CLEMSON BASKETBALL

Tree Rollins to Represent Clemson at ACC Tournament


by -

CLEMSON, SC — Former All-American Tree Rollins will be Clemson’s legend representative at the 2014 ACC Tournament. Rollins was a second-team All-American as a senior in 1976-77 and was named one of the league's top 50 players in conjunction with the ACC's 50-year anniversary in 2002.

Rollins was a dominating big man at center and is one of the great rebounders and shot-blockers in ACC history. He started 110 consecutive games for the Tigers from 1973-77 and never missed a start in four years with the program. The native of Cordele, GA helped lead the Tigers to a 71-39 record (.645) during his career. Rollins twice led the ACC in rebounding (1975, 1977) and led the conference in shot blocking in 1977, the first year the league kept the statistic. He still ranks fifth in the ACC in career rebounding with 1,311 boards and an 11.9 per-game average.

He finished his career as the ACC’s career leader in blocked shots and still ranks third in league history with 450. He is still first in blocks per game, averaging 4.1 per contest. Three different times, he blocked 10 shots in a game. He is one of only five players in ACC history to record more than one triple-double, twice accomplishing the feat.

Rollins was a three-time second-team All-ACC selection and was the 14th overall selection of the 1977 NBA Draft. He played 18 seasons in the NBA, the first 11 with Atlanta. He also played for Cleveland, Detroit, Houston and Orlando. He is one of only three ACC players to have played as many as 18 seasons in the NBA, along with UNC’s Jerry Stackhouse and Duke’s Grant Hill.

Rollins was named to the 1984 NBA All-Defensive first team and to the 1983 second team. He finished his pro career ranked fourth on the NBA career list for blocked shots and is still ninth with 2,542 career blocks. Since retirement, he has served as an assistant coach for the Orlando Magic, a head coach in the National Basketball Development League, an assistant coach and head coach in the WNBA for the Washington Mystics and an assistant coach for the Chicago Sky.

The 2014 class will be honored at this year’s ACC Tournament in Greensboro at the annual ACC Basketball Legends Brunch, which will be held on Saturday, March 15, beginning at 10 a.m. in the Guilford Ballroom of the Sheraton Four Seasons Hotel. The event will include a short autograph session with the legends at the conclusion of the brunch. Tickets for the ACC Men’s Basketball Legends Brunch are priced at $35 each, and tables of 10 are available for $350 each. Information on purchasing tickets may be obtained at the official ACC website — http://theacc.co/MBB14legendstix.

Ultimate Level LogoUpgrade Your Account

Unlock premium boards and exclusive features (e.g. ad-free) by upgrading your account today.

Upgrade Now
Comment on this story
Print   
Game time, TV channel, Vegas odds on Clemson-Alabama in Elite 8
Game time, TV channel, Vegas odds on Clemson-Alabama in Elite 8
WATCH: Clemson vs. Arizona Sweet 16 extended highlights
WATCH: Clemson vs. Arizona Sweet 16 extended highlights
Everything Brad Brownell said after Clemson advanced to the Elite 8
Everything Brad Brownell said after Clemson advanced to the Elite 8
Scanlon's walk-off homer lifts Hurricanes over No. 2 Tigers
Scanlon's walk-off homer lifts Hurricanes over No. 2 Tigers
Post your comments!