanuel Monty and Tinny McDuffie at the request of Booker T. Washington....
, a small school in North Carolina founded in 1904. Due to an unrepaired leak, the school's gymnasium was condemned in 1997, and the basketball team was forced to play home games as far as 30 miles (48.3 km) away. In Rolle's only year at the institute, his team went 40–0 and won the national prep school championship. Under head coach Chris Chaney, Rolle recorded a per-game average of 10.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.5 blocked shots and had a field goal
Field goal (basketball)
In basketball, the term field goal refers to a basket scored on any shot or tap other than a free throw, worth two or three points depending on the distance of the attempt from the basket. "Field Goal" is the official terminology used by the National Basketball Association in their rule book,...
and free throw
Free throw
In basketball, free throws or foul shots are unopposed attempts to score points from a restricted area on the court , and are generally awarded after a foul on the shooter by the opposing team...
percentage of 64 percent and 76 percent, respectively.
Rolle also played with the Arkansas Wings on the Amateur Athletic Union
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
(AAU) circuit while at the Laurinburg Institute. He received scholarship offers from Arizona
Arizona Wildcats men's basketball
The Arizona Wildcats basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The team competes in the Pacific-12 Conference of NCAA Division I. They are currently coached by Sean Miller.Arizona has a long and rich...
, Florida State, Kansas, Kentucky
Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball
The Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team, representing the University of Kentucky, is the winningest in the history of college basketball, both in all-time wins and all-time winning percentage. Kentucky's all-time record currently stands at 2058–647...
, LSU
LSU Tigers basketball
The Louisiana State Tigers basketball team represents Louisiana State University in NCAA Division I men's college basketball. The team is currently coached by Trent Johnson and has enjoyed recent success, including a Final Four run in the 2005–2006 season. Past coaches include John Brady, Press...
, and North Carolina
North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball
The North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball program is the intercollegiate men's basketball of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and is considered one of the most successful programs in NCAA history...
. After verbally committing to Florida State in March 2004, Rolle reopened his recruitment in July. He decided on LSU, to which fellow Laurinburg teammate Chris Johnson had already committed, and signed his letter of intent
National Letter of Intent
The National Letter of Intent is a document used to indicate a student athlete's commitment to participating NCAA colleges and universities in the United States. The NCAA Eligibility Center manages the daily operations of the NLI program while the Collegiate Commissioners Association provides...
on November 18, 2004. Rolle was listed as the eighth-best power forward
Power forward (basketball)
Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low...
in the class of 2005 and 32nd overall recruit by Rivals.com
Rivals.com
Rivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting. The network was started in 1996 and currently employs more than 300 personnel.-Schools:The individual collegiate sites can be found...
.
LSU
Freshman
On November 18, 2005, in an 84–56 defeat of Southern UniversitySouthern Jaguars
The Southern Jaguars represent Southern University in NCAA intercollegiate athletics.-Conference affiliation:Southern University's athletic teams participate in the Southwestern Athletic Conference which is a part of the NCAA Division I. Football participates in the Football Championship...
, Rolle made his collegiate debut, playing 14 minutes and scoring six points while also grabbing three rebounds. Rolle shot 4-of-8 from the field and contributed season bests in rebounds (10) and points (8) to help lead LSU past Nicholls State
Nicholls State University
Nicholls State University, founded in 1948, is a public university located in Thibodaux, Louisiana, USA. Nicholls is part of the University of Louisiana System of universities. Originally called Francis T. Nicholls Junior College, the institution split from the Louisiana State University System in...
. He equaled his season high in points against the Vanderbilt Commodores
Vanderbilt Commodores men's basketball
The Vanderbilt Commodores men's basketball team represents Vanderbilt University in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference . The Commodores have won three SEC regular season titles . They have competed in ten NCAA Tournaments, making it to the Elite Eight once and the Sweet 16 six times...
on February 2, 2006, in only nine minutes of playing time. The Tigers surprised many with a Final Four
Final four
Final Four isa sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament, most notably NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final round...
run, and in that game Rolle led the team in rebounds with eight, recorded two points from 1-of-1 shooting, and blocked a shot, all in 14 minutes of playing time. Despite this performance, LSU's opponent UCLA ultimately prevailed, 59–45. During the 2005–06 season, Rolle averaged 2.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 8.7 minutes per game as a freshman, picking up 21 blocks on the year.
