Former University of Toledo men’s basketball guard Ryan Rollins (Macomb, Mich.) was selected by the NBA champion Golden State Warriors in the second round (44th overall) of the 2022 NBA Draft on Thursday night.
“I’m super excited and blessed to be in the position to join a championship organization and culture in Golden State,” Rollins said. “I’m grateful to have this opportunity and ready to get to work and learn from the great guys in that locker room.”
Former UToledo men’s basketball guard Ryan Rollins was selected by the NBA champion Golden State Warriors in the second round of the 2022 NBA Draft on Thursday night.
Rollins is the 18th Rocket to be drafted into the NBA and the first since Casey Shaw went in the second round (37th overall) in 1998. Rollins’ selection also marks the first time since the 1998 and 1999 drafts that MAC players were picked in back-to-back years. Ohio’s Jason Preston was a second-round pick by the Los Angeles Clippers last year.
“We’re obviously ecstatic for Ryan and he deserves everything he gets,” Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk said. “He’s grinded to get to this level and he’s unbelievably talented. This is also a tremendous thing for the history and tradition of Rocket Basketball. He’s clearly one of the greatest players to ever play here and in the Mid-American Conference. It will certainly help our recruiting. Guys understand and know that when they come to The University of Toledo that they going to be developed, get better and be seen by NBA teams.”
After receiving MAC Freshman of the Year honors in the 2020-21 season, Rollins took his game to a higher level in the 2021-22 campaign and helped Toledo to its second straight outright league title. Rollins became just the fourth Rocket ever to score 1,000 points in his first two seasons and his 641 points scored this past year rank third in school history.
Rollins ranked fourth in the MAC in 2021-22 with a team-high 18.9 ppg and 1.7 spg, and was second on the team with 6.0 rpg, 3.7 apg and an 80.2 free-throw percentage. He scored in double digits in all but two contests and was tied for first in the MAC with 18 20-point outings.
Rollins scored a career-high 35 points vs. Coastal Carolina (Nov. 24) en route to earning MVP honors at the Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship. He also came close to registering a triple-double on three occasions: 15 points, career-high 16 rebounds and eight assists vs. Ohio (Feb. 8); 16 points, career-high 10 assists and eight rebounds at Bowling Green; 24 points, 10 boards and seven assists vs. Ball State (Jan. 18).
