Sherron Collins
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Sherron Marlon Collins (born March 18, 1987) is an American former professional basketball player who is currently the head coach for Oak Park High School in Kansas City, Missouri. He formerly played for the Charlotte Bobcats of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and Kansas City Tornados of the NAPB (NAPB). He has also played for the Texas Legends and Maine Red Claws of the NBA D-League and Hacettepe Üniversitesi in the Turkish Basketball League. As an All-American member of the Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team, he earned a national championship in the 2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, three Big 12 men's basketball tournament championships, and four consecutive Big 12 Conference regular season championships. He was regarded as one of the leaders of the team and was its captain during his senior year.

Key Information

Collins grew up in Chicago where he was a multisport standout athlete at Crane High School. He was regarded as the second best point guard in the nation by Scout.com and was considered one of the two best class of 2006 basketball prospects in the state of Illinois (along with Jon Scheyer).

Collins was a well-decorated basketball player at Kansas. He was unanimously selected to the Big 12 All-Freshman Team for the 2006–07 Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team.[1] After leading the 2008–09 Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team to the Big 12 Conference regular season title, Collins was named to the 2009 first team All-Big 12 team.[2] That season, he was named a consensus second team 2009 NCAA Men's Basketball All-American. He was also a consensus first team 2010 NCAA Men's Basketball All-American as a senior and earned the Most Outstanding Player award while leading his team to the 2010 Big 12 men's basketball tournament championship. He was included on many of the watchlists for the most prestigious college basketball awards as both a junior and senior. Collins holds the school record for most consecutive free throws.

Following his senior season, Collins was eligible for the 2010 NBA draft but went undrafted. Shortly after, he signed a free-agent contract with the Charlotte Bobcats and participated in their summer camp.[3] He represented them in the Orlando Summer League before being signed for the regular season.[4] In October 2012, he signed with the San Antonio Spurs, but he did not make their final roster.

Early life

[edit]

Collins was born in Chicago, Illinois to Stacey Harris. While growing up in Chicago he overcame the adversity of a father who periodically spent time in jail as well as an environment filled with gang life.[5] He lost his best friend to gunfire at the age of 16.[6] Collins had two children by the time of his National Championship season: Sherron Jr. and Sherr'mari Marlon Collins (born April 6, 2007; mother is Re'Quiya Aguirre).[7] In 2006, he dealt with the death of his first born and the following year, he endured a sex scandal.[5]

Growing up, Collins was very active playing several sports including football, basketball, and baseball. In 2002, Collins began his high school career at Crane Tech Prep High School. During his time at Crane, Collins was a standout multi-sport athlete, playing wide-receiver/free safety on the football team and pitching for the baseball team.[8][9] On the basketball court, Collins averaged 19.8 points, 3.1 rebounds and 5.1 assists as a junior during the 2004–05 season. During his senior season, he averaged 33 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists for the Cougars.[8] He was regarded as the number 2 Chicago metropolitan area and Illinois basketball prospect in the class of 2006 behind Jon Scheyer.[9] As a result, he was named a McDonald's All-American as well as a third-team Parade All-American.[8] He was selected as a First-Team All-State selection in 2006.[8] Additionally, Collins played in the Michael Jordan All-American Classic in April 2006. Scout.com ranked him as the number 2 point guard in the nation.[10] He was the No. 21-ranked player in the class of 2006 and the No. 4-ranked point guard by Rivals.com.[11] Collins helped guide Crane to the 2003 and 2005 conference and city championship titles.[8] His best game was a 45-point performance against Whitney Young Magnet High School during his senior season.[8] In 2009, ESPN named Collins to the Illinois Prep All-Decade Team.[12]

College recruiting information
Name Hometown School Height Weight Commit date
Sherron Collins
Point guard 		Chicago, Illinois Crane (IL) 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Oct 16, 2005 
Recruit ratings: Scout: 5/5 stars   Rivals: 5/5 stars   


Overall recruit ranking:   Scout: 12, 2 (PG)    Rivals: 21, 4 (PG)
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Kansas Basketball Commitments". Rivals. Retrieved March 29, 2009.
  • "2006 Kansas Basketball Commits". Scout. Retrieved March 29, 2009.
  • "ESPN". ESPN. Retrieved March 29, 2009.
  • "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout. Retrieved March 29, 2009.
  • "2006 Team Ranking". Rivals. Retrieved March 29, 2009.

