This season has been an improvement over 2021-22 for the 4A Yellowjackets. The team, in large part, because of Collins’ on-court leadership has already won six games – equaling its entire win total from last season. Collins, through 14 games, is averaging 14.4 points per game for Irmo. In addition to how she anchors the Yellowjackets’ scoring attack, Collins also manages to effectively run point, can set up her team’s offense in the halfcourt, makes accurate passes to her teammates and is an efficient runner of the floor. She could be leading the Yellowjackets to darkhorse status in a tough region that includes A.C. Flora and Westwood along with Ridge View.

Her Yellowjackets may have been on the less-than-desirable end of that very 50-41 result to host school Hammond, but one has to give credit to her team for not backing down despite falling behind big early. Collins finished with 25 points in a matchup that Irmo made very competitive as the game wore on. Collins came through with four of the five 3-pointers that Irmo made for the game. She managed to impress as a ball handler, runner of the floor and ability to get to the free throw line after drawing contact. This year’s Yellowjackets rendition is already halfway to the six wins they picked up last season.

The 4A Yellowjackets may not exactly went into its contest against host school White Knoll with a home court advantage. But Collins knows how to put points on the board regardless of where she plays as she managed an 11-point effort to lead the Irmo offensive attack against the Timberwolves. Collins will try her hand at the 3-point shot and understands how to organize an offense in the halfcourt set. She is also skilled as a ball handler and brings versatility to the Yellowjackets. Collins can play a number of positions on the floor – including as a guard, as a forward or as a wing.

The 2021-22 season could be described as a trying – and rebuilding one for the Yellowjackets. They did however have a star junior who served as bright a spot as the gold on Irmo’s uniforms. Even with the team’s struggles, Collins did lead Irmo into the 4A tournament and she has previously participated in grassroots ball with IDreams. Collins has displayed a great deal of maturity despite being a youngster in her previous seasons and that will be a worthwhile attribute for her as she advances into her veteran seasons. She helps out a team’s rebounding efforts – particularly offensively – and can really get going with midrange jumpers and attacking the basket. This is especially the case if she has the hot hand.

The first junior on our list, Collins proved to be a bright spot on a 4A Irmo team that had a new look from what it has assembled in the final season of the Monica Williams era. The Yellowjackets still managed to make it into last season’s tournament. She has previously ran on the grassroots circuit with IDreams. Collins boosts her team’s rebounding efforts – including on the offensive glass –  and can showcase she is in a rhythm when she either attacks the rim or tries her hand at midrange jump shots. If one word could be used to describe Collins’ game, it would be maturity.