Barbers Hill star Collier forging own path
Like phenoms before her, UT pledge helps advance area girls basketball
MONT BELVIEU — Charli Collier spent her 18th birthday creating a social media firestorm.
The Barbers Hill forward decommitted from Connecticut and verbally committed to Texas in September.
In doing so, she exchanged Geno Auriemma for the Forty Acres and a chance to build the game’s premier college program closer to home instead of joining the one that already rules the roost.
“Whenever I have my mind set on something, I just do it,” said Collier, who said she knew some would look sideways at the country’s No. 2-ranked player turning down UConn. “I don’t really think about it too much. I feel like it was the best decision for me and my family. It wasn’t any hesitation or anything.”
Much like the Houstonarea’s past girls basketball stars, Collier is forging her own path.
She’s done it all in the prep game and then some — triumphing in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League, winning district titles, earning a bronze medal with the 2016 USA U17 national team at the FIBA World Championships and leading a proud Barbers Hill program back to the state tournament last year for the first time since 2012.
Right now, all she and the Eagles have to worry about is a vacant spot for the program’s third state title and first since 1997.
Willing role model
Houston’s track record in pushing girls basketball forward is noted.
Last year, North Shore’s Chasity Patterson broke school records for fun. Patterson is at Texas now, and Collier will get to team up with her.
In 2014, Brianna Turner led Manvel to state title glory and continues building a legacy at Notre Dame.
Clear Springs’ Brooke McCarty, who was in Turner’s class, is doing the same at Texas.
WNBA stars and CyFair products Nneka and Chiney Ogwumike are ambassadors of the sport. Nimitz product Brittney Griner and Dulles’ Kelsey Bone changed the game, too.
All of that is hard for Collier to miss. The 6-5 forward only knows it’s her turn.
“I guess most people would think of me as a role model, so I just have to take on that role,” Collier said. “Being like (former Dulles star) Kelsey Bone. I looked up to her. I looked up to Brianna Turner. Now I’m that person.”
Collier spoke about assuming that role at the espnW: Women + Sports Summit last month. It’s where she was invited to discuss handling the spotlight at such a young age.
Collier has done well with that. She was offered by Texas as an eighth grader and committed before re-opening her recruitment as a freshman in high school.
Then came the EYBL circuit and the spotlight that comes with that.
Then came the national team triumphs, even if they weren’t. Collier helped the national team win bronze shortly after her father, Elliott, died from cancer.
Barbers Hill coach Tri Danley said the only banners that get hung at Barbers Hill are of the state championship kind.
The Eagles were close last year. They made the Class 5A state semifinal before falling to a vaunted Canyon team 66-39.
Extra motivation
Danley has dangled that score in front of Collier and her teammates a lot this offseason. The team returns all but two starters.
Danley didn’t have to expand on Collier’s rare talent. She’s not only tall but skilled in traffic, can rebound and is mobile with a versatile game.
Danley did touch on her credentials in her career and how the only thing missing is a state title. It’s not just Collier hungry to leave that mark at Barbers Hill, but her teammates as well.
The coach said it’s nothing he has to preach.
“To hear them say we’re worried about Sam Rayburn, which is Friday, that’s what it’s about,” Danley said.