Daimion Collins tabbed to Naismith Trophy Midseason Team

Kentucky basketball signee Daimion Collins has been named to the Naismith Trophy High School Player of the Year midseason team, just one of 25 players to make the list.

The Naismith Trophy is awarded annually by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.

Collins, a five-star prospect out of Atlanta, Texas, is currently averaging 34.3 points, 14.8 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 5.0 blocks per contest through nine games of his senior season at Atlanta High School.

Ron Mercer is the only Wildcat to ever win the high school honor back in 1995.

Collins, who is rated as the No. 10 overall prospect in the 2021 class by Rivals, committed to Kentucky back on Oct. 31 and signed with the Wildcats during the fall signing period. The 6-foot-9 center is also rated No. 11 overall by 247Sports and No. 17 overall by ESPN. “I’m really excited for Daimion and his family to join our program,” head coach John Calipari said during the early signing period. “Daimion is an incredible young man with a bright future – someone who has only begun to realize just how good he can be. Our fans know I don’t like to make comparisons to our other guys, but Daimion has that type of length, the athleticism and the versatility that have separated our players from others. He wanted to be pushed and to be in a competitive environment to help him reach his full potential. The staff and I cannot wait to help him grow.”

Collins was named a Third Team All-State selection by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches after averaging 24.6 points, 13.7 rebounds and 7.7 blocks per game as a junior.

“I wanted to go somewhere that has developed players that have similar skills as me,” Collins said. “I felt that Kentucky was the only place for me.”