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.