After scoring 1,000 career points in what has been an illustrious career, Ryan Jolly, the senior point guard for Piedmont’s men’s basketball team, was awarded a signed basketball on Senior Day. Jolly’s journey has taken him through a naval base, injuries, a pandemic shutdown and finally to the hardwood floors of Cave Arena. Jolly’s story is highlighted by the characteristics his coaches and teammates see in him every day: persistence, work ethic, leadership, and passion.
“I committed to the Naval Academy my senior year [of high school],” says Jolly. “Then I ended up tearing my Achilles three games into my senior year. I had to call them, and instead of going directly into the academy, I had to go the prep school route.”
Jolly attended a Navy Prep school in Rhode Island for 10 months, where he recovered, played basketball, and prepared for what life would be like in the Navy.
Jolly says, “Once those ten months were done – I don’t regret going, but it was a long 10 months of military, and I was like, ‘I don’t think this is for me; waking up at 5:30 and getting yelled at’. I was ready for something different, and so I transferred to Lander.”
While at Lander University, Jolly’s team won the conference and qualified for the NCAA tournament. However, those plans changed once the COVID-19 pandemic debuted and temporarily shut down college hoops. After a coaching change the following season, Jolly transferred to Piedmont after Coach Greg Neely reached out to him. As Jolly said, “It’s been history ever since”.
“We’re just so thankful to have him be part of our program, and how he handles himself, I think, is where it starts,” says Piedmont men’s basketball head coach Greg Neely. “The obvious stuff that everybody sees is how he impacts the game in so many statistical categories. But for us who get to see him every day [experience] how he interacts with his teammates, how hard he practices, and his calm demeanor. He seems to always be in control, regardless of officiating or how the game is going. His maturity has been really good for us.”
Jolly has been a leader for the lions since he stepped foot into Demorest. He has started in every game he has ever played for the lions. Statistically, he currently sits 3rd in career free throws made, 4th in career field goals made, 2nd in career assists, and 4th in career steals in program history. He has scored 1,374 career points, which is also 2nd in program history.
Jolly’s teammate, Senior Noah Reardon says, “Ryan came in with me my freshman year, and it’s been amazing seeing his growth, securing his thousand career points milestone. We’ve won a lot of games together… He’s been a leader since he got here, and it’s a true testament to him on and off the court. He’s been one of our best players…and it’s just been amazing playing with him. He works hard on and off the court and gets great grades in addition to that. He’s a great guy, and I love hanging out with him.”
Jolly has accomplished this all while having torn his other Achilles three games into the 2021-2022 season for the Lions. He has only played three full seasons for Piedmont. It is rare for an athlete as young as Jolly to tear both Achilles tendons over the span of 4 years, but Jolly has viewed the recovery process the same way he carries his everyday life- with gratitude, especially for the people closest to him.
“The second [time tearing my Achilles] was a lot easier to recover from just because I had already been through the surgery,” says Jolly. “It’s always hard [to recover], no matter who it is. I think my parents did a great job of telling me ‘You know, you’ve done it before, you can do it again.’ I definitely think I could have played better coming back after my injury, but I try not to be too negative about how I played. I give myself credit coming back from an injury like that.”
Jolly’s perseverance through adversity, as well as his personal drive, has made him an exceptional leader. Anyone who has competed alongside Jolly has spoken about his impact on the team by being their leader. He has hosted players-only meetings, been a figure of maturity and self-control, and has inspired his teammates to work hard by exemplifying a positive work ethic.
Neely says, “For him, it starts with him taking care of his own business first. He brings it every day. He practices hard every day. Everything matters to him, and then his work ethic, I think naturally gravitates guys towards him. When your best player is one of your hardest workers, I think other guys have to follow suit and kind of fall in line. I think by his example and his work ethic, he’s been a really good leader for us.”
Aside from Jolly as a leader, they also highlight Jolly as an exemplary human being. Beyond the statistics and the accolades, Jolly considers his greatest accomplishment to be his journey as a player to where he is now. Ryan Jolly is a recognizable figure around campus. He lives like the tattoo on his arm, trying to live life by “being a light in the darkness.”
“That’s what I really try to embody myself being,” says Jolly. “ I want to embody myself as being somebody who is always positive and genuine. So, I hope people remember me as being a nice guy that will do anything for anybody; because that’s who I am.”
Piedmont’s number one point guard has been exploring all of his options considering his future. Due to his Achilles injury in 2021, Jolly has been granted an extra year of eligibility. Jolly could potentially return for one more year with Piedmont and stay on campus to play for the lions one last time. He could seek to transfer out to another school or even consider entering the G-League overseas after graduating with his Master’s in Business Administration. In the G-League, Jolly can potentially work his way into the NBA. Jolly is already home for the semester since the men’s basketball season has ended. He has already begun preparations to start basketball training in Tampa, Florida.
Whatever Ryan Jolly decides to do, he will always have a special place in the jolly hearts of the fans and students he has made smile through his presence on and off the court. Wherever the world takes Jolly, he will be sure to try to put a smile on the face of everybody he meets and persevere through whatever life throws at him. That is just who Ryan Jolly is.
