Kristopher Collins, a 6-2, 210 pound point/combo guard from Collin County C.C. in Plano, Tex., should bring a number of skills to the Minnesota Golden Gopher basketball program in the fall.

JUCO Junction caught up with Collin County Head Coach Jim Sigona on Wednesday afternoon, and the veteran coach gave us his thoughts on Collins' decision to play in the Big 10 and what dimensions he will bring to Dan Monson's club.

"He has a great body," Sigona said. "He's 6-2, 210 pounds, strong and physical."

"He's not a big-time quick athlete or great jumper, but he really improved as the year went on," Sigona continued. "As the season went on, he got better. He's strong and can get into the lane."

Collins (pictured right) primarily played at the point for Collin County, but he can comfortably swing between either guard slot. The one thing he will need to do better at the next level is to protect the basketball, Sigona pointed out.

"He can play the one, but I think he will be more of a combo for them," he said. "In their system, that may be what they need, and he might be more effective as a combo."

Perhaps the biggest bonus with Collins is that Minnesota will gain his services for three years, since he came to Collin County as a freshman qualifier out of high school in San Antonio.

Several years back, Sigona had a player named Anthony Norwood that left after his freshman year to attend the University of Oregon. So he was s not averse to letting Collins explore his options after a distinguished freshman campaign.

"With all of the kids that we recruit, we tell them that they can leave after one year if they want," Sigona said. "And that helps us in recruiting -- he's not the first and won't be the last."

Sigona estimated that he has had eight or nine players leave after just one year at Collin in his 14-year tenure at the North Texas junior college.

Collins averaged 16.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 4.5 turnovers per game. For the season, he shot 39 percent from the field, 32 percent from beyond the three point arc and 72 percent from the charity stripe.

"He really carried us all year and he was our go to guy down the stretch," Sigona said.

JUCO Junction had a chance to catch Collins in action last month at the NJCAA Region V Tournament in Lubbock, Tex., but he did not turn in a particularly strong performance in a loss to South Plains College.

In that contest, Collins finished with eight points, two rebounds, two assists and four steals in a 79-50 quarterfinal round loss. An aggressive driver, Collins struggled with his shot that day, hitting just two of 14 shot attempts and missing all six of his three point attempts.

The Golden Gopher program was at that game and several others toward the end of Collin County's season.

"Minnesota kind of got in there by coming to the last couple of games in the regular season, and then they came out to Lubbock and then they came in to see him in our gym," Sigona said. "So they were the strongest."

Others had looked at Collins, but the Gophers were sold and tendered him a scholarship offer before even having him on campus for a visit.

"Everyone called," Sigona said. "There were people in the Big 12, some in the WAC and Conference USA. I think a lot of people were waiting until the end, but Minnesota came in and they were on him and stayed with it."