Sophomore
Coming into the 2006–07 season2006-07 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
The 2006–07 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 7, 2006, progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments, and concluded with the 2007 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament Championship Game on April 2, 2007 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia...
, the Tigers returned four starters, including Glen "Big Baby" Davis
Glen Davis (basketball)
Ronald Glen Davis , commonly known as Glen Davis and by his nickname Big Baby, is an American basketball player who last played for the NBA's Boston Celtics...
, and LSU fans hoped that Rolle would replace the shot blocking skills of Tyrus Thomas
Tyrus Thomas
Tyrus Wayne Thomas is an American professional basketball player who played one season of college basketball at Louisiana State University and is a member of the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats.-High school career:...
, who had left early for the NBA. As such, Andy Katz
Andy Katz
Andy Katz is a senior college basketball journalist for ESPN.com. He is a regular sports analyst on College GameNight on ESPN. Katz earned a B.A. at the University of Wisconsin–Madison , and has worked for ESPN since January 5, 2000....
of ESPN named them the fifth best team in the nation in the preseason. Rolle's averages improved slightly to 4.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 16.7 minutes per contest, with nine starts and 31 blocks. He had a season-best nine rebounds against Tulane
Tulane Green Wave
Green Wave, the nickname of the sports teams of Tulane University, was adopted during the 1920 season, after a song titled The Rolling Green Wave was published in Tulane's student newspaper in 1920. From 1893 to 1919, the athletic teams of Tulane were known as the Olive and Blue for the official...
on December 22, and recorded his first double-digit scoring night against the Tennessee Volunteers on March 8, 2007, in the SEC Tournament
2007 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament
-External links:*...
, when he shot 5-for-7 from the field in 18 minutes for 10 points. However, two herniated discs in his back impeded further progress. The Tigers finished the year 17–15 and 5–11 in SEC play.
Rolle left the LSU program on May 23. LSU coach John Brady claimed this was due to concerns over Rolle's development. Darrel Sears, his former high school coach, said Rolle had been unhappy with LSU since December 2006, and that Brady had been making snide comments about Rolle for a while. After Rolle left LSU, he was courted by Division I schools Wyoming, Marshall
Marshall Thundering Herd men's basketball
The Marshall Thundering Herd men's basketball team is a basketball team from Marshall University in Huntington, West VirginiaNew head coach Tom Herrion will lead the Thundering Herd starting the 2010 season....
, Oral Roberts
Oral Roberts Golden Eagles men's basketball
The Oral Roberts Golden Eagles Basketball team is the basketball team that represent Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The school's team currently competes in The Summit League. The team earned an automatic berth in the 2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. It was their third...
, Delaware
University of Delaware
The university is organized into seven colleges:* College of Agriculture and Natural Resources* College of Arts and Sciences* Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics* College of Earth, Ocean and Environment* College of Education and Human Development...
, Louisiana Tech
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs basketball
The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs basketball program represents intercollegiate men's basketball at Louisiana Tech University. The school competes in the Western Athletic Conference in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and play home games at the Thomas Assembly Center in Ruston,...
, and South Florida
South Florida Bulls
The South Florida Bulls are the athletic teams for the University of South Florida. The university competes in NCAA Division I, USF is a member of the Big East Conference, and has been since 2005...
. Although initially interested in South Florida due to its proximity to his Bahamas home, Rolle chose to transfer to Louisiana Tech to play under Kerry Rupp
Kerry Rupp
Kerry Rupp is an American college basketball coach and the former head men's basketball coach at Louisiana Tech University.-Head coaching record:-External links:*...
.
Junior
Rolle was forced to redshirtRedshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
the 2007–08 season
2007-08 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
The 2007–08 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 5, 2007 ended with the 2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament's championship game on April 7, 2008 in the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.-Season headlines:...
due to transfer rules. In his first game as a Bulldog
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs basketball
The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs basketball program represents intercollegiate men's basketball at Louisiana Tech University. The school competes in the Western Athletic Conference in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and play home games at the Thomas Assembly Center in Ruston,...