College career

[edit]

Freshman season

[edit]

As a freshman, Collins was an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection and a unanimous selection to the Big 12 All-Rookie team.[1] He averaged 22.3 minutes and 9.3 points per game. He led Kansas in scoring five times and in assists on 12 occasions. On January 15, 2007, Collins scored 23 points vs. Missouri.[13] He scored 20 points at Kansas State on February 19 and he had 20 vs. Texas on March 11 in the 88–84 overtime 2007 Big 12 men's basketball tournament championship game victory.[14][15] Collins was also a solid student earning Athletic Director's and Big 12 Commissioner's honor rolls in the spring of 2007.[8]

Sophomore season

[edit]

In his second season with the Jayhawks, Collins won the 2008 Big 12 Sixth Man Award.[16] For the week of March 12, he earned Big 12 Player of the week.[17] Collins helped the Jayhawks capture the 2008 national championship, averaging 8.3 points and 3.8 assists in the NCAA tournament. He made two key plays in the title game versus the Memphis Tigers, first stealing an inbound pass with under two minutes remaining in regulation and Kansas trailing by seven, then hitting a three to cut the deficit to four. Later, with seconds remaining in regulation and with Kansas trailing by three, he took the ball down the court following a Memphis free throw, barely escaping fouls, and passed the ball to teammate Mario Chalmers, who made a three-pointer to tie the game with two seconds remaining. Kansas would go on to win in overtime.[18][19] He missed six games due to a stress fracture of his foot.[8] Following the season, he had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.[20]

Junior season

[edit]
Collins guards Stu Douglass of Michigan.

Collins was the top returning scorer for the 2008–09 Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team his junior year; every starter from the previous year's National Championship team graduated or departed for the NBA. Collins was on the early season Top 50 watchlist for the Naismith Award.[21] He was also selected as being among the 17 Bob Cousy Award finalists, the Top 30 midseason Wooden Award candidates, the Top 30 midseason Naismith Award candidates and the Top 15 Oscar Robertson Trophy candidates.[22][23][24][25] The team captain and vocal leader of the team, Collins was awarded the team's Danny Manning MVP award with Cole Aldrich following the season.[26] Collins led the 2008–09 Jayhawks in points, minutes, assists and free-throw percentage.[27] He led the team in scoring in 27 games, including the final 10 of the season.[26] In the Big 12, he ranked third in scoring and fourth in assists.[28] Collins made 35 consecutive free-throws over an eight-game span from January 10 – February 2 to set KU's all-time record.[29][30][31] Over the course of the season he was named Big 12 Player of the Week three times.[32][33][34] He was a unanimous selection to the 2008–09 Big 12 All-conference first team.[35] He was a second-team 2009 NCAA Men's Basketball All-American by the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBW) and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and was a third-team All America selection by the Associated Press and The Sporting News.[36][37][38][39] On Monday, April 13, Collins announced that he would return to KU for his senior season.[26]

Senior season

[edit]

After having been named a consensus second-team All-American selection at the end of his junior year, he was a unanimous selection to the preseason All-Big 12 first-team.[40] The 2009-10 Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team were the preseason number-one ranked team in the 2009–10 Big 12 Conference poll, marking the third time in Collins' career the Jayhawks were preseason number one in conference.[41] Collins was a preseason top 50 watchlist candidate for both the 2010 Naismith Award and the 2010 Wooden Award.[42][43] As the season progressed, Collins was named to the Midseason top 30 candidates list for the Wooden Award, Midseason top 30 list for the Naismith Trophy, 20 finalists list for the 2010 Bob Cousy Award and the finalist list for the 2010 Oscar Robertson Trophy.[44][45][46][47] At the end of the regular season, he was selected as a first-team All-Big 12 member by the league's coaches.[48] Then, he earned the Most Outstanding Player Award of the 2010 Big 12 men's basketball tournament after leading Kansas to the championship.[49] Collins has been recognized as a first team 2010 NCAA Men's Basketball All-American by the USBW and NABC, making him a consensus first team selection.[50][51] He was a second team selection by Associated Press, Fox Sports, The Sporting News, and Yahoo! Sports.[52][53][54] He was also included on the final 26-man ballot for the Wooden Award and subsequently selected to the ten-man Wooden All-American team as one of ten finalists for the award.[55][56] At the end of the year he was recognized as the inaugural recipient of the Lute Olsen Award as National Player of the Year at the collegeinsider.com awards banquet.[57] He was recognized along with Jon Scheyer, Scottie Reynolds, and Greivis Vasquez for the NABC Career Achievement Awards.[58] Collins was awarded the 2010 Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award, which recognizes a seniors male basketball player 6 feet (1.8 m) and shorter, who excel in both academics and athletics.[59] He was one of five finalists flown out to Los Angeles for the announcement of the Wooden Award along with eventual winner Evan Turner, John Wall, Wesley Johnson and Da'Sean Butler.[60] Collins went undrafted in the 2010 NBA draft.[61]

