Collin Gillespie

Last updated
Collin Gillespie
Collin Gillespie 2021 (cropped).jpg
Gillespie with Villanova in 2021
No. 21–Denver Nuggets
Position Point guard
League NBA
Personal information
Born (1999-06-25) June 25, 1999 (age 24)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Listed weight195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school Archbishop Wood Catholic
(Warminster, Pennsylvania)
College Villanova (2017–2022)
NBA draft 2022: undrafted
Playing career2022–present
Career history
2022–present Denver Nuggets
2022–present→Grand Rapids Gold
Career highlights and awards
Stats   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg at NBA.com
Stats   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg at Basketball-Reference.com
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Pan American Games
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2019 Lima Team

Collin Gillespie (born June 25, 1999) is an American professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Grand Rapids Gold of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Villanova Wildcats. Gillespie was named Big East co-Player of the Year in 2021 and won it outright the following year.

Contents

Early life and high school career

Gillespie is the son of a police officer. He attended Archbishop Wood Catholic High School, where he was coached by John Mosco. Gillespie had no Division I scholarship offers coming into his senior year, but received offers from Rider, Hofstra and Villanova after strong play in a tournament. [1] He scored 42 points in a regular-season win over Neumann Goretti featuring Kentucky recruit Quade Green. [2] As a senior, he led the team to a PIAA Class 5A state title in 2017. [3] Gillespie averaged 24.1 points per game as a senior and was named Philadelphia Player of the Year by the Philadelphia Daily News as well as Catholic League Most Valuable Player. He signed a letter of intent with Villanova on April 14, 2017, joining Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree and Jermaine Samuels in the class of 2021. [4]

College career

Gillespie in 2018 Collin Gillespie.jpg
Gillespie in 2018

Gillespie enrolled at Villanova in the fall of 2017, and he wanted to redshirt his freshman year at the school, but coach Jay Wright decided against doing it because Gillespie "was playing above his years." [3] Soon breaking into the rotation, Gillespie scored in double figures in his second collegiate game, but he also had to learn to adjust to the quickness of the college game. Gillespie had to miss more than a month in December and January due to a fractured bone in his left hand sustained in a December 10 practice. However, he returned to action in a January 17 road win over Georgetown. [3] He provided quality minutes and had eight points including two three-pointers in a February 1 win over Creighton due to the absence of Phil Booth with a similar hand injury. [1] Gillespie made his first start on February 10, in an 86–75 win over Butler. In the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Gillespie scored nine points and had a steal in a win versus Radford. He had four points and five rebounds in the 79–62 NCAA championship game win over Michigan. He averaged 4.3 points per game in 14.4 minutes per game. [5] Gillespie posted a 2.6-to-1 assist to turnover ratio, which Wright attributed to him thinking about his teammates and trying to make them better. [3]

Gillespie scored a season-high 30 points in a 77–65 win against Georgetown on February 3, 2019. [6] On March 9, he had 22 points in a 79–75 loss to Seton Hall. [7] As a sophomore, Gillespie averaged 10.9 points per game. [8]

Coming into his junior season, Gillespie broke his nose in practice, forcing him to wear a mask for several games. [9] Gillespie had 27 points and six assists in an 87–78 loss to Baylor in the championship game of the Myrtle Beach Classic. He was named to the All-Tournament Team and Big East player of the week on November 25. [10] On January 28, 2020, Gillespie had his first double-double with 17 points and a career-high 13 rebounds in a 79–59 win over St. John's. [11] Gillespie scored a season-high 29 points on February 16, in a 76–56 win over Temple. [12] At the conclusion of the regular season, Gillespie was selected to the Second Team All-Big East. [13] He averaged 15.1 points, 4.5 assists, and 1.2 steals per game on a team that finished 24–7. [14]

Coming into his senior season, Gillespie was named to the Bob Cousy Award watchlist as well as Preseason First Team All-Big East. [15] [16] He tore his MCL during a 72–60 win over Creighton on March 3, 2021, ending his season. [17] At the conclusion of the regular season, Gillespie was named Big East Co-Player of the Year alongside teammate Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Seton Hall's Sandro Mamukelashvili. [18] He averaged 14 points and 4.6 assists per game. Gillespie decided to take advantage of the additional season of eligibility granted by the NCAA due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [19]