, on November 15, 2008, he registered nine rebounds and eight points, including four consecutive points within the last minute, to propel Louisiana Tech past Louisiana-Lafayette, 61–59. Rolle's first double-double came against Grambling State on November 18, with 12 points and 14 rebounds. He led the team in scoring with a then-career high of 17 points in a blowout
Blowout (sports)
A blowout is an easy or one-sided victory. It occurs when one athletic team or individual performer outscores another by a large margin or in such a fashion that allows the second team or individual little chance of a victory from a point early in a competition, game, contest or event...
78–55 loss to #10 UCLA on December 28, while also contributing seven rebounds. On January 29, 2009, Rolle had a perfect night from the field, shooting 11-for-11 with 23 points. In a 60–52 defeat at the hands of Utah State on February 7, Rolle fell and injured his hip early in the game, but he came back later to finish with eight points. He had a season high 25 points to go along with 11 rebounds and four blocked shots in leading the Bulldogs to a victory over Murray State 69–60 on February 21. In the next game, an 80–71 win over New Mexico State, Rolle equalled his season high in points (25) and grabbed 12 rebounds.
During the 2008–09 season, Rolle started 30 games for the Bulldogs and averaged 12.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game. He registered five double-doubles while scoring in excess of 10 points on 18 occasions. After the season, Rolle was named to the All-WAC
Western Athletic Conference
The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS...
Defensive Team and All-WAC Newcomer Team. In addition, the Louisiana Sports Writers Association recognized Rolle as a member of the All-Louisiana third team. Louisiana Tech teammate Kyle Gibson was named to its first team.
Rolle briefly flirted with the 2009 NBA Draft
2009 NBA Draft
The 2009 NBA Draft was held on June 25, 2009, the WaMu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S...
. He declared for early entry in the draft, but did not hire an agent
Sports agent
A sports agent procures and negotiates employment and endorsement contracts for an athlete.In return, the sports agent generally receives between 4 and 10% of the athlete's playing contract, and 10 to 20% of the athlete's endorsement contract, though these figures vary...
. After talking to NBA spokespeople, who said he was a borderline second-round selection, Rolle considered staying in college an extra year to earn a degree. He eventually pulled his name out of the draft, thus ensuring his college eligibility.
Senior
The WAC preseason polls were released on October 29, and Louisiana Tech was predicted to finish sixth in the media poll and fifth in the coaches poll. Fellow senior Gibson was named to the preseason All-WAC second team, but Rolle was not honored by any preseason award. In the Bulldogs' home opener against Arkansas-Little Rock, Rolle was the leader in scoring with 23 points in crushing the Trojans 86–66. Gibson and Olu Ashaolu also scored more than 20 points to push Louisiana Tech to a 4–1 start, their best since 2001. Rolle's career high in points was 29, scored against HoustonUniversity of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
in a 99–94 defeat of the Cougars on December 29; Rolle also grabbed 10 board
Rebound (basketball)
A rebound in basketball is the act of successfully gaining possession of the basketball after a missed field goal or free throw. Rebounds in basketball are a routine part in the game, as all possessions change after a shot is successfully made...
s. In the semifinal of the WAC tournament
2010 WAC Men's Basketball Tournament
The 2010 WAC Men's Basketball Tournament was held at the Lawlor Events Center in Reno, Nevada from March 11th through March 13th, 2010. The winner of the tournament was New Mexico State, who received an automatic bid to the 2010 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament and was crowned the...
, against the #1 seeded Utah State Aggies
Utah State Aggies
The Utah State Aggies are the athletics teams of Utah State University. The school fields men's varsity teams in basketball, cross country, football, golf, tennis, and track and field. Women's varsity teams include basketball, cross country, gymnastics, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field,...
, Rolle injured his ankle less than three minutes into the game, a factor in the Bulldogs' 30-point loss. They finished the regular season 23–10, including a 9–7 record in conference. That was good enough for an invitation to the 2010 CollegeInsider.com Tournament
2010 CollegeInsider.com Tournament
The 2010 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament was a postseason single-elimination tournament of 16 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I teams....
(CIT), in which Louisiana Tech defeated Southern Miss in the first round despite missing Rolle. In Rolle's final collegiate game, he contributed nine points off the bench despite a 69–40 rout of the Bulldogs by Missouri State in the CIT's quarterfinals.
