Joe Gaiter: What does basketball mean to you?
Kenneth Collins: Basketball is one of the most important things in my life. I’ve made so many friends that I would now consider family. I also use basketball as a therapy for life.
Joe Gaiter: When did you start playing sports?
Kenneth Collins: I started playing sports when I was 5 years old. I played basketball, baseball, football, and soccer growing up.
Joe Gaiter: What are your fondest memories of Corinth Holders High School?
Kenneth Collins: My fondest memory at Corinth Holders High School is being the first graduating class. Also the relationships I made with some of my high school coaches and teachers are very valuable to me.
Joe Gaiter: Why did you choose Saint Augustine’s?
Kenneth Collins: The reason I chose Saint Augustine’s was because of the relationship I developed with Coach MarQus Johnson. I felt that he was going to put me in the best position to help my game grow and make it to the next level.
Joe Gaiter: What are some of your fondest memories about playing at Saint Augustine’s?
Kenneth Collins: Some of my fondest memories at Saint Augustine’s include hanging out with my teammates and being around such a positive locker room.
Joe Gaiter: After SAU explain the process of looking for a team for players who may be in your same situation this year.
Kenneth Collins: I came out of SAU and did not sign with an agent. I chose to represent & network for myself. I attended a few camps and made connections with coaches all over the world. I went to a camp and was selected to go on a tour in Mexico where I would later meet the coach that signed me in Comondú.
Joe Gaiter: Tell us about playing in Mexico for Dragones de Comondú?
Kenneth Collins: The city of Comondú was so supportive and welcoming. I came in mid-season when the team was 1-8 and was almost able to lead us to the playoffs. The league was competitive and Mexico was a great place to start my professional career.
Joe Gaiter: Was it hard to get adjusted to the culture?
Kenneth Collins: It wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. Luckily my coach and a few of my teammates spoke English so they made the transition a lot easier.
Joe Gaiter: What were some of your stats?
Kenneth Collins: Cibapac (Mexico) stats: 24.9 ppg, 6.7 rpg, & 6.3 apg in 11 games.
Joe Gaiter: Tell us about your role on the Raleigh Firebirds team?
Kenneth Collins: My role with the Firebirds is to shoot & make shots at a high level.
Joe Gaiter: Are you proud of your accomplishments?
Kenneth Collins: I’m proud of the things I’ve accomplished thus far but I’m excited for the future. I feel I can accomplish a lot more as a pro going forward.
Joe Gaiter: You are known for your range shots. How did you develop your game?
Kenneth Collins: I worked tirelessly at perfecting my jump shot growing up. Working with my trainers daily has helped me gain the confidence to take those deeps shots and live with the outcome.
Joe Gaiter: Do you feel like you have reached your athletic peak?
Kenneth Collins: I don’t think I’ve reached anywhere close to my athletic peak. I think my best basketball is ahead of me.
Joe Gaiter: What makes you such a dynamic guard?
Kenneth Collins: The ability to shoot the ball once I cross half court makes me different to guard. I’m very active off the ball and this helps me get to my spots on the floor. Even when I’m not making shots I’ll usually draw defenders attention just by running off screens hard.
Joe Gaiter: What is your untold story?
Kenneth Collins: I wasn’t recruited heavily out of high school, left my first college after the first semester. I had to attend a junior college, transferred to a NCAA D2, and still ended up signing a professional contract. At every destination there were bumps in the road but signing a pro deal made it all worth it.
Joe Gaiter: What is next for you?
Kenneth Collins: Once the quarantine is over and things go back to normal, I’ll be preparing to go back to Mexico to start training with my club from the Cibapac, unless a better deal comes available before then.
Joe Gaiter: Where are you currently training?
Kenneth Collins: I haven’t been able to get in the gym to do skill work for the past few weeks because of the quarantine. One of my friends is a personal trainer and has his own gym so I’ve been doing a lot of work on my body. I want to gain about 5 pounds of muscle before I go back out of the country.
Joe Gaiter: Who are some athletes we should keep on our radar?
Kenneth Collins: Devin Carter, Wide Receiver at NC State. He’s from my hometown Clayton, NC and is going to have a breakout season this year for the Wolfpack. Also be on the lookout for my little brother Hugh Collins. He’s a class of 2023 multi-sport athlete who I thinks going to be special!
Joe Gaiter: How important is family to you?
Kenneth Collins: Family is one of the most important things to me. They’ve supported every decision I’ve made since I started playing sports. Without their support I wouldn’t be able to chase my dream.
Joe Gaiter: What do you want your legacy to be?
Kenneth Collins: On the court I want to leave a legacy of being one of the best long range shooters in the world. Off the court I’d like to leave a legacy of being a good role model in the community.
