Magnum’s Dream Come True – Signs NBA Deal with Hawks

By Journal Sports Writer


On Monday NBA.Com reported that Grand Bahama Magnum Rolle and the Atlanta Hawks signed a contract and with that the hard work and dedication displayed by Rolle over the past six years paid off. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but it is believed the two sides agreed to a two-year multi-million dollar deal. Magnum becomes only the fifth Bahamian born player to play in the NBA after Michael Thompson, Rick Fox, Dexter Cambridge, and Locksley Collie.
On Monday NBA.Com reported that Grand Bahama Magnum Rolle and the Atlanta Hawks signed a contract and with that the hard work and dedication displayed by Rolle over the past six years paid off.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but it is believed the two sides agreed to a two-year multi-million dollar deal. Magnum becomes only the fifth Bahamian born player to play in the NBA after Michael Thompson, Rick Fox, Dexter Cambridge, and Locksley Collie.
Eric Gordon Jr. who plays for the LA Clippers has roots in The Bahamas as his mom is Bahamian who met his father while in college in the USA where Gordon was born.
Rolle spent training camp with the Indiana Pacers, and appeared in five preseason games before being waived on October 25, 2010. He was the 51st overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder. He was then acquired by the Pacers in exchange for the draft rights to Ryan Reid.
The Gatorade call-up played in 15 games (seven starts) with the Maine Red Claws of the NBA Development League this season, averaging 14.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.5 spg, 1.3 apg and 1.2 bpg (.508 FG%, .585 FT%) in 25.9 mpg. He was the third overall pick of the D-League Draft by the Claws.
Rolle played his sophomore season at LSU, before transferring to Louisiana Tech. As a senior with the Bulldogs in 2009-10, he led the WAC in blocked shots (2.1 bpg), adding 13.9 ppg and 8.4 rpg in 34 games (33 starts). He finished his career with Louisiana Tech fourth all-time in blocks in just two seasons of action.
Magnum Rolle was born on February 23, 1986 in Freeport, Bahamas, and attended St. George’s High School in Freeport before spending a year at Laurinburg Institute in North Carolina. He will wear uniform number 25 in Atlanta.

Magnum enters 64th NBA Draft

 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.