Rolle blocking a shot during a game
The Tribune
NOT since the 1978 National Basketball Association (NBA) Draft has a native Bahamian been selected among the list of amateur hopefuls looking to join the ranks of the world's most elite basketball league. But on Thursday night, one Grand Bahamian looks to make history.
After a stellar collegiate career spanning four years and a pair of top tier NCAA Division I institutions, Magnum Rolle has entered his name into the 64th edition of the NBA Draft.
Scheduled for 7pm Thursday (June 24) at the world famous Madison Square Garden Arena in New York City, New York, Rolle hopes to hear his name called as a selection by one of the 30 NBA franchises.
Rolle, the 6'11" 225-pound forward/center, has been projected by several scouting services, including ESPN.com, www.nbadraft.net and www.draftexpress.com as a possible mid-to-late second round pick.
Rolle has been invited to seven workouts over the course of the evaluation period since the NCAA season ended.
The senior out of Louisiana Tech University has gone through workouts with the Washington Wizards, Phoenix Suns, Milwaukee Bucks, Charlotte Bobcats and most recently, the Indiana Pacers.
Rolle declared for the 2009 NBA draft as an early entrant following his junior season when he averaged 12.2 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. He rescinded the entry, and without hiring an agent, was eligible to return for his senior season when he averaged 13.9 points to finish second on the team in scoring and first with 8.4 rebounds per game.
Rolle starred on the Grand Bahama high school basketball scene before relocating to the Laurinburg Institute in North Carolina. After a standout high school senior season, Rolle was signed by SEC powerhouse Louisiana State University.
At LSU, Rolle was a part of an historic Tigers team in the 2005-06 season which advanced all the way to the NCAA Championship game before they fell to the UCLA Bruins.
Rolle averaged 2.2 points and 2.5 rebounds per game and appeared in 33 of the 36 games for the eventual runners- up on a team which featured future NBA standouts Glen "Big Baby" Davis and Tyrus Thomas.
With a depleted roster following the loss of its major superstars, Rolle returned to average 4 points and 4.1 rebounds per game with 31 blocks during his sophomore season.
Rolle transferred the following season and transferred to Louisiana Tech where he became one of the top frontcourt players in the WAC Conference. He became a two time all-WAC Defensive team player and was named to the Lefty Driesell All-America Defensive Team.
Rolle looks to become the first native Bahamian since Mychal Thompson to be drafted into the NBA since the Portland Trailblazers took him with the first overall selection in 1978.
Dexter Cambridge and Ian Lockhart were the others to advance to the league, however they were acquired by their teams through free agency. Rolle could not be reached for comment up to press time last night.
