John Collins || PF || 19 years old || 6’10”, 225 lbs.
In 33 games for Wake Forest, John Collins averaged 27.9 points, 14.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per 40 minutes. Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com and Chad Ford of ESPN both have Collins going to the Portland Trail Blazers at No. 15.
It’s easy to fall in love with Collins’ motor and athleticism. While there are question marks about whether he’ll be able to carry over his offensive game to the NBA level, teams know they’ll be able to count on Collins to play every game like it’s his last, which coaches and fans will certainly appreciate.
Collins is known for his scoring ability most of all, and his post-up game is especially relevant. He has a number of different moves in his repertoire, including a developing face-up game. He has great feel with his back to the basket, and his shooting mechanics are not too shabby. He’ll have to work on being more consistent from outside to better help space the floor.
He also doesn’t project to be much of a defender despite having the agility needed to hedge and recover on the pick-and-roll. With the right tutelage, however, the Wake Forest product could possibly find a way to translate his high motor and athletic ability into high-level defense.