Daimion Collins assesses physical growth, goals for his second year at Kentucky

Big things are expected out of Kentucky sophomore forward Daimion Collins next season. In order to reach those goals, however, there is plenty of work to be done in the meantime.

Collins has been working all offseason and getting his body in game shape, hoping to add a few extra pounds before October. He’s already starting to see some progress but has a long way to go to reach his ideal weight.

“That’s a huge priority because probably one of my biggest downfalls right now is my body,” Collins explained recently. “So I’ve been working really hard to get my body right. I’ve definitely been making progress. I’ve gained a few pounds here lately but I’m still working to gain some more.”

Collins averaged just 7.4 minutes per game as a freshman, but 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. He was the No. 18 overall player in the 2021 class according to On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average.

Kentucky coach John Calipari has said he believes Daimion Collins can be “one of the best players in the country” next season. To do that however, Collins knows he has to continue to get stronger to avoid being pushed around in the post. Currently 200 pounds, he even let reporters know the weight he is targeting.

“I want to be at least 215 or something like that,” Collins said. “That’s a good playing size for the season. I think it would make a big difference. Having that weight, I can’t get moved around and stuff. I think that would be a big jump to my game.”

Many experts believe Collins could be an NBA Draft pick next season, and ESPN’s Jonathan Givony recently projected him as the 43rd overall pick. But with as talented as Collins is, he certainly has a chance to move up that list with a solid 2022-23 season.

Kentucky returns starting center Oscar Tshiebwe as well as forward Jacob Toppin. However, the departure of Keion Brooks could open up room for Collins in the rotation. Hopefully he is able to make the most of it and live up to the potential he flashed in high school and at times this past season.