College stats

[edit]
Year Games Played Minutes PPG Assists Turnovers Steals 3 PM 3 PA 3 P % FG % FT % Points
2006–07 38 22.3 9.3 112 63 28 47 116 .405% .478% .766% 345
2007–08 34 23.8 9.3 105 68 39 38 105 .362% .462% .776% 315
2008–09 35 35.1 18.9 174 115 39 77 205 .376% .434% .795% 661
2009–10 36 33.0 15.5 161 85 39 70 189 .370% .426% .855% 558
Total 143 28.5 13.3 552 331 145 232 615 .378% .450% .798% 1,879

Professional career

[edit]

After going undrafted in the 2010 NBA draft, Collins joined the Charlotte Bobcats for the 2010 NBA Summer League. During the Orlando Summer League, he played four games, including a 32-point performance in his finale.[62] On August 6, 2010, the Bobcats signed Collins to a two-year deal.[4] He made his NBA debut on November 3, 2010, against the New Jersey Nets and posted two assists in four minutes.[63] On December 4, 2010, he scored his first NBA points.[64] On December 8, 2010, Collins was assigned to the Maine Red Claws of the NBA Development League.[65][66] The Bobcats recalled Collins on December 21, 2010.[67] That night, he played a career-high 14 minutes, made his first three point shot, recorded his first two steals and scored five points for the first time in his career in a 99–81 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.[68]

On February 24, 2011, Collins was waived by the Bobcats to create roster room following a trade between the Bobcats and Portland Trail Blazers.[69] On March 18, 2011, it was reported that he had signed a contract with Lietuvos Rytas until the end of the season.[66] However, a few days later, another player was reported to be the choice to fill the roster slot.[70] In June, he signed with Quebradillas Pirates of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional, but he supposedly failed a physical and returned to the United States before appearing in a game for them.[71]

In August 2011, Collins signed with Hacettepe Universitesi of the Turkish Basketball League.[71][72] He had been slated to play in Russia and Puerto Rico before signing in Turkey.[73] In June 2012, he was rehabilitating a knee injury with hopes of signing an NBA Summer League contract the following month.[74]

On October 1, 2012, Collins signed with the San Antonio Spurs.[75] However, he was later waived by the Spurs on October 5, 2012.[76]

On April 3, 2014, Collins was acquired by the Texas Legends of the NBA Development League,[77] where he spent the rest of the 2013–14 season. However, he did not appear in a game for the Legends.

On October 31, 2015, Collins returned to the Legends.[78] He played in two games for the team before being waived on November 20.[79]

On January 21, 2016, Collins signed a contract to play with the Chicago Blues of the Midwest Professional Basketball Association.[80] In March, he signed with the Windsor Express of the National Basketball League of Canada with no indication that he ever played for the Blues.[81]

On November 10, 2017, he was announced as part of the inaugural roster for the Kansas City Tornados of the North American Premier Basketball league.[82] However, the team opened its season without Collins.[83]

On February 19, 2018, his Jayhawks number four jersey was retired in the rafters of Allen Fieldhouse during halftime of the Kansas and Oklahoma Men's Basketball game. This came two days after Cole Aldrich had his jersey retired by Kansas.[84]

NBA statistics

[edit]
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2010–11 Charlotte 20 0 3.3 .280 .200 1.000 .3 .4 .1 .0 .9
Career 20 0 3.3 .280 .200 1.000 .3 .4 .1 .0 .9

