When Darren Collison committed to UCLA four and a half years ago, he weighed 141 pounds ““ a slight, four-star player rated as the No. 11 point guard in the nation by Scout.com. He had the stats, accolades and basketball IQ to compete with just about anybody, but hardly anyone noticed.
Most of the big-name programs didn’t think he had the size to cut it at that level and couldn’t see past his unconventional jump shot. Until his junior year in high school, San Diego State was the chief suitor in Collison’s recruiting. Even though he led his team to the Southern California finals that season and took the title the next, the accolades poured in, but not the scholarship offers.
The team he grew up rooting for ““ Arizona ““ didn’t bother to recruit him.
But with the arrival of coach Ben Howland to UCLA, the quick point guard with a feel for the game got his chance.
Collison arrived in Westwood to a backcourt laden with talent, highlighted by sophomores Jordan Farmar and Arron Afflalo. Coming off the bench as a defensive specialist, Collison provided an important spark for a team that would reach the Final Four for the first time since 1995.
Now, three seasons removed from his introduction as a Bruin, Collison has not only developed the mental chops to be the team’s go-to player, but has developed the physical tools that have made him one of the best guards in the nation.
After turning down the chance to join teammates Kevin Love, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute and Russell Westbrook in the 2008 NBA draft, Collison has embraced his role as the Bruins’ on-floor general without eyeing what could have been.
“From day one since I stepped onto this campus as a senior, that’s when I didn’t really look back,” Collison said of his choice to return for his senior season. “You can’t have any regrets making that tough of a decision.”
He’s got one last chance to accomplish what he came to UCLA for. And with the Bruins relying so much on his leadership, they will go as far as he takes them.
“My main concern, the reason I came back, is to win a national championship,” he said.
As Collison knows, this is now his team. In his third season as a starter, not only does he have to produce in the stat line, but be a positive role model for the underclassmen ““ something Collison takes pride in.
“As a point guard, being a leader, being a senior, I got a lot of things I got to take care of in order for us to win games,” Collison said. “But all of that has helped me. My teammates make my job a lot easier.”
Though he’s quick to shift praise to his teammates, Collison’s game has also benefited from his physical development. Since his days as a high school senior, he’s packed 25 more pounds onto his 6-foot frame, an important difference that has made it easier for him to hold his own in the paint.
Against USC on Sunday, his added strength was apparent. Four minutes into the game, Collison drove into the lane, drew a hard foul on Taj Gibson, then sunk a twisting layup before adding the free-throw. It was a play that not only exhibited his physical growth, but also his ability to take over a game as the Bruins’ undisputed leader.
His team-high 39 minutes in that game not only showed Howland’s trust in Collison’s ability to play at the highest level for an entire game, but also how crucial he is on the court for the Bruins.
“I would probably say that he’s in the best condition of any player in the Pac-10,” Howland said. “I would like to see someone come up with a better example. For how hard he plays and all he’s asked to do, he’s been fantastic. Darren’s one of the top point guards, if not the top point guard in the country.”
This season, without the presence of Love, Mbah a Moute and Westbrook, Collison has emerged as just that. He is counted on to provide added offensive firepower and could be the top 3-point shooter in the conference.
And for the first team in his career, the team truly runs through him.
Freshman guard Jrue Holiday sees Collison’s versatile style of offense ““ as a shooter, passer or threat off the dribble- as one of the reasons why his veteran presence is so valuable for the Bruins.
“I see it all the time in practice,” Holiday said. “Sometimes you don’t think he’s going to shoot and he pulls it right in your face. Or you think he’s going to shoot and his pump-fake looks like an actual shot and he goes right by you. There’s so many different elements to his game.
“He’s our leader and he controls the team, defensively and offensively.”
Without a doubt the expectations for this season are as high as ever, but for the senior who passed on NBA millions for one more year in Westwood, Collison’s just having fun.
“When I first made my decision, I was happy to play with my teammates and my coaching staff,” Collison said. “I definitely don’t regret anything.”