On February 15, 2022, Gillespie scored a career-high 33 points despite playing on a swollen ankle in an 89–84 win at Providence. [20]

Professional career

Denver Nuggets (2022–present)

After going undrafted in the 2022 NBA draft, Gillespie signed a two-way contract with the Denver Nuggets. [21] Gillespie joined the Nuggets' 2022 NBA Summer League team. In his Summer League debut, Gillespie scored 11 points, six rebounds, and four assists in a 78–85 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. [22] [23] In four Summer League games, he averaged 11.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game. [24]

On July 30, 2022, the Nuggets announced that Gillespie had undergone surgery for a lower leg fracture and that he would be out indefinitely. [24] Gillespie ended his rookie season as an NBA champion when the Nuggets beat the Miami Heat in the 2023 NBA Finals.

On July 18, 2023, Gillespie re-signed with the Denver Nuggets on another two-way contract. [25]

National team career

In the summer of 2019, Gillespie was a part of the United States National team who competed at the Pan American Games in Peru. The team won bronze, defeating Dominican Republic behind 25 points from Gillespie. [26]

Career statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage 3P%  3-point field goal percentage FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game Bold Career high

NBA

Regular season

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2023–24 Denver 2409.4.464.395.667.91.1.5.03.6
Career2409.4.464.395.667.91.1.5.03.6

College

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2017–18 Villanova 32114.4.452.394.8001.31.1.6.14.3
2018–19 Villanova 353529.4.409.379.8392.42.81.1.110.9
2019–20 Villanova 313134.1.406.357.8173.74.51.2.115.1
2020–21 Villanova 202033.4.428.376.8333.34.61.0.014.0
2021–22 Villanova 383834.2.434.415.9053.83.21.0.015.6
Career15612528.9.422.387.8482.93.11.0.011.9

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jay Wright (basketball)</span> American basketball coach (born 1961)

Jerold Taylor "Jay" Wright Jr. is a former American college basketball coach. He served as the head coach of Villanova University from 2001 until 2022. Wright led the Villanova Wildcats to six Big East Conference championships and 16 NCAA tournament appearances in 21 seasons as head coach. Under Wright, Villanova reached four Final Fours and won two national championships in 2016 and 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Randy Foye</span> American basketball player (born 1983)

Randy Foye is an American former professional basketball player. He played collegiately at Villanova University. He was selected seventh overall in the 2006 NBA draft by the Boston Celtics, but was immediately traded to the Portland Trail Blazers, and later traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves where he began his career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Villanova Wildcats men's basketball</span> Basketball team for Villanova University

The Villanova Wildcats men's basketball program represent Villanova University in men's college basketball and competes in the Big East Conference of NCAA Division I. Their first season was the 1920–21 season. Named the Wildcats, Villanova is a member of the Philadelphia Big Five, five Philadelphia college basketball teams who share a passionate rivalry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan Arcidiacono</span> American basketball player

Ryan Curran Arcidiacono is an American professional basketball player for the Windy City Bulls of the NBA G League. Nicknamed "the Arch of Dimes", he attended Neshaminy High School, where he averaged 20.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per game as a junior to lead Neshaminy to the PIAA playoffs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jalen Brunson</span> American basketball player (born 1996)

Jalen Marquis Brunson is an American professional basketball player for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was drafted with the 33rd overall selection of the 2018 NBA draft by the Dallas Mavericks and played his first four seasons in the NBA with them. He played college basketball for Villanova University, where he was the National Player of the Year as a junior and won two national championships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darrun Hilliard</span> American basketball player (born 1993)

Darrun Hilliard II is an American professional basketball player for Pınar Karşıyaka of the Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamal Murray</span> Canadian basketball player (born 1997)