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Sherron Collins

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Sherron Collins (born March 18, 1987) is an American basketball coach and former professional player, best known for his dynamic role as a point guard at the University of Kansas, where he contributed to the Jayhawks' 2008 NCAA Division I national championship and earned consensus All-America first-team honors in 2010.[1] Standing at 5 feet 11 inches, Collins overcame his undersized stature with exceptional quickness, scoring prowess, and playmaking ability during his college tenure from 2006 to 2010, amassing 1,888 points, 552 assists, and a 44.7% field goal percentage across 143 games.[1] In his junior and senior seasons, Collins elevated his game significantly, averaging 18.9 points and 5.0 assists per game in 2008–09 to secure consensus All-America second-team recognition, followed by 15.5 points and 4.5 assists in 2009–10 as Kansas captured the Big 12 regular-season title before losing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.[1] His career highlights include ranking 15th in Big 12 Conference history for total points and earning the Mr. Jayhawk Award, the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award for the nation's top player under 6 feet, and the NABC Senior Achievement Award in his final year.[1] A McDonald's All-American and top recruit from Chicago's Crane Technical High School, Collins' tenacious style made him a fan favorite and a key figure in Kansas' dominant seasons under coach Bill Self.[1] After going undrafted in the 2010 NBA Draft, Collins signed with the Charlotte Bobcats, appearing in 20 games during the 2010–11 season and averaging 0.9 points, 0.3 rebounds, and 0.4 assists in limited minutes off the bench.[2] He briefly joined the San Antonio Spurs' training camp in 2012 but was waived before the season, prompting a transition to international and developmental leagues.[2] Collins played professionally overseas and in the NBA G League, including stints with Hacettepe in Turkey's TBL (2011–12, averaging 10.6 points and 2.8 assists over 19 games), the Maine Red Claws (2010–11), Texas Legends (2015–16), and Windsor's Express in Canada's NBLC (2015–16, where he posted 6.8 points and 3.7 assists in 24 games).[3] Transitioning to coaching, Collins served as head coach at Lawrence Free State High School in Kansas for the 2022–23 season before taking the helm at Oak Park High School in Kansas City, Missouri, in 2023.[4] Under his leadership, Oak Park won the Missouri Class 6 state championship in 2025—the program's first—earning him the Missouri Class 6 Boys Coach of the Year award.[5] Collins also coaches the Kansas Jayhawks' alumni team in The Basketball Tournament (TBT), guiding them in 2024 and 2025 while drawing on his championship pedigree to mentor young players.[6]

Early life and high school

Family background and early years

Sherron Collins was born on March 18, 1987, in Chicago, Illinois. He was raised primarily by his mother, Stacey Harris, in a close-knit family that included his brother, Steve Collins, and his uncle, Walt Harris, who acted as a father figure and provided crucial guidance throughout his childhood. This family support was instrumental in navigating the difficulties of their environment and fostering Collins' discipline and focus on athletics. From a young age, Collins showed a strong interest in multiple sports, participating in organized youth leagues in Chicago where he developed his athletic abilities in basketball, football, and baseball. His initial organized basketball experiences began at the Boys and Girls Club located at the Chicago Housing Authority's Lathrop Homes on the city's North Side, where he first honed his skills and passion for the game. These early activities not only built his physical talents but also introduced him to teamwork and competition in structured settings. Growing up in a gang-torn neighborhood presented significant challenges, including exposure to violence and peer pressure that threatened to derail his path. However, Collins' family emphasized staying out of trouble, and basketball emerged as a vital escape, keeping him occupied in gyms rather than on the streets and away from gang recruiters. This urban resilience, shaped by his upbringing and familial influences, instilled a toughness that defined his approach to sports. These foundational years culminated in his transition to high school basketball at Crane Technical High School.