During the 2009–10 season, Rolle started 33 games, in 24 of which he scored in double figures and in 11 of which he had double-doubles. He rejected more shots than anyone else in the WAC, averaging 2.1 blocks per game, and finished fourth in career blocked shots at Louisiana Tech despite playing there for only two seasons. Rolle also posted averages of 8.4 rebounds per game, third in the WAC (behind Luke Babbitt
Luke Babbitt
Luke Robert Babbitt is an American basketball player for the Portland Trail Blazers of the NBA. He played college basketball at the University of Nevada-Reno for two seasons before declaring for the 2010 NBA Draft following his sophomore year...
of Nevada and Chis Oakes of San Jose State), and 13.9 points per game, 12th in the WAC. His field goal percentage was 51.1, tied with Babbitt for third in conference and behind Tai Wesley
Tai Wesley
Tai William Evans Wesley is an American professional basketball forward for EiffelTowers of the Dutch Basketball League. He played college basketball at Utah State University.-Early life and college:...
of Utah State and Ike Okoye of Boise State. At the conclusion of the season, Rolle was named to the Lefty Driesell All-America Defensive Team, All-WAC Defensive Team, All-WAC Second Team, and All-Louisiana Second Team. He graduated from Louisiana Tech with a bachelor's degree in sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
in March 2010, becoming the first person in his family to earn a degree.
2010 NBA Draft
Prior to the 2010 NBA Draft2010 NBA Draft
The 2010 NBA Draft was held on June 24, 2010 at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. The draft, which started at 7:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time , was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur...
, Rolle hired Fletcher Cockrell to be his agent. ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
, NBADraft.net, and DraftExpress.com projected him to be a possible mid-to-late second-round selection. He worked out with NBA teams the Washington Wizards
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
, Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
, Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
, Charlotte Bobcats
Charlotte Bobcats
The Charlotte Bobcats is a professional basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association. The Bobcats were established in 2004 as an expansion team, two seasons after Charlotte's previous NBA...
, and Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
. Dave-Te' Thomas of CBS Sports
CBS Sports
CBS Sports is a division of CBS Broadcasting which airs sporting events on the American television network. Its headquarters are in the CBS Building on West 52nd Street in midtown Manhattan, New York City, with programs produced out of Studio 43 at the CBS Broadcast Center on West 57th Street.CBS...
said that Rolle had a good wingspan and was very athletic. He added while larger NBA forwards might push him around, he was an intense player and would not back down if challenged. Thomas compared Rolle to former LSU teammate Tyrus Thomas
Tyrus Thomas
Tyrus Wayne Thomas is an American professional basketball player who played one season of college basketball at Louisiana State University and is a member of the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats.-High school career:...
.
On June 25, Rolle was chosen in the draft as the 21st pick of the second round and 51st overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder are a professional basketball franchise based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ; their home court is at Chesapeake Energy Arena....
. His rights were traded to the Pacers for Ryan Reid
Ryan Reid
Ryan Reid is an American professional basketball player who plays for the Tulsa 66ers in the NBA Development League , a minor league basketball organization owned and run by the National Basketball Association . Reid played college basketball with the Florida State Seminoles...
, who was the 57th overall pick, along with undisclosed cash considerations. Rolle was the first NBA player drafted out of Louisiana Tech since Paul Millsap
Paul Millsap
Paul Millsap is an American professional basketball player currently with the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association. As a 6'8", 250 lbs. power forward from Louisiana Tech University, Millsap was selected by the Jazz in the second round of the 2006 NBA Draft. His game was initially...
was picked by the Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
with the 47th pick of the 2006 NBA Draft
2006 NBA Draft
The 2006 NBA Draft was held on June 28, 2006 at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City and was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players,...
. In addition, he was the first Grand Bahama
Grand Bahama
Grand Bahama is one of the northernmost of the islands of the Bahamas, and the closest major island to the United States, lying off the state of Florida. Grand Bahama is the fifth largest island in the Bahamas island chain of approximately 700 islands and 2,400 cays...
ian selected in the draft ever. Bahamas Minister of Youth Sports and Culture Charles Maynard and Minister of Works and Transport Neko C Grant congratulated Rolle on his historic achievement.
2010 NBA Summer League
Rolle played well in the 2010 Orlando Summer LeagueOrlando Summer League
The Orlando Pro Summer League is a pro basketball league run by the NBA club the Orlando Magic in the United States each summer following the NBA Draft. Teams consist of players who have been in the league for 3 years or fewer as well as newly drafted talent....
