Kansas Senior Strengths: Collins gives defenders a lot to handle from a college point guard … He can push the tempo and utilize his great ball handling skills, with speed and explosiveness that might catch you off guard because of his stocky frame … Much improved mid range game with nice elevation on his jumper, can shake his defender off the dribble and pull up … Good body control, can stop and start on the dime … Can spot up from deep, but only converting 36% from downtown… Elusive and able to get into the lane, he’s more effective pulling up than taking it strong and drawing the foul due to his height … Great vision when it comes to seeing open space, will beat you to the spot in the open floor … Has a scorer’s mentality, determined to beat his defender off the dribble … Ability to penetrate opens up the court … A clutch shooter and natural leader …
Weaknesses: Only 5’11 and more of a scorer than point guard playmaker, and he won’t be able to play the 2 in the pros … Defensively he gets beat off the dribble too often, and no where near tall enough to guard a 2guard at the next level … Lack of height also a concern offensively as he will have a tough time finishing in the paint … Will need to improve his shooting from deep to make up for potential inability to finish around the rim against taller and stronger defenders … Not known for passing, averages only 4.3 assists but keeps down his turnovers (2.3) per game …
Overall: He’s played 4 years on a consistently competitive and strong Kansas team and shown the ability to be a scorer and leader… However, needs to improve his playmaking abilities as a point guard if he wants to have a role on an NBA team … His ability to score, his will to beat his defender, and his ball handling skills should make GMs think about him when looking at potential point guards, but usually small shoot-first point guards in college have a tough time making the transition to the pros. Of course, a national championship would surely help his cause …
Jonathan Wasserman – 3/13/10
Weaknesses: Point guards of his height always have an uphill battle getting into the league, but score-first PGs even more so Must improve upon his playmaking abilities, i.e. finding the open man, driving and kicking, and prove to NBA scouts that he can be a true PG who can run a team Must improve his A/T ratio, only averaged 2.9 apg along with 1.7 TO per game Must also show more mid range game, seems to either shoot threes, drive to the basket or give nothing.
Outlook: Will share PG responsibilities with Mario Chalmers and Russell Robinson in the 07-08 season, so improving significantly on his stats from last year may prove to be difficult with playing time to be split up three ways, the same as last year. In a league where measurables are nearly as important as actual skills, coming in at under 6-foot is as close to a death kiss as you can be, even though he weighs in at an impressive 200 lbs. With the success of Nate Robinson and Earl Boykins, there is definitely a chance for Collins, but he is going to have to fight for it, and it may take at least another year or two.
James Burbridge – 7/26/2007
SEASON | TEAM | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | TO | A/T | STL | BLK | PF | FG% | FT% | 3P% | PPS |
| 2006-07 | KU | 22.3 | 9.3 | 2.3 | 2.9 | 1.7 | 1.78 | 0.7 | 0 | 1.8 | 0.478 | 0.766 | 0.405 | 1.31 |
| 2007-08 | KU | 23.8 | 9.3 | 2.2 | 3.1 | 2 | 1.54 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 1.6 | 0.462 | 0.776 | 0.362 | 1.25 |
| 2008-09 | KU | 35.1 | 18.9 | 2.9 | 5 | 3.3 | 1.51 | 1.1 | 0 | 1.9 | 0.434 | 0.795 | 0.376 | 1.27 |
| 2009-10 | KU | 33 | 15.5 | 2.1 | 4.5 | 2.4 | 1.89 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 1.7 | 0.426 | 0.855 | 0.37 | 1.29 |
| Per Game | 28.5 | 13.2 | 2.4 | 3.9 | 2.3 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.8 | 0.444 | 0.808 | 0.377 | 1.28 |
SEASON | TEAM | GP | MIN | FG | FGA | FTM | FTA | 3PM | 3PA | PTS | OFF | DEF | TOT | AST | TO | STL | BLK | PF |
| 2006-07 | KU | 38 | 847 | 129 | 270 | 49 | 64 | 47 | 116 | 354 | 14 | 73 | 87 | 112 | 63 | 28 | 0 | 70 |
| 2007-08 | KU | 34 | 808 | 116 | 251 | 45 | 58 | 38 | 105 | 315 | 13 | 61 | 74 | 105 | 68 | 39 | 3 | 54 |
| 2008-09 | KU | 35 | 1229 | 226 | 521 | 132 | 166 | 77 | 205 | 661 | 19 | 82 | 101 | 174 | 115 | 39 | 0 | 67 |
| 2009-10 | KU | 36 | 1187 | 185 | 434 | 118 | 138 | 70 | 189 | 558 | 8 | 67 | 75 | 161 | 85 | 39 | 2 | 60 |
| Totals | 143 | 4071 | 656 | 1476 | 344 | 426 | 232 | 615 | 1888 | 54 | 283 | 337 | 552 | 331 | 145 | 5 | 251 |
YouTube Clip – 08/15/2009
YouTube Clip – 06/03/2010