http://www.fiveborosports.com/ssp/news?news_id=3467No accident that Collier has become blue-chipper
Bronx native Devon Collier, a 6-foot-8 forward, had a terrific season at St. Anthony's over the winter. Photo by Damion Reid
By Marc Raimondi
July 9, 2009
PHILADELPHIA – It’s like a natural rite of spring and summer with Devon Collier that happens every year.
Every time the weather gets humid, he experiences pain in both legs.
“Especially when it rains,†Collier said.
The Bronx native and St. Anthony’s (N.J.) basketball star was hit by a car when he was 15 years old and he broke bones in both legs. He wore a cast on his left one for a month and a half.
After an excellent season with the Jersey City school this past season, Collier, an All Hallows transfer, ran into some struggles in the spring due to the leg pain. The rising senior said his legs have grown much stronger since the accident, but doctors told the 6-foot-8 Collier that he’ll still have the nagging aches, due to tendonitis, until he stops growing.
“At least I’m still growing,†he said.
So is his game.
Collier scored 10 points and looked smooth Thursday afternoon for the Eddie House team in a game against the Yao Ming squad at the Reebok All-American Camp at Philadelphia University. Recruiting guru Tom Konchalski said it was the best he has played since the winter.
“He was [St. Anthony’s] best player from the time he became eligible Jan. 18, not Dominic Cheek, who was a McDonald’s All American,†Konchalski said. “He had a terrific season.â€
And he also has a long laundry list of high level schools looking after him. Collier counts Connecticut, Pittsburgh, Villanova, St. John’s, West Virginia and Virginia among his suitors. He doesn’t have a leader right now, though, and isn’t sure when he wants to commit.
“They’re all the same,†he said of the many suitors vying for his services.
Collier’s skills are many. He’s long, extremely athletic and excellent in transition, especially for his size. Collier almost has guard-like capabilities, including an improving long-range jump shot. The biggest thing for him is getting stronger, and not just in his legs. He’s somewhat like a Devin Ebanks type, but isn’t as good of a rebounder, which is something Ebanks excelled with at West Virginia this year.
“He’s a running forward,†Konchalski said. “He’s a guy who’s extremely mobile, especially in transition. He has some perimeter skill; he can shoot a 3 off the catch. He can get to the basket on two bounces. He’s got a good change of direction to his game. He’s gotta be able to make the play off the dribble and little better and he has to get a lot stronger physically for the level that’s recruiting him.â€
Collier, who plays for the New Heights AAU program, has certainly come a long way since the accident. He said not being able to play for close to four months was excruciating.
“I was playing ball with the cast on,†Collier said with a laugh.
His legs were weak when the cast came off, he said. He wasn’t able get back to his old form for awhile. As soon as it was removed, he went to the gym at the Bronx YMCA where his dad works to play basketball.
“I got the ball and I tried to go to the basket and I just fell,†Collier said.
There’s no doubt he’s landed on his feet.
mraimondi@fiveborosports.com