Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Former Cardinal Newman
Ex-Newman player expected to go in 1st round
star John Collins is expected to go in the first round.
A short three years ago, John Collins had two scholarship offers.
Heading into his junior season in high school, the Cardinal Newman center held offers from only San Francisco and Charlotte. But one season later, the Crusaders’ big man was on everyone’s radar.
On Thursday, Collins, 19, is expected to be a firstround pick as the NBA draft kicks off Thursday. Coming off a stellar sophomore season at Wake Forest, where he averaged 19.2 points and 9.8 rebounds, Collins has soared up experts’ mock draft boards and is rumored as an option for the Miami Heat with the 14th overall pick. A possible lottery pick, he could go as early as 10th.
While Collins’ sudden rise has taken some by surprise, Lance Tejada isn’t one of those people. Tejada coached Collins’ AAU basketball team, the Florida Flash (now the Miami Lightning) and remembers seeing a 6-foot-6 freshman with a lot of potential back in 2011.
“I told him from Day One he was going to be a pro,” Tejada said. “I told everyone that was around. Some people laughed or said what they had to say. He went against every team we played against and played at a high level and held his own and got better each and every year.”
Collins’ recruitment began to explode following a breakout junior year. His Florida Flash coaches sent out his highlights tape and college coaches took notice. Maryland, Kansas State and the University of Miami were among the schools to make offers.
Collins, who shot up to 6-9 by his senior year, continued to blossom. While some initially considered him a back-to-the-basket player, Tejada said as Collins grew into his body, he proved he was much more than a traditional forward.
“He was always young for his grade,” Tejada said. “Sometimes it takes big kids a little longer to get their legs under them.”
Even late in high school, Tejada said, Collins was “just scratching the surface” of what his athletism would become.
Then 6-9 and with his physical skills maturing as he played against older competition during the summer travel season, Collins also began to grow as a leader and a dominant player, Tejada said.
“He took a jump (in the) second half of his 17U career,” he said. “He started to zone in and took the responsibility of being an elite guy. Before, even though he was a big guy he was OK with being one of the guys. I put pressure on him to be that vocal leader and leader of the team and he took great pride in that. I think that triggered him.”
A Sun Sentinel high school preseason Fab Five selection in 2014, Collins hit his stride in his senior year, averaging 20.3 points and 10.2 rebounds and leading Cardinal Newman to a Florida Class 4A runner-up finish. Named 2015’s Palm Beach County Player of the Year, Collins shot 71 percent from the floor as a senior as the Crusaders finished 27-2.
Dwyer coach Fred Ross, 64, who’s won three state titles in his career, saw Collins multiple times when his Panthers took on the Crusaders in 2014 and 2015. The veteran coach remembers how dominant Collins was.
“[Our gameplan] was to try and stop everyone else,” Ross laughed. “He had the total package — offense, defense, shooting, rebounding.”
Still, Ross admitted, “I have to say I was a little surprised at how fast he mastered the college game. He took over. It’s a testament to his hard work and dedication. It’s obvious he loves basketball.”
Following his his freshman season at Wake Forest, Collins had another big developmental surge, more than doubling his point and rebounding totals en route to earning the ACC’s Most Improved Player award.
Now, Collins is ready to make another leap. The 6-10, 235-pound power forward has spent the past several weeks working out for a variety of NBA teams, including the Sacramento Kings (twice), who have the 10th pick, and the Miami Heat.
Tejada said it would be unwise to doubt Collins’ abilities again — even at the NBA level.
“He’s used to being in that underdog role, even to this day,” said Tejada. “He’s going to be the underdog in the draft and he’s going to end up being the player who lasts the longest and is the most effective from his draft class.”