High school achievements

Sherron Collins attended Crane Technical High School in Chicago, Illinois, where he honed his basketball skills amid the competitive environment of the city's West Side, building a fierce competitive drive from early challenges. As a standout point guard for the Cougars, Collins led his team with exceptional scoring and playmaking abilities. During his senior year in the 2005-2006 season, he averaged 33 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists per game, earning recognition as one of the top high school prospects in the nation.[7][8] Collins' basketball prowess was underscored by prestigious national accolades, including selection to the Parade All-American team and the McDonald's All-American Game, where he showcased his quickness and scoring ability. Recruiting services ranked him as the No. 2 point guard in the country, with Scout.com awarding him five stars overall (No. 12 nationally) and Rivals.com placing him as the No. 4 point guard (No. 21 overall). He also competed in the 2006 Michael Jordan All-American Classic, further highlighting his elite status among high school talents.[4][9] Beyond basketball, Collins was a multi-sport athlete at Crane, participating in football as a wide receiver and defensive back during his junior and senior years, which demonstrated his versatility, speed, and explosiveness. In football, he recorded 33 receptions for 757 yards and 7 touchdowns in just five games during his junior season, including a Public League record 253 receiving yards and three touchdowns in a single game, contributing to his well-rounded athletic profile that attracted attention from college programs.[10][11] Collins' high school success drew heavy recruitment interest from major programs, including the University of Illinois, but he committed to the University of Kansas on October 17, 2005, choosing to join coach Bill Self's powerhouse program as a highly touted five-star recruit.[12]

College career

Freshman and sophomore seasons

Sherron Collins arrived at the University of Kansas as a highly touted point guard in the fall of 2006, earning a spot on the Big 12 All-Freshman Team for his contributions during the 2006-07 season.[1] As a true freshman, he appeared in all 38 games, averaging 9.3 points and 2.9 assists per game while logging 22.3 minutes per contest, often serving as a dynamic spark off the bench with his quick drives and ability to finish at the rim.[1] His aggressive style helped the Jayhawks reach the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight, where they fell to Roy Williams' North Carolina team, showcasing Collins' potential as a tenacious defender and distributor despite the learning curve of college basketball.[13] Entering his sophomore year in 2007-08, Collins faced an early setback with a stress fracture in his left foot requiring surgery in November 2007, which sidelined him for several weeks and limited his early-season rhythm.[14] He returned to play in 34 games, maintaining solid production with averages of 9.3 points and 3.1 assists per game in 23.8 minutes, primarily excelling in a sixth-man role that allowed him to exploit defenses with his explosive quickness and ball-handling prowess.[1] For his impact as a reserve, Collins was named the Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year and earned a spot on the Big 12 All-Reserve Team, while also sharing Big 12 Player of the Week honors in March after averaging 13.0 points in key wins that clinched a share of the conference title.[15] His evolution into a more polished, strength-enhanced guard—combining speed, toughness, and court vision—became evident as he adapted to Bill Self's fast-paced system.[16] Collins played a crucial supporting role in Kansas' run to the 2008 NCAA Championship, appearing in all five tournament games despite averaging just 6.3 points on 33.3% shooting overall.[17] In the Elite Eight victory over Davidson, he contributed defensively but struggled offensively, missing a late free throw in the 59-57 win.[18] His performance peaked in the national title game against Memphis, where he tallied 11 points, six assists, and three steals, including a pivotal steal in overtime that led to a fast-break layup by Brandon Rush, helping secure the 75-68 overtime victory.[19] Additionally, Collins' handoff to Mario Chalmers set up the game-tying three-pointer with 2.1 seconds left in regulation, a moment that forced overtime and preserved Kansas' undefeated season en route to the title.[20] These efforts underscored his growth as a clutch, aggressive point guard integral to the team's success.[21]

Junior and senior seasons

In his junior season during the 2008–09 campaign, Sherron Collins transitioned into a full-time starting role for the Kansas Jayhawks, serving as the team's primary point guard and leading scorer. He averaged 18.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game over 35 appearances, helping Kansas achieve a 27–8 overall record and a share of the Big 12 regular-season title.[1] His performance earned him first-team All-Big 12 honors from the Associated Press and a spot on the consensus All-America second team, recognizing his contributions to the Jayhawks' advancement to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16. Additionally, Collins set a Kansas school record by making 35 consecutive free throws across eight games from January 10 to February 2, surpassing the previous mark held by Darnell Jackson.[22] As a senior in 2009–10, Collins solidified his status as one of college basketball's elite guards, averaging 15.5 points and 4.5 assists per game in 36 outings while shooting 85.5% from the free-throw line, good for third in the Big 12.[1] Under his leadership, Kansas posted a 33–3 record, won the Big 12 regular-season championship outright, and earned the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, though the Jayhawks fell in the second round to Northern Iowa.[23] Collins received consensus first-team All-America honors, was named Big 12 Tournament MVP after averaging 20.5 points in the event, and won the Mr. Jayhawk Award as the team's most valuable player; he also earned the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award, given annually to the top senior under 6 feet tall by the NABC.[24] Following the season, Collins declared for the 2010 NBA Draft, forgoing any remaining eligibility, but he went undrafted after two rounds.[25]

