Collin Gillespie

BIOGRAPHY

Collin Gillespie was born on June 25, 1999, into a typical American household where his father served as a police officer. Early on, Gillespie exhibited an unusual interest in and knack for playing basketball. His early education was in Archbishop Wood Catholic High School, where he was under the tutelage of Coach John Mosco, who played a pivotal role in shaping his initial career in basketball.

In his final year at Archbishop Wood, Gillespie led his team to clinch the PIAA Class 5A state title in 2017. His remarkable performance in the tournament, where he averaged 24.1 points per game, caught the attention of several colleges. Despite having no Division I scholarship offers at the start of his senior year, he received offers from Rider, Hofstra, and Villanova. Eventually, Gillespie committed to Villanova after signing a letter of intent on April 14, 2017.

Gillespie started his freshman year at Villanova in 2017 intending to redshirt the year. However, Head Coach Jay Wright aborted this plan, citing Gillespie’s performance reaching beyond his years. Gillespie made significant strides in Villanova’s basketball team, scoring in double-figures in just his second college game, however, he also faced an injury to his left hand that led to him sitting out for over a month. The injury, however, did not define his freshman year; instead, Gillespie was pivotal in Villanova’s 79-62 win in the NCAA Championship game against Michigan, rounding off his freshman campaign with an average of 4.3 points per 14.4 minutes per game.

In the subsequent years, Gillespie went on to solidify his position as one of Villanova’s most indispensable players. He had his first brush with recognition as a pivotal player when he scored a season-high 30 points in a game against Georgetown in February 2019. His performance averaged a respectable 10.9 points per game by the end of his sophomore year.

His junior year, however, started with a hiccup as Gillespie broke his nose during a practice session, but even that didn’t deter him from performing well in the games. Stepping up his game, Gillespie managed to score an impressive 27 points and six assists in an 87-78 loss to Baylor in the Myrtle Beach Classic championship game and finished the season with an average of 15.1 points, 4.5 assists, and 1.2 steals per game.

Moving into his senior season, Gillespie was named to the Bob Cousy Award watchlist as well as the Preseason First Team All-Big East. Unfortunately, an unexpected MCL tear during a game against Creighton in March 2021 cut his season short. Despite this setback, Gillespie finished his senior season with an average of 14 points and 4.6 assists per game, earning him the title of Big East Co-Player of the Year alongside teammate Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Seton Hall’s Sandro Mamukelashvili.

So far, Gillespie’s career in professional basketball mirrors his college career’s resilience and determination. After being undrafted in the 2022 NBA draft, Gillespie seized an opportunity to demonstrate his skills by signing a two-way contract with the Denver Nuggets of the NBA, simultaneously playing for the Grand Rapids Gold of the NBA G League. Bringing this usual mettle to the Nuggets, Gillespie scored 11 points, six rebounds, and four assists in his Summer League debut against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

However, a lower leg fracture obliged Gillespie to undergo surgery, making him unavailable to play for an indefinite period. Unfazed by the setback, Gillespie bounced back stronger, helping his team seize the NBA Championship by defeating the Miami Heat in the 2023 NBA Finals. As of July 2023, Gillespie continues his play with the Denver Nuggets, signing yet another two-way contract.

Off-court, Gillespie has represented the United States in international leagues. In 2019, he was part of the United States National team that competed and won a bronze medal in Peru’s Pan American Games, remarkably scoring 25 points in the final match against the Dominican Republic.

From his high school days right through his professional career so far, Collin Gillespie exemplifies a never back down attitude with a deep-rooted love for the game of basketball.