Why the Heat should draft Wake Forest’s John Collins
By Rob Slater
Wake Forest forward John Collins provides the type of versatility and potential the Miami Heat should be looking for with the 14th pick in this week’s draft.
One of the more intriguing names to find itself tied to the Miami Heat as we head down the home stretch towards the draft is Wake Forest’s John Collins, and upon review, it’s evident why the team is considering him at No. 14.
Few players in this year’s draft made the type of jump from their freshman to sophomore years that Collins did, drastically improving his field goal percentage (54 to 62 percent), rebounds (3.9 to 9.8), blocks (0.7 to 1.6) and points (7.3 to 19.2). While the Demon Deacons finished with a record barely above .500, Collins stood out as a steady inside presence.
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During his time at Wake Forest, Collins played with a decided edge showcasing his versatility and athleticism and doing so in an efficient manner. The Miami Herald reported that Collins led the nation in Player Efficiency Rating at 35.93, a number better than previous collegiate standouts like Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins during their time at Kentucky.
What should attract the Heat to Collins is not only his strengths but also his weaknesses, as he’s actively working to further develop his offensive game.
"“I think teams want to see what else I can do,” Collins said following a workout with Detroit. “More than just staying in the post up all the time. It’s stepping out and expanding my range, shooting the three, handling a little bit, showing my passing lanes.”"
The West Palm Beach product has a number of “Miami Heat characteristics” from his untapped potential to his work ethic, and would make a strong addition to the roster heading into the future.