, garnering averages of 28 minutes, 13.4 points, seven rebounds, and two blocked shots per game. On opening day of the summer league, the Pacers beat the Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...
86–77 behind Rolle's 13 points, five rebounds, two blocks, and a steal. In the second game, an 80–69 loss to the New Jersey Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, Rolle scored nine points, brought down three rebounds, and rejected three shots. Against the Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, Rolle's 10 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks facilitated an 83–74 Pacers win. The fourth game, which The Bahamas Tribune said was the most thrilling of the summer league, featured a 27-point deficit erased by Indiana for a comeback win over the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
. Rolle had a double-double, with 19 points and 11 boards. The Pacers and him wrapped up the Orlando Summer League with a 77–73 defeat by the Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder are a professional basketball franchise based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ; their home court is at Chesapeake Energy Arena....
, in which Rolle posted 16 points, eight rebounds and two blocks.
Training camp
Rolle, along with fellow Pacer rookie Lance StephensonLance Stephenson
Lance Stephenson, Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Pacers. He was drafted with the 40th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. He is a shooting guard and attended Lincoln High School in the Coney Island section of Brooklyn...
, was named one of the "steals of the draft" by The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe is an American daily newspaper based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Globe has been owned by The New York Times Company since 1993...
. Rolle was invited to the Pacers' training camp, where he injured his head, requiring stitches. On September 28, the Pacers announced they had officially signed Rolle to a two-year contract, but his salary was not disclosed. In five preseason games, he averaged 1.8 points per game and 1.4 rebounds per game.
However, he was waived on October 25, at the end of training camp, in order to shrink the roster to NBA-mandated 15 players. The Pacers tried to trade Dahntay Jones
Dahntay Jones
Dahntay Lavall Jones is an American professional basketball player, currently playing for the Indiana Pacers of the NBA.Originally a student at Rutgers University, Jones transferred to Duke University...
and Solomon Jones
Solomon Jones (basketball)
Solomon Jones III is an American professional basketball player. He is 6'10" tall and weighs 230 lb, playing as power forward/center. He played collegiate basketball at Daytona State College , and then at University of South Florida...
to keep Rolle, but the trade fell through and the Pacers were reluctant to drop Solomon Jones due to a lack of depth in the frontcourt
Frontcourt
Frontcourt is a term used in basketball referring to the small forward, power forward, and center positions as a cohesive unit....
. Had he made the roster, Rolle would have earned $510,000, but instead he made $50,000 in a buyout.
D-League career
In the 2010 NBA D-League Draft, held on November 1, Rolle was chosen with the third overall pick by the Maine Red Claws. The Red Claws are affiliated with the Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
and the Charlotte Bobcats
Charlotte Bobcats
The Charlotte Bobcats is a professional basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association. The Bobcats were established in 2004 as an expansion team, two seasons after Charlotte's previous NBA...
. According to Red Claws general manager Jon Jennings
Jon Jennings
Jon Paul Jennings is an American politician and basketball coach currently serving as the president and general manager of the Maine Red Claws of the NBA Development League....
, several D-League teams thought he had the most upside of anyone on the draft.
On November 26, Rolle was waived by the Red Claws because of a knee injury which was due to keep Rolle out 'indefinitely'. In two games with the Red Claws, Rolle averaged 7.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game. His rights were retained by the Red Claws.
Atlanta Hawks
On April, 11, 2011 he was signed by the Hawks. He averaged 14.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game for the Red Claws.NCAA
| |
||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005–06 | LSU Tigers | 33 | 0 | 8.7 | .432 | .000 | .458 | 2.5 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 2.2 |
| 2006–07 | LSU Tigers | 29 | 9 | 16.7 | .431 | .000 | .556 | 4.1 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 4.0 |
| 2007–08 | Louisiana Tech Bulldogs Louisiana Tech Bulldogs basketball The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs basketball program represents intercollegiate men's basketball at Louisiana Tech University. The school competes in the Western Athletic Conference in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and play home games at the Thomas Assembly Center in Ruston,... |
0 | 0 | 0.0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 2008–09 | Louisiana Tech Bulldogs | 30 | 30 | 28.2 | .530 | .500 | .654 | 7.2 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 12.2 |
| 2009–10 | Louisiana Tech Bulldogs | 34 | 33 | 30.1 | .514 | .000 | .660 | 8.4 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 2.1 | 13.9 |