Atlanta basketball connections engaged in March Madness

Two players in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, or what is known as March Madness, have ties to Atlanta.

Daimion Collins

Daimion Collins was a standout basketball player who dominated the landscape during his high school days at Atlanta High School.

Daimion signed with the Kentucky Wildcats out of high school and is in his sophomore year there.

Daimion caught the attention of many during the Kentucky Wildcats’ 61-53 win over Providence in the first round of the NCAA basketball tournament.

Not just because of his play on the court but because of what he’s overcome this season.

Daimion’s father, Ben Collins, passed away suddenly before the start of the regular season. It not only affected Daimion but the entire team who grieves as a family.

Ben had just sold his business in Atlanta so he could move to Lexington and be closer to Daimion. It gave him the opportunity to watch him play more, be that much closer to his son and opened up a place for the family to stay when they were in town.

Daimion and his father were the best of friends and it hit him hard. He lost weight throughout that time but knows his father would want him to keep going and achieve what Daimion and his parents wanted since his basketball dreams journey began.

John Calipari, Kentucky’s head coach, said it has been a high point to see Daimion work his way back from that tragedy and leave it all on the court.

Coach Calipari loves to see Daimion smiling especially after what transpired in Daimion’s life.

Marcus Sasser Jr.

Marcus Sasser Jr. isn’t from Atlanta but has family ties here. Marcus played at Red Oak High School just south of Dallas and signed with the University of Houston to play basketball which runs in the blood of his family.

At Red Oak Marcus played for his uncle Jason Sasser who played for Texas Tech University and played a couple of years in the NBA.

His uncle Jeryl Sasser Jr. also played collegiately for SMU and was the 22nd overall pick in the 2001 NBA draft by the Orlando Magic.

Jeryl and Jason’s father, Jeryl Sasser Sr., played basketball for Atlanta High School during the 1968-1969 season.

Jeryl Sr.’s father was John Barber who attended Pruitt High School in Atlanta in the late 40’s and early 50’s. Barber played college ball at Cal State-Los Angeles from 1952-1954 and once scored 188 points in a game.

Not only did he score more than 100 points once but three times, and this was 40 or so years before the 3-point line came into existence. He scored 150 points in an exhibition game and 103 in a game against a fellow college in Los Angeles.

After college he was drafted by the Minneapolis Lakers in 1956 and also played fore the St Louis Hawks.

Marcus made an immediate impact as a freshman and was a main cog in leading the Cougars to the American Championship his sophomore year and a Final Four appearance against Baylor.