Jamal Murray is a Canadian professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He also represents the Canadian national team. He played one season of college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats before being drafted by the Nuggets as the seventh overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft. Nicknamed "Blue Arrow", he was integral in leading the Nuggets to their first NBA championship in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josh Hart</span> American basketball player (born 1995)

Joshua Aaron Hart is an American professional basketball player for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was selected in the first round of the 2017 NBA draft as the 30th overall pick by the Utah Jazz before being traded on draft night to the Los Angeles Lakers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mikal Bridges</span> American basketball player (born 1996)

Mikal Bridges is an American professional basketball player for the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Villanova Wildcats, winning national championships in 2016 and 2018. Bridges was selected with the tenth overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2018 NBA draft before being traded to the Phoenix Suns on draft night, where he was a part of the team that reached the 2021 NBA Finals. Nicknamed “the Warden”, Bridges holds the active record for the most consecutive games played, having not missed a game in his NBA career since being drafted.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric Paschall</span> American basketball player (born 1996)

Eric Luther Paschall is an American professional basketball player who last played for Leones de Ponce of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN). He played college basketball for the Fordham Rams and the Villanova Wildcats. He was selected with the 41st overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft by the Warriors and named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donte DiVincenzo</span> American basketball player (born 1997)

Donte DiVincenzo is an American professional basketball player for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Villanova Wildcats, where he won national championships in 2016 and 2018, being named Final Four Most Outstanding Player (MOP) in 2018. Selected with the 17th overall pick by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2018 NBA draft, DiVincenzo won his first championship with the Bucks in 2021, before being traded to the Sacramento Kings the following season.

Joseph Robert Cremo is an American professional basketball player for Zornotza ST of the Spanish LEB Plata. He played college basketball for the Albany Great Danes and the Villanova Wildcats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Markus Howard</span> American basketball player (born 1999)

Markus Anthony Howard is a Puerto Rican-American professional basketball player for Saski Baskonia of the Spanish Liga ACB and the EuroLeague. He played college basketball for the Marquette Golden Eagles, where he was a two-time All-American and led the nation in scoring in the 2019–20 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeremiah Robinson-Earl</span> American basketball player

Jeremiah Christian Robinson-Earl is an American professional basketball player for the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Villanova Wildcats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saddiq Bey</span> American basketball player (born 1999)

Saddiq Jaleel Bey is an American professional basketball player for the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Villanova Wildcats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jermaine Samuels</span> American basketball player

Jermaine Samuels Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Villanova Wildcats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justin Moore (basketball)</span> American basketball player

Justin Moore is an American college basketball player for the Villanova Wildcats of the Big East Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020–21 Villanova Wildcats men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2020–21 Villanova Wildcats men's basketball team represented Villanova University in the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Led by head coach Jay Wright in his 20th year, the Wildcats played their home games at the Finneran Pavilion on the school's campus in the Philadelphia suburb of Villanova, Pennsylvania. However they did not play at Wells Fargo Center due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They are members of the Big East Conference. They finished the season 18-7, 11-4 in Big East Play to finish as regular season champions. However, star guard Collin Gillespie suffered a season-ending MCL tear with a single game left in the regular season and were upset in the quarterfinals of the Big East tournament by Georgetown. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament where they defeated Winthrop and North Texas, despite the loss of Gillespie and Justin Moore in the first round game, to advance to the Sweet Sixteen where they lost to the eventual champions Baylor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021–22 Villanova Wildcats men's basketball team</span>

The 2021–22 Villanova Wildcats men's basketball team represented Villanova University in the 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Led by head coach Jay Wright in his 21st and final year of coaching, the Wildcats played their home games at the Finneran Pavilion on the school's campus in the Philadelphia suburb of Villanova, Pennsylvania and Wells Fargo Center as members of the Big East Conference. They finished the season 30–8, 16–4 in Big East play to finish in second place. They defeated St. John's, UConn, and Creighton to win the Big East tournament championship. As a result, they received the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament as the No. 2 seed in the South region. They defeated Delaware, Ohio State, Michigan, and Houston to advance to the Final Four. There they lost to eventual national champion Kansas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caleb Daniels</span> American basketball player

Caleb Daniels is an American professional basketball player for the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Tulane Green Wave and Villanova Wildcats.

