Bishop Gorman player Zach Collins (12) gets position for a shot inside versus Palo Verde during the Sunset Regional championship game on Friday, Feb. 20, 2015.
Monday, March 16, 2015 | 6 p.m.
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Bishop Gorman High post player Zach Collins, the state’s top basketball recruit for the class of 2016, verbally committed today to Gonzaga.
The 6-foot-11 Collins wanted to get his decision out of the way early in the process so it didn’t interfere with his senior season. The other four schools he visited were Utah, San Diego State, New Mexico and Cal. UNLV was one of more than a dozen schools to offer a scholarship, but not in his final five.
“I wanted to commit sometime in March or April to get it out of the way so next season can be about my team with no recruiting distractions,” Collins said. “We can go out, play and win.”
Of all the visits, his time in Gonzaga left the best impression. Coaches were direct with the program's strengths and weaknesses — something he saw on the trip.
“I'm not a big flash guy,” Collins said. “They keep it simple. That’s all I need.”
Collins is the nation’s No. 52 overall recruit by ESPN.com for the class of 2016. He averaged about 9 points and 5 rebounds per game last season, coming off the Gorman bench because the four-time Nevada state champion Gorman had five-star 2015 recruits Chase Jeter (Duke) and Stephen Zimmerman (undecided) entrenched in the starting lineup.
The fall signing period doesn’t begin until November, meaning other schools can still recruit Collins.
Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21
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