Texas Tech basketball: Red Raiders in the hunt for 5-star in-state big man

The Texas Tech basketball program is in the hunt for 5-star big man Damion Collins from Atlanta, TX who just recently included the Red Raiders in this top 10.

If Chris Beard doesn’t land 5-star Atlanta, TX big man Damion Collins, we may still see plenty of him at the college level.  That’s because the Texas Tech basketball program is just one of six Big 12 schools recently included in Collins’ top 10.  The others are Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Baylor, and Kansas.  He’s also still interested in Alabama, Houston, Arkansas, and LSU according to a recent Tweet from this past weekend.

Growing up in a town of just 5,500 people (located about 30 minutes south of Texarkana), Collins now seems to have the basketball world at his feet.  He’s rated the No. 5 center in the nation and No. 2 player in Texas for the class of 2021 by 247Sports.com.

"“Quite thin but has long arms and is quick off the floor as an explosive leaper,” wites Jerry Meyer of 247Sports.  “Highly mobile with good hands. Finishes with strength around rim and can score facing. Has potential to greatly improve as a face up player. Defensively, is a high level shot blocker who can also move his feet on perimeter. Can also rebound outside his area. Raw offensively in general but has great potential.”"

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Though he’s listed as a center by 247Sports, at 6-foot-8 and just 190 pounds, he’s built more like a stretch four.  Should he come to Tech and not undergo a growth spurt of any significance, he might slot in to replace Joel Ntambew should the redshirt sophomore leave for the NBA after the upcoming season as many believe he might.

Of course, Tech should be in great shape in 2021-22 at forward even if Ntambwe heads to the professional ranks.  The Red Raiders will still have forwards Tyreek Smith and Esahia Nywie on the roster to give Beard some size, rebounding, and shot-blocking inside.

Watching his junior season highlights, it is tough to get a great evaluation of Collins’ game.  Because of the competition he faces in his tiny hometown, he looks like an adult playing against the Cavazos Jr. High 7th-grade developmental team.

But at the 40-second mark, he hits a pretty turnaround jumper in the post a la Dirk Nowitzki.  That moment from the video package is most impressive as it shows that he has developed some touch with his jumper despite being able to get to the rim and dunk at will against his high school opponents.

The next highlight in that montage shows him bringing the ball up the court himself and then hitting a 15-foot jumper on the move.  Those are the types of skills that will translate to the Big 12 level.

Right now, Texas is the favorite to win this recruiting battle as the Horns have 100% of the 247Sports crystal ball predictions.  However, this is going to be one of the most hotly-contested recruiting fights in the nation and the Red Raiders are squarely in the mix.  And we all know not to count out Chris Beard on the recruiting trail.