By HARVEY SIMPSON
Dispatch Sports Editor
CORDELE — Of all the athletes ever to represent Crisp County High in its 51-years of existence, only one — 7-footer Wayne “Tree” Rollins has ever made it to the top of his sports profession.
In recognition of that feat, a crowd of hundreds that included family members, his prep coach, former teammates, personal friends and basketball fans in general turned out Saturday for the retirement ceremony of his Cougars jersey.
As it turned out, Rollins was presented not only with an encased No. 30 jersey that will be matched by one that will hang in the lobby of the school gymnasium but also with a proclamation and a trophy from his family.
Following a welcome by CCHS principal Toriano Gilbert, assistant CCHS principal Dr. Charlene Hampton read a proclamation listing many of Rollins’ achievements in the prep, collegiate and professional ranks.
The featured guest speaker for the evening was Charles “Bub” Denham who as the boys coach in 1971 recalled seeing Rollins “walking the hallways as a 6’6” sophomore who with his Afro-style haircut looked more like a 7-footer.
“He hadn’t played basketball the previous year, but decided to come on out for the team any way,” Denham said in his recollections. “I realized right off the bat he had a hard-time jumping rope (an exercise many coaches still prefer for their basketball players) but he worked hard to better himself.
“In his junior year, he was able to play on the varsity, improving with every game as he continued to grow from 6-6 to 6-8, 6-9, 6-11 and in his senior year hit the seven-foot mark. He never talked much, but he always exhibited to his teammates what it takes to be a success.”
Denham said he particularly remembers two games in Rollins’ senior season — one against Dodge County when he blocked the initial eight shots the Indians attempted and the other against Lowndes when he grabbed 33 rebounds.
Denham also hinted that Rollins would have been an even bigger scorer than he was (he tallied 1,020 points in his two years of varsity play) had there not been a ban on dunks during his high school days. “He was forced to play more like he was 6-4 than he was 7-0,” Denham lamented.
In recalling one of the lighter moments he experienced with Rollins, Denham remembered going into restaurants while on road trips where fans did a double-take when they saw someone his size.
Denham also recalled the time Rollins forgot his sneakers before playing in a Christmas tournament game in Albany where after getting the largest pair of shoes he could find at a sporting goods store in that city he saw Rollins stuff his size 18 foot into size 12 1/2 sneakers.
“That was just another example of his dedication to do the things you’re supposed to do,” Denham said in turning serious again.
Denham also recounted how heavily Rollins was sought by colleges across the nation, pointing out over 300 people recruiters to land him to play for them. Clemson, which also has retired his Tigers’ jersey, eventually landed him.
“It was a privilege to work with Tree,” Denham stressed. ”I appreciate his dedication and the fact our school is recognizing him this way. Any athlete that works has hard as he is going to successful.”
Cliff Hearn and Larry Holloman, who both played with Rollins, spoke on behalf of former teammates unable to attend the ceremony.
Hearn said there were those back then who “didn’t think tree would make it in college, but he did and there were even more who said he couldn’t play in the NBA but he did for 18 years.
“Those were some of the most exciting times I’ve ever been through as gyms were always filled to capacity with people wanting to see him play. This is quite an honor for him tonight and I’m proud to be a part of it.”
Holloman directed his thoughts to Rollins in more of a friendship line than the teammate category.
“We grew up in the same neighborhood so I’ve always
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considered him and his family as friends. As a player, though, he’d practice and practice. He was slow and easy going but he always got the job done.”
Next to take the podium was Rollins’ mother, Wilma Robinson, who was accompanied by the honoree’s younger daughter, Katreese, a current sophomore at Georgia Southern.
“Tree was the fifth of my six sons,” the proud mother said before presenting him with a family trophy congratulating him on his jersey retirement and his upcoming induction Saturday into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. “He has always been honest and done what I asked him to do.”
Making his way to the podium near the end of the 45-minute program, Rollins expressed a heartfelt thanks for his honor and said he’s “always telling everyone about the people of Cordele and Crisp County.
“This night is very special in that it’s where it (his ultra-successful career that now finds him coaching the WNBA Washington Mystics) all began. It’s a big honor that the one next week (the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame induction) doesn’t compare.”
To younger members of the audience, the current Orlando, Fla., resident urged them to always “respect your sport no matter what it might be. Don’t let a sport control you. You control it as it as can make you a lot of money or also lead to some bad things.
“And remember, you can’t be involved in sports without getting a good education as without that there is no athletics.”
