Toledo’s Ryan Rollins hopes to join Damian Lillard and Ja Morant as the next great guard to make the leap from a mid-major college to the NBA.

Rollins, who won’t even turn 20 years old until after the draft has concluded on June 23, just averaged 18.9 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.7 steals per game.

Maybe he isn’t a top pick like Lillard or Morant, but he has already earned comparisons to solid NBA players who have had long careers, like George Hill.

Eyes popped when I saw these sophomore seasons together.

George Hill, 6’2”, 180lb, 6’9” wingspan: 18.9 PPG on 52/32/80 on 27.7 usage, 6 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.3 BPG

Ryan Rollins, 6’4”, 180lb, 6’8” wingspan: 18.9 PPG on 47/31/80 on 28.9 usage, 6 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.3 BPG https://t.co/EDlYsWjqV2

— Nathaniel Miller (@journalistnate) May 4, 2022

Before being selected in the first round of the 2008 NBA draft, Hill was a mid-major standout at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis. Rollins, like Hill, is a combo guard with a plus wingspan.

Rollins had a promising freshman season, but his draft stock has gained momentum since his sophomore season ended. He recently earned an invitation to the NBA draft combine in Chicago. While he is there, he will have a chance to show teams why they should believe in his game.

Already, we have Rollins as a projected first-round pick in our latest mock draft. However, he will likely rise on the consensus rankings if he performs well during athletic testing and scrimmages while at the combine.

For The Win spoke with Rollins to learn more about his approach and what brought him to this point.

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

I caught up with Ryan Rollins, one of the top mid-major prospects in the 2022 NBA draft. The @toledo_mbb star is one of the players I'm most excited to watch at the NBA draft combine in Chicago.

FULL INTERVIEW: https://t.co/Lp7QnnI61o @_moneyballrypic.twitter.com/1mffxhN85g

— Bryan Kalbrosky (@BryanKalbrosky) May 12, 2022

Ryan Rollins: I’m a playmaker. I can score. I can create for others. I’m long, athletic. I’m a jack of trades. I can score from all three levels. I can defend. I’m unselfish. I’m somebody that loves to win. I’m a quick learner. I’m a good basketball player. I’m versatile and I know how to score from all over the court. I’m good in the pick and roll and I’m good off the ball, coming off down screens and catch and shoots. My bread and butter is the midrange, fadeaways, getting to my spot for my pull-ups, and getting to the rim.

RR: I’m a quick learner. I’m someone who wants to win. I hate when I lose. Every time I lose, it hurts my soul a little bit. I’m somebody where if you land me in the locker room, it’s great for everybody. It’s great for the whole organization. I am a great teammate. On the court, it’s all good and dandy with me. Everything off the court is good with me, too. I’m somebody that you want around. I’m not going to cause trouble and I’m going to come in and do work and do it the right way.

Late Night Pre-Draft work with Ryan Rollins 🧪🧪 @_moneyballry @TRBasketballLab @trentonwalters4 pic.twitter.com/9AU2cMZ76B

— Tevin Brown (@_juwan) May 5, 2022

RR: Since the season ended, I’ve been working out a ton. I’ve also got a weight lifting spot. It’s good work. I’m doing three-a-days. It’s literally all day and night, just getting in that work. I’m just getting in the best conditioning of my life. I’ve been working out every day, getting stronger, getting fit, tuning up everything in my game and my body.

I’ve been shooting a lot — off the dribble, catch and shoot, all types of shots like midrange, fadeaways. I’m just getting a more consistent jump shot, which is what I think was one of my main flaws this year. I shot a lot of different jump shots. Sometimes, it would be straight. Sometimes, it would be over to the right or to the left. So I just want to keep it straight and keep both hands going for my follow-through. I want to shoot the same shot over and over and over and not switch it up.

Toledo sophomore Ryan Rollins – a rising prospect – is declaring for the 2022 NBA Draft and hiring an agent: “I look up to CJ McCollum…guys who come from mid-majors.” pic.twitter.com/rVIHzxqr0h

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 7, 2022

RR: I take pride in that, for sure. Like you said, the guys before me set a blueprint for what we can be and what we have the opportunity to be. Coming in as under the radar guys, if you’ve got game, you’ve got game, no matter where you come from. Come in and do your work and get better each year. Each and every day, the sky’s the limit. So I take pride in that for sure.

