Roland Minson
Forward 11
Ht/Wt
6'
0"
|
180 lbs.
Class
Senior
Hometown
Idaho Falls, 
Idaho
Last School
Idaho Falls High School
Roster Years
1947-1951


Personal

  • Received his B.S. degree from BYU in 1951

Career Highlights

  • Scored 1,407 career points and was BYU's all-time leading scorer for 22 seasons (Kresimir Cosic broke the record in 1973)
  • Held the BYU single-season record for points (619) for 27 seasons, broken by Danny Ainge in 1978
  • Named fourth-team All-American by Converse and honorable mention by AP, Look, International Press, UPI
  • Member of the 1951 NIT championship team
  • Voted Most Valuable Player in the NIT tournament
  • Received the 1951 BYU Basketball Most Valuable Player Trophy
  • Was a three-time first-team all-conference performer
  • Drafted in the first round by the New York Knicks

Post BYU Honors and Societies

  • Selected by the New York Knicks as the No. 15 overall pick in the 1951 NBA draft
  • He was again offered the position with the Knicks after his release from active duty, but instead chose to work in the banking industry
  • Chose to forego a career in the NBA to serve as an officer in the Navy during the Korean War
  • Selected by the U.S. Navy for the All-Navy Basketball team in 1952
  • Played for the Denver Bankers of the National AAU league while working for Denver Bank from 1955-57
  • Assistant BYU Basketball Coach for two seasons from 1961-63
  • Worked in the banking industry for 40 years
  • Vice President, Union Bank of California in Los Angeles from 1979-94
  • Inducted into the BYU Hall of Fame in the inaugural class of 1976

Stats

Year    G    FGM   FTM   P-AVE
48-49   34   149   73    371-10.9
49-50   34   173   71    417-12.3
50-51   37   239   141   619-16.7
Totals  105  561   285   1407-13.4
1976 BYU Hall of Fame

1976 BYU Hall of Fame

Roland Minson was a three-year letterman in basketball at BYU and was co-captain of the team his senior year. A member of the 1951 NIT championship team, he was voted the most valuable player in that tournament. He also received the 1951 BYU Basketball Most Valuable Player Trophy.

A first team All-Conference selection his sophomore, junior and senior years, he set a new record for total points scored during his career at BYU. He also led the team in assists. As a sophomore Roland was voted the most outstanding newcomer in 11 western states. During his senior year he was selected to play in the East-West All-Star Game in Madison Square Garden.

Roland was the first round draft choice of the New York Knicks in 1951, but he put aside his basketball career for three years of service as an officer in the Navy during the Korean War. Following his release from active duty, the Knicks again offered him a contract, but he chose to work in the banking industry, which allowed him more time with his family.

Roland was an assistant basketball coach at BYU for two years and officiated basketball games in the WAC. He received his B.S. degree from BYU in 1951.

 

On February 16, 2013, Minson's jersey was retired by BYU alongside his former teammate Mel Hutchins.

Minson and his wife, Carol, raised seven children. Minson died in his home in Afton, Wyoming, on January 1, 2020. He was 90 years old.

Freshman Year

Sophmore Year 1948-1949

  • Averaged 10.8 points per game
  • Earned first-team all-conference honors
  • Named Most Outstanding Newcomer in 11 western states
Junior Year 1949-1950

  • Appeared in 32 games and averaged 12.0 points and 2.8 rebounds as a junior
  • Earned first-team all-conference honors
  • Received second-team All-NCAA tournament honors

Summary from the 1949-50 Media Guide

Unanimously chosen as the outstanding sophomore player in the eleven western states last year, Minson was also one of the most sought-after high school athletes in the country. An "athlete's athlete," cat-like Minson can dart back and forth on the basketball floor like a football player in a broken field. The fans' favorite since they first saw him in action, Roland is noted among team mates for his amazing floor vision, the ability to spot a man in the best scoring position and get the ball to him before most players could bat an eyelash. Minson is generally regarded by sportswriters, coaches, and opposing players as one of the clever­est floor men in modern cage annals. A deadly shot, he can shoot from any position and at any time he gets the ball. Seems to be at his best under the greatest game tension and delights his follow­ers with his terrific spring and near-perfect timing and coordination.

Senior Year 1950-1951

  • Averaged team highs of 16.7 points and 2.7 assists and added 5.0 rebounds as the Cougars won the NIT championship
  • Was named the 1951 NIT MVP
  • Named fourth-team All-American by the Converse Yearbook and honorable mention by AP, Look, International Press and UPI
  • Named first-team all-conference
  • Received the BYU Basketball Most Valuable Player Trophy
  • Played in the East-West All-Star Game in Madison Square Garden
  • A co-captain for the Skyline Conference regular season champions

Summary from the 1950-51 Media Guide

"The Cat" was one of Brigham Young's terrible trio last year, often finishing with the highest score of the evening. Along with Nelson and Hutchins he was a unanimous choice for all-conference honors last year and shared NCAA second team with Hutch. In his sophomore year he was chosen the outstanding new­comer of eleven western states, and this year should be his best. His alert movements on the court have won him the title of "Cat" and he is always a favorite with the fans. His secret is an uncanny floor vision or sense which enables him to spot a free man or sense where the ball is going and do something about it in an in­stant. The scribes and players consider him one of the cleverest · floor men in the game, and his deadly shooting from any position is enough to take the heart out of the opposition. His forte is a tremendous jump shot from high in the air. 

Graduate Year

Redshirt Year

Medical Redshirt Year