Unique Daimion Collins shows his hard work is paying off and now John Calipari says he will play more

Daimion Collins can play multiple positions but he's not among the top eight players in John Calipari's rotation. (Jeff Houchin Photo)

Kentucky coaches have continued to believe in 6-9 freshman Daimion Collins, a consensus five-star prospect and top 20 recruit, despite his lack of playing time, especially in Southeastern Conference play going into Saturday’s game at Alabama.

Collins signed with Kentucky but also had offers from Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Baylor, Houston, Texas A&M, LSU, Alabama, Oklahoma State, and others.

Assistant coach Orlando Antigua said Collins’ focus is fine despite his lack of playing time.

“He is working extremely hard. He is getting extra lifts in, working on nutrition,” Antigua said last week. “He is unique. He can play multiple positions.

“He has a lot of learning and growing knowing both positions at 5 (center) and 4 (power forward). He is really, really talented and we need him.”

Well, Collins delivered against Alabama — just one week after UK’s win at Kansas when coach John Calipari had made it clear that he was down to an eight-man rotation that didn’t include Collins, Bryce Hopkins or Dontaie Allen. