Decorated career just getting started
Charli Collier’s list of accolades is ongoing.
The 6-5 Barbers Hill post leaves as one of the best to come through the Houston area. She has had a busy month as a McDonald’s All-American, Texas’ Gatorade Player of the Year and Jordan Brand Classic All-American.
Collier is a four-time selection to the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches and Texas Girls Coaches Association’s Class 5A all-state teams.
She was a member of the 2016 USA Women's U17 World Championship Team that earned bronze in Spain.
Collier led Barbers Hill to three regional tournaments and a state berth in four seasons, capped by being named All-Greater Houston Girls Basketball Player of the Year.
Expect to see Collier contribute immediately at Texas next season.
“She’s definitely going to go down as one of the best players to play there for sure,” Barbers Hill coach Tri Danley said. “Just took our program to another level. … Charli’s one of the most talented girls that I’ve had the opportunity to coach. Being 6-5 and doing the things she does out on the perimeter, it’s just hard to duplicate that.”
Q: How special is it to be a McDonald’s All-American considering the history Houston-area products have in that game?
A: “It’s a blessing. You look at all the girls in Houston and you think you’re one of those three, because it’s three of us this year. It’s just crazy. The way that I’ve been working hard, I know that this is what I wanted..”
Q: What do you hope people will remember about your Barbers Hill legacy?
A: “I hope people know that I did give it my all, even though we didn’t get a state championship. Just the bonds that I made with my teammates and my coaches and my friends here, I’m just happy that I was able to go here. I came from Crosby in middle school so this is probably my best move that I ever made. I don’t have any regrets and I love the community and the fans and all that. I had a good high school career.”
Q: What performance stands out to you most this season?
A: “Think it was my 52-point game. That was in the first round (against Livingston). I had 52 points, like 12 rebounds and I had nine blocks.
Q: Are you excited to bring some of that scoring ability to Austin next year?
A: “As long as I work hard coming in as a freshman, I’m pretty sure I’ll hopefully get significant minutes as a freshman coming in. That’s what I’m mainly focusing on right now. Getting myself ready and how I can benefit my teammates there and how they can benefit off of me.”
Q: Off the court, you also are interested in modeling correct?
A: “I’m hoping to do that, too, but you know how the NCAA rules are. You can’t do that in college, but hopefully after I get some Nike contract like Skylar Diggins or something.”
Q: What is your schedule over the next few weeks?
A: “McDonald’s, Gatorade Player of the Year, I’ll be going to Jordan Brand in New York. I’ll just be doing different things like that throughout this whole month. Just finishing up my senior year and graduation is coming up soon, May 25th. It’s all coming to an end. It’s all bittersweet, but I’m ready for college.” Q: What will you major in at UT? A: “Journalism and sports broadcasting. I want to be able to do stuff like how you’re doing with me right now. I like talking, so it’s cool.”
Q: Your father died a few years ago. Do you still think of how proud he would be of you?
A: “I do. It’s crazy because I do get a little bit emotional about it. … I could’ve easily just stopped and been depressed or something like that. But I wasn’t. I was never that type of kid and anyone who knows me knows that made me go harder. I’m pretty sure that one of the reasons why I’m getting all these accolades and I’m doing what I’m doing is because of that. I know he would be proud of me because that’s what he instilled in me. Always be great and always keep going. It’s what I’m doing.”