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Summer League look at John Collins

By Bryce Koon

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 22: John Collins walks on stage with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being drafted 19th overall by the Atlanta Hawks during the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 22, 2017 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 22: John Collins walks on stage with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being drafted 19th overall by the Atlanta Hawks during the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 22, 2017 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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It has only been 3 games for the Hawks so far, but John Collins has impressed. The first round pick has been terrific on the boards and impactful on the offensive end.

In college, Collins was a terrific offensive player, but not many people knew about his defensive game. His coaches at Wake Forest were wary of him being aggressive defensively to keep him out of foul trouble, This shows just how important he was to that team. Scouts were really looking forward to seeing Collins in action in the NBA Summer League to see what he looked like on the defensive end. So far Collins has been great offensively, and decent on the defensive end.

Collins had a breakout game in the second game of the summer league slate. He broke out with 22 points in a big victory over the Pelicans. We have seen him work in the post and be active around the rim. His hands are a big part of his game. He has quick hands that help him get rebounds and soft hands that allow for touch around the rim. Next, Collins had another great game on Monday against the Chicago Bulls. He had a double-double with 15 pts and 11 rbs. He also added 2 assists.

Finally, Collins has work to do on the defensive end. This is expected from any player making the jump from the college game to the NBA. Early on we have seen how Collins needs to get quicker. There have been some instances where players have been able to get around Collins leading to dish outs or easy layups. Other times, he has shown a prowess on the defensive end. He has been able to contest shots without fouling. He has been a monster at grabbing boards and has cleaned up the glass. This is something that the Hawks badly need. If the Wake Forest product can improve on that end, the Hawks will have a great big man for years to come.

With the Hawks in a  rebuilding phase, Collins will receive plenty of time to develop. He has the opportunity to become one of the core members of the Hawks. The NBA Summer League will allow for this development to take place and is a great way to watch all the young Hawks.

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