Early Years and Start
Yuri Collins was born in St. Louis, Missouri, with an unusual physical feature: his right hand had six fingers. When he was a youngster, his condition did not stop or hinder him from playing basketball. He had surgery to remove the extra finger when he was two years old, but he still has a scar on his hand to remind him of his oddity. Collins accepted his individuality and utilized it as inspiration to work hard and succeed on the court.
Collins is more than just a basketball player; he is also a role model and an inspiration for many people who face challenges or differences. He is proud of his St. Louis roots and his family, who have supported him throughout his journey. He is majoring in business administration at Saint Louis University and hopes to have a successful career in basketball or beyond.
High School Stardom
Yuri Collins attended St. Mary’s High School, where he became a star player and a local legend. He averaged 22.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 7.6 assists per game as a senior, leading his team to the Class 4 state championship game. He was unstoppable in the postseason, scoring over 30 points per game and dazzling the crowds with his flashy passes and clutch shots. He was named the Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Metro Player of the Year. He had many offers from college programs, but he chose to stay home and play for Saint Louis University.
College Career
Collins had an early impact as a freshman at Saint Louis, topping all first-year students in assists per game with 5.5. He also averaged 5.4 points per game and 1.6 steals per game, demonstrating his defensive skills, contributing to the Billikens winning 23 games and reaching the A-10 tournament championship. He scored 5.1 points per game and rebounded to 2.8 per game as a sophomore while maintaining his high assist total of 6.1. He was selected to the A-10 All-Academic Team for his academic achievements.
Collins had a spectacular junior season, becoming one of the greatest players in the NCAA and a possible NBA draft pick. He led the country in assists and was second in the assist-to-turnover ratio, averaging 11.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game (3.9). He also improved his field-goal percentage (46%) and three-point percentage (33%). (38 percent ). He was voted First Team All-Atlantic 10 and All-Defensive Team, and he was a nominee for the Bob Cousy Award as college basketball’s finest point guard. He guided the Billikens to 25 victories and an NCAA tournament trip.
Collins planned to join the NBA draft following his junior season but also went via the transfer portal to look into other opportunities. He eventually dropped out of the draft and returned to Saint Louis for his senior year, wanting to lead his team to higher heights while improving his draft ranking. On November 30, 2022, he began his senior season with a bang, earning 20 assists in a victory over Tennessee State. This was a school record and tied for the fourth-most in Division I history in a single game.
NBA Draft Chances
With all these performances, Yuri Collins is expected to be a second-round pick at this year’s exciting NBA Draft.