College statistics and honors

Over his four seasons with the Kansas Jayhawks from 2006 to 2010, Sherron Collins appeared in 143 games, averaging 13.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game while shooting 44.5% from the field, 37.5% from three-point range, and 81.1% from the free-throw line.[1] His career totals included 1,888 points, 337 rebounds, and 552 assists, contributing to a 130-19 overall record during his tenure.[1] The following table summarizes Collins' per-game statistics by season:
SeasonGamesPointsReboundsAssistsFG%3P%FT%
2006-07389.32.32.9.478.405.766
2007-08349.32.23.1.462.362.776
2008-093518.92.95.0.434.376.795
2009-103615.52.14.5.426.370.855
Collins earned numerous accolades during his college career, including the 2007-08 NCAA Championship as a sophomore.[1] He was named to the Big 12 All-Freshman Team in 2007, Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year in 2008, and All-Big 12 Second Team in 2009 and First Team in 2010.[1] As a junior, he received Consensus All-America Second Team honors, followed by Consensus All-America First Team, All-Big 12 Tournament Team, Mr. Jayhawk Award, Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award, NABC Senior Achievement Award, and John R. Wooden Award All-American Team recognition in 2010.[24] In 2018, Kansas retired his No. 4 jersey, honoring his contributions to the program.[26] Collins holds the Kansas record for most consecutive free throws made, with a streak of 35 during the 2008-09 season.[22] In the program's point guard legacy, he ranks among the elite, finishing as the fifth-leading scorer in Kansas history with 1,888 points and fifth in total assists with 552, while being the winningest player in school history at the time of his graduation with 130 victories.[27]

Professional playing career

NBA and G League stints

After going undrafted in the 2010 NBA draft, Collins signed a multi-year contract with the Charlotte Bobcats on August 5, 2010, as a free agent following his standout college career at Kansas.[28] He appeared in the 2010 NBA Summer League with the Bobcats before making the opening night roster.[2] During the 2010-11 season, Collins played in 20 games for the Bobcats, averaging 3.3 minutes per game off the bench as a point guard. His NBA statistics included 0.9 points, 0.3 rebounds, and 0.4 assists per game, while shooting 28.0% from the field in limited action.[29] On December 9, 2010, he was assigned to the Bobcats' NBA Development League affiliate, the Maine Red Claws, where he appeared in five games, averaging 12.0 points, 3.2 assists, and 1.6 rebounds per game before being recalled on December 21.[30] Collins was waived by the Bobcats on February 24, 2011, to accommodate a trade.[28] In the 2012 offseason, Collins signed a one-year contract with the San Antonio Spurs on October 1, participating in training camp and preseason but recording no regular-season appearances before being waived on October 5.[28] He later returned to the G League, joining the Texas Legends via a waiver claim on April 2, 2014, for the end of the 2013-14 season, though his playing time remained limited.[28] In 2015-16, Collins played two games for the Legends, averaging 2.5 points in 11.0 minutes per game.[30] Throughout his NBA and G League tenure, Collins faced challenges adapting as an undersized point guard at 5 feet 11 inches tall, which restricted his defensive versatility and overall minutes in professional leagues dominated by taller athletes.[2]

