Daimion Collins explains his decision to return to Kentucky, his expectations for Year 2

Kentucky forward Daimion Collins knew he needed an extra season of college to prepare himself for the NBA. After spending a year in Lexington, he was confident the Wildcats were the team to do it with.

Collins averaged just 7.4 minutes per game this past season and could have entered the transfer portal in search of more playing time. However, it was ultimately the connections he made in Lexington that brought him back for his sophomore season.

“Just knowing coach Cal, all our assistant coaches, the team and most of all the fans,” Collins said of his decision to return. “The fans are real great and every single game away or home they’re there supporting us. So that’s really what made my decision.”

Collins was a five-star recruit and the No. 18 overall player in the 2021 class according to On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average. The 6-foot-9 freshman was a projected first-round NBA Draft pick before the season began, but struggled to find his footing playing behind Wooden Award winner Oscar Tshiebwe, who is also returning to the team next season.

Kentucky coach John Calipari has said he believes Daimion Collins can be “one of the best players in the country” next season. The Wildcats forward isn’t making those kinds of statements about himself, but did say he will try to make the most of his chances this year.

“(My expectations) are pretty much the same as last year,” he said. “Stay focused, keep working and when my opportunity comes play as hard as I can each and every game.”

Experts already believe that Collins could be an NBA Draft pick next season. ESPN’s 2023 NBA Mock Draft from Jonathan Givony and Mike Schmitz has Collins getting drafted 38th by the Boston Celtics. With a big sophomore season leap, he may even crack into the first round.

His per-40 minute numbers of 15.5 points and 10.9 boards this past season show he could be a very productive player with a bigger role. Even next to Oscar Tshiebwe, Lance Ware, Jacob Toppin and Chris Livingston, Collins should and will be a featured piece for the Wildcats in 2022-2023.