Hakeem Rollins Talks about Decision
Hakeem Rollins, a 6-8, 230 pound power forward from Mesa C.C. in Mesa, Ariz., signed with the University of Washington this past weekend.
JUCO Junction caught up with Rollins via telephone this week, and the skilled big man discussed his reasons for picking the Husky program.
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"Each of the schools on paper had a lot of the same things that I was looking for," Rollins said. "But in my heart, I felt that Washington was the best situation for me."
Rollins, who averaged 24.8 points and 8.9 rebounds per game this past season at Mesa, said that the relationship he formed with the coaches and players at Washington were paramount in his decision.
He said he picked the Husky program over Minnesota and UCSB. UConn Head Coach Jim Calhoun came in last week to visit with Rollins at Mesa, but he declined to visit to the Big East school.
His final two official visits were to Washington and Minnesota late last month.
"I can't really say there was a reason that I picked Washington over Minnesota," Rollins said. "I just felt better with the people at Washington -- the staff, the players, the academic support people."
Rollins expects to graduate from Mesa in a few weeks. It was his dream to attend Stanford, but the Cardinal program declined to offer him this spring.
"I wasn't too hurt," Rollins said. "The other choices I had were solid."
He expects to play both the four and five slots at Washington next year.
"I think that they are going to play me at the four, but there's a chance I could play some five," Rollins said. "The way that they run things, the four and the five are interchangeable."
Rollins thinks that he will fit in and adjust well next winter at Washington.
"I am easy to play with and unselfish, I get along with everybody," he said. "On the court, I am a step out four who can score points, not just on the block or shooting jumpers. I can do it in different ways."
Rollins will have two years of eligibility remaining at Washington. He is the second junior college player to ink with the Huskies this year, the other being Green River (WA) C.C. guard Tre Simmons.