International and minor league play

Following his G League stints, Sherron Collins transitioned to international and minor league basketball, beginning with a brief signing in March 2011 with Lietuvos Rytas of the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL), where he was brought in to replace Khalid El-Amin but did not appear in any games.[31] Later that year, in June 2011, he joined the Quebradillas Pirates of Puerto Rico's Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN) but was released after just one day without playing.[32] In August 2011, Collins signed a one-year contract with Hacettepe Universitesi of Turkey's Basketball Super League (BSL), marking his first sustained professional stint abroad during the 2011-12 season.[33] He appeared in multiple games for Hacettepe, including a January 2012 matchup against Fenerbahçe where he recorded a career-high 4 steals in a 58-79 loss, and set a personal best of 8 rebounds on December 3, 2011, in a road win over another opponent.[34] His time in Turkey required adjustments to a more physical European style of play and different team dynamics, though specific details on cultural challenges like language barriers or travel demands are not extensively documented in reports from the period. Collins left the team in March 2012.[35] Collins' international and minor league career continued sporadically after a period of NBA training camp invites. In January 2016, he joined the Chicago Blues of the Midwest Professional Basketball Association (MPBA), a U.S. minor league, where he averaged 19.0 points and 3.8 assists over six games before departing in March.[36] That same month, he signed with the Windsor Express of Canada's National Basketball League (NBL) for the playoffs, contributing off the bench in several contests.[3] The Express advanced but fell short of the finals, highlighting Collins' scoring ability in a competitive North American minor league environment. In late 2017, Collins signed with the Kansas City Tornados of the North American Premier Basketball (NAPB), another U.S. independent minor league team preparing for its 2018 debut.[37] However, he was listed as inactive due to a knee injury and did not play, marking the end of his on-court professional career.[38] Collins effectively retired from playing in 2018 after nearly a decade of pro basketball across multiple continents and leagues, transitioning fully to coaching roles thereafter.[35]

Coaching career

High school head coaching

In April 2023, Sherron Collins was appointed as the head boys' basketball coach at Oak Park High School in Kansas City, Missouri, marking his return to coaching after a brief stint at Lawrence Free State High School the previous season.[5][4] Prior to this role, Collins retired from professional playing after the 2015–16 season, allowing him to shift his focus toward mentoring young athletes. Under his leadership, the Oak Park Northmen experienced rapid improvement, advancing from a program with recent losing seasons to a 27-5 record in his debut 2023–24 year, including a semifinal appearance and fourth-place finish in the Missouri Class 6 state tournament.[39][40] Collins guided the team to its first-ever Missouri Class 6 state championship in 2025, culminating in a 68-60 victory over Chaminade College Preparatory School on March 20, with the Northmen finishing the 2024–25 season 31-1 after outscoring opponents by a margin of 2,436-1,806.[5][8] The championship run featured a strong semifinal win over Nixa (61-50) and showcased the team's resilience, particularly in a dominant fourth quarter where they made 7 of 8 shots.[5] For his efforts, Collins was named the 2025 Class 6 Boys Coach of the Year by the Missouri High School Basketball Coaches Association in September 2025.[41][42] Collins' coaching philosophy, shaped by his experiences with the Kansas Jayhawks, emphasizes hard work, dedication, resilience, and leadership, often preaching these values through early-morning practices and a focus on second-half execution.[43][44][8] He draws on observations from KU practices to refine his methods, fostering a culture of relentless effort that he describes as essential for building champions.[44] In terms of player development, Collins has successfully nurtured talents such as seniors Zeek Brown, Caleb Estes, and Corbin Allen—who averaged double-digit points—and juniors Adam Tanner and Josh Kori, contributing to the team's depth and success.[8] Notably, Allen committed to the University of Kansas in May 2025, highlighting Collins' ability to prepare players for collegiate programs through his emphasis on work ethic and skill refinement.[45][46]

Other coaching roles and activities

In 2025, Sherron Collins served as head coach for JHX Hoops, the Kansas Jayhawks alumni team in The Basketball Tournament (TBT), marking his second consecutive season in the role.[47] The team advanced through the play-in stage with a 91-78 victory over OffDaHook in the opening round but fell short in the subsequent matchup, prompting Collins to emphasize lessons on maintaining leads during post-game reflections.[48][49] Collins has drawn on his NBA and college experience to mentor emerging talents, including Kansas signees for the 2025-26 season. He coached Corbin Allen, a 6-foot-4 shooting guard from Oak Park High School, who committed to the Jayhawks in May 2025 after being described as well-prepared under Collins' guidance.[50][51] Additionally, Collins attended multiple University of Kansas practices in 2025 to observe head coach Bill Self and assistant Jacque Vaughn, where he provided informal "big brother" mentorship to top recruit Darryn Peterson, advising the elite freshman guard on leadership and on-court communication.[44] Beyond structured roles, Collins engages in the Kansas City basketball community through event appearances and media interactions that promote youth development. During the 2025 TBT in Kansas City, he signed autographs for fans and shared insights on player preparation, leveraging his background to inspire local enthusiasts.[44] His transition from professional playing to coaching began after retiring from overseas leagues, allowing him to apply lessons from his 2008 national championship and NBA stints directly to alumni and community initiatives.[52]