RR: Throughout my sophomore season, scouts and agents were talking to me. They were trying to figure out what I was going to do. I always knew it was going to be an option. But the season ended and I had to figure out what I was going to do and I solidified that I was going to go to the draft and declare. I’m putting in the work and I’m seeing myself develop. It’s a chance for me to achieve my long-term goal.

Another big game for 19-year-old Toledo guard Ryan Rollins: 24 PTS, 8 REBS, 4 AST, 4 STL on 17 FGA in a win over Miami (OH). Smooth 6-4 combo who can score at all 3 levels and continues to show progress as a playmaker. Elite mid-range. New scouting report: https://t.co/f1sQzBql2D pic.twitter.com/VUpOIPdeEB

— Mike Schmitz (@Mike_Schmitz) February 26, 2022

RR: It shows the organizations I’m all in. I want to be a pro. I’m going to do what it takes to be a pro. I come into the gym now as a professional. I come in there early and do my work and put in extra work as well. I have that mindset. It’s going to take me farther than being in and out where they didn’t know what I was going to do while testing the waters.

What a beautifully perfect P&R assist from Toledo's Ryan Rollins pic.twitter.com/FKlObM5Yqw

— Mavs / Magic Draft (@MavsDraft) March 3, 2022

RR: As someone who plays the guard position, you have to limit those turnovers if you’re going to play. Flat out. So in order to play basketball, you have to keep the game simple. You have to make the right read. That’s how I limit my turnovers and limit my mistakes. That’s one of the main keys to my game. My sophomore year, I wanted to keep the game simple, make easy reads, easy kicks, not try to make the spectacular play at all times. My shooting got better, too. I got to my spots. My overall game, I just learned how to play basketball at a slower pace and just slowed the game down for myself.

Defensively Ryan Rollins shows some good awareness.

Feels the screen on this possession, recognizing the passing lane the opposing guards might exploit to come up with the steal.

A smart basketball player that'll put in the work and improve himself on this end. pic.twitter.com/p1YgPe5zW0

— Ersin Demir (@EDemirNBA) May 10, 2022

RR: Yeah, I think so. I would say it’s underrated. I think I’m a better defender than what people see me as because you have to take it personally when you’re guarding someone. With my rebounding, it’s just about being in the right spot and having long arms and being athletic and going up there and grabbing them and being tough. I go down there and bang with the big guys sometimes and fight them out. You’ve gotta want it so you’ve gotta go get it.

Toledo's Ryan Rollins looking like someone NBA teams should start taking more serious by the week. 15 points, 16 boards, 8 assists vs. Ohio. Skilled pull-up and touch scorer with plus-passing IQ at 6-4, 19 yrs old. Smooth rhythm/pace. Obvious feel for the game at both ends. pic.twitter.com/jGU2wqMJ5x

— Jonathan Wasserman (@NBADraftWass) February 9, 2022

RR: We played against Coastal Carolina in the Bahamas and I had my career-high in scoring. Our two games against Ohio, too. The game on the road was a big-time win for us. Then when we played them at our spot, I had 16 rebounds and 8 assists. It showed my versatility. It’s not all about scoring for me.

Talked about this Ryan Rollins clip on the Draftdaq Pod w/@backcourtv. @_moneyballry went in the time machine and brought the Iverson cross on MJ out of his bag. pic.twitter.com/94y1sXYXhq

— NBA Draft Dude 🤙 (@CoreyTulaba) April 20, 2022

RR: Yeah, I used to go to Pistons games a lot. My mom used to get tickets through her job. My best memory was meeting Kobe. He shook my hand when I was a young cat. It was during the warmups. He came through. I was right above the tunnel. I put my hand down and he tapped it. I was so in the moment. I was just shocked. He was an American hero. It was such a crazy experience.

Kobe is the best player to ever play💯

RR: I liked Kobe. I liked Carmelo. I liked Brandon Roy, too. That’s probably my top 3. I remember, on the Trail Blazers, Brandon Roy used to get buckets. He was literally like a little Kobe. It sucks that he got hurt, though.

(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

RR: I like to hang out with my friends and my family. I’m a chill dude. I don’t do too much. I watch a lot of TV. I watch movies. I love listening to music. I’m almost like a music connoisseur. I listen to all kinds of music. I like Lil Baby and BabyFace Ray. All-time, my favorite is either Drake or Jay Z. I love 50 Cent, too.

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