Daimion Collins
Kentucky coach John Calipari could continue his recent recruiting hot streak Saturday when Texas power forward Daimion Collins makes his college choice Saturday. The 6-19, 210-pound Collins, a top 20 player in the 2021 recruiting class, has a final five of Kansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Texas, and Texas Tech but recently all the trendy picks have been for him to choose UK. He got his scholarship offer from Calipari about two months ago because of his ability to block shots and low post scoring ability.
“Daimion’s dad, Ben, has a real good relationship with Jai’s dad, John,” said Atlanta (Texas) High School coach Jarrod Boston said. “They talk a little bit and he uses him as a resource and mentor to help him through (recruiting). Daimion likes Jai, too. He was always good to him but he liked Texas for more than just Jai.”
Boston has been at Atlanta High School 27 years and has known Daimion Collins all his life because he coached his father and taught his mother.
“I think that is one of big reasons he is still here. They like the hometown atmosphere and know I have his best interest at heart,” Boston, a biology teacher, said.
Collins is Boston’s first five-star player and “definitely” the best player he’s ever coached.
“His dad had 38 points against somebody and that was the highest point total at the school. Last year a kid got 41 and then Daimion had 43,” Boston said.
Collins’ father was 6-3 and a Division I football recruit who chose to get a job rather than go to college. Collins’ mother is about 6-0 and Boston says she has long arms like her son has.
“Daimion played football until his freshman year. He was a 6-3 eighth-grade quarterback and was really good,” Boston said. “But he just has a lot of natural ability and then works very hard to get the best out of it. You could always tell he had a lot of basketball ability even when he was in fifth or sixth grade. He was naturally gifted and you knew he was going to be tall. The last three years he has really seen what is out there but he never stopped putting in the work.”
Collins averaged 25 points, 13 rebounds and seven blocks per game last season. Boston believes he could easily average 30, 15 and 10 — a triple-double — “in his sleep” this season.
“I got fired and hired back here. We had lost 35 straight district games and his freshmen year we broke that streak,” Boston said. “The last two years we have won 31 and 30 games. We are 61-10. Daimion is definitely a difference maker.”