References

  1. Sherron Collins College Stats - Sports-Reference.com
  2. Sherron Collins Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more
  3. Sherron Collins, Basketball Player, News, Stats - Eurobasket
  4. Sherron Collins gets emotional after coaching Oak Park HS to ...
  5. Sherron Collins will coach Kansas basketball's TBT alumni team
  6. Sherron's story | News | kansan.com
  7. Former KU basketball great Sherron Collins leads Missouri high ...
  8. Oak Park Announces New Mens Basketball Coach
  9. Sherron Collins, Kansas, Point Guard - 247 Sports
  10. Collins takes shot at football glory - Chicago Tribune
  11. Farewell, football - KU Sports
  12. Sure Shot - Chicago Magazine
  13. Keegan: Collins one fine finisher - KU Sports
  14. Fractured foot sidelines Kansas guard Collins - KU Sports
  15. Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Weekly Awards Announced
  16. Kansas Guard Sherron Collins: The Rising of a Star - Bleacher Report
  17. Keegan: This time, Kansas, Collins both better - KU Sports
  18. Storybook Season Ends with 59-57 Loss to Top-Seeded Kansas in ...
  19. Collins Get Praise From a Rose - The New York Times
  20. Kansas Wins 2008 NCAA Championship Over Memphis 75-68 In ...
  21. Sherron Collins - NBADraft.net
  22. Collins breaks Kansas free-throw record | News | kansan.com
  23. 2009-10 Kansas Jayhawks Men's Roster and Stats
  24. Sherron Collins - 2009-10 - Men's Basketball - University of Kansas
  25. Sherron Collins goes undrafted - KU Sports
  26. Sherron Collins fights tears during jersey retirement ceremony
  27. Kansas basketball: Sherron Collins deserves special honor
  28. Sherron Collins Player Profile, San Antonio Spurs - RealGM
  29. Sherron Collins Career Stats - NBA - ESPN
  30. Sherron Collins G-League Stats | Basketball-Reference.com
  31. Former Kansas PG Sherron Collins Is Replacing Khalid El-Amin In ...
  32. Former Kansas Guard Sherron Collins Released from Team After ...
  33. Former KU guard Collins to play pro ball in Turkey - KU Sports
  34. Sherron Collins, Basketball Player, Stats, Height, Age | Proballers
  35. Sherron Collins Player Profile - ShamSports
  36. Kansas All-American Collins leaves Blues for Canada
  37. The latest buzz: New KC pro hoops team changes its name
  38. KC Tornados basketball tips off 1/3/18: schedule, roster, tickets
  39. Former KU Jayhawks star Sherron Collins, Oak Park win state
  40. Former KU star and now Oak Park head coach Sherron Collins has ...
  41. Northmen Men's Basketball Head Coach Sherron Collins! This past ...
  42. https://gonorthmen.org/news/2025/11/6/mens-basketball-5-45-am-hustle-inside-oak-parks-championship-mindset.aspx
  43. Sherron Collins reflects on KU practices and top players
  44. Kansas basketball lands Oak Park standout Corbin Allen - 247 Sports
  45. Could New Kansas Basketball Commit Be the Next Ochai Agbaji?
  46. Sherron Collins to coach KU alumni hoops team in TBT 2025
  47. Reflecting on Kansas basketball alumni team JHX Hoops' play in TBT
  48. JHX Hoops coach Sherron Collins reflects on 2025 experience in TBT
  49. KC Standout Corbin Allen Signs with Kansas
  50. Oak Park standout Corbin Allen commits to KU basketball
  51. Former Kansas standout Sherron Collins uses past to ... - KU Sports
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