References

  1. 1 2 Jensen, Mike (February 2, 2018). "Villanova freshman Collin Gillespie proving he belongs". The Philadelphia Inquirer . Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  2. ↑ Moore, Tom (March 28, 2018). "Moore: Archbishop Wood grad Collin Gillespie can join select group with 2 Villanova wins". The Intelligencer . Archived from the original on June 28, 2018. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Moore, Tom (March 6, 2018). "Freshman Collin Gillespie has given Villanova an unanticipated spark this season". The Morning Call . Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  4. ↑ Murphy, Mike (April 14, 2017). "Archbishop Wood basketball star Collin Gillespie signs with Villanova". NBC Sports . Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  5. ↑ "2 Collin Gillespie". Villanova Wildcats . Retrieved May 6, 2018.[ permanent dead link ]
  6. ↑ "Gillespie's career game carries No. 14 Villanova past Hoyas". ESPN . Associated Press. February 3, 2019. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  7. ↑ "Seton Hall scores second big upset, stuns No. 23 Villanova". ESPN . Associated Press. March 9, 2019. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  8. ↑ "Breakdown: Purdue vs. Villanova". The Journal Gazette . March 23, 2019. Archived from the original on March 29, 2019. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  9. ↑ Juliano, Joe (October 24, 2019). "Injuries are affecting Collin Gillespie's prep for start of Villanova's basketball season". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  10. ↑ "Villanova's Gillespie, DePaul's Weems Take #BIGEASTmbb Weekly Honors". Big East Conference . November 25, 2019. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  11. ↑ "No. 8 Villanova, minus Samuels, trounces St. John's 79–59". ESPN . Associated Press. January 28, 2020. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Gillespie leads No. 15 Villanova past Temple". ESPN . Associated Press. February 16, 2020. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  13. ↑ Juliano, Joe (March 8, 2020). "Saddiq Bey leads a group of four Villanova players receiving Big East postseason honors". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  14. ↑ Moore, Tom (March 12, 2020). "Collin Gillespie fuels the Villanova offense". Bucks County Courier Times . Retrieved March 16, 2020.
  15. ↑ "Gillespie Tabbed to Cousy Award Watch List". Villanova Wildcats . November 2, 2020. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  16. ↑ Hunt, Donald (October 29, 2020). "Villanova basketball team picked to win the Big East". The Philadelphia Tribune . Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  17. ↑ Selbe, Nick (March 4, 2021). "Villanova Guard Collin Gillespie Tears MCL, Out for Rest of Season". Sports Illustrated . Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  18. ↑ "Gillespie, Robinson-Earl Among 3 BIG EAST Players of the Year". Villanova Wildcats . March 10, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  19. ↑ Cobb, David (April 12, 2021). "Villanova's Collin Gillespie, Jermaine Samuels returning to Wildcats for 2021–22 college basketball season". CBS Sports . Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  20. ↑ "Gillespie nets 33, No. 10 Villanova beats No. 8 Friars 89–84". ESPN . Associated Press. February 15, 2022. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  21. ↑ "Nuggets Sign Collin Gillespie to Two-Way Contract". www.nba.com. Retrieved 2022-07-13.
  22. ↑ "Denver Nuggets 2022 NBA2K23 Summer League Roster | NBA.com". www.nba.com. Retrieved 2022-07-13.
  23. ↑ "Denver Nuggets vs Minnesota Timberwolves Jul 8, 2022 Box Scores | NBA.com". www.nba.com. Retrieved 2022-07-13.
  24. 1 2 "Nuggets two-way guard Collin Gillespie out indefinitely after fracturing leg". SB Nation. Archived from the original on 2022-07-30. Retrieved 2022-07-30.
  25. ↑ "NUGGETS SIGN GILLESPIE, HUFF AND KEY TO TWO-WAY CONTRACTS". NBA.com. July 18, 2023. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  26. ↑ "U.S. Men Rally To Win Bronze Medal at Pan American Games". USA Basketball. August 4, 2019. Archived from the original on August 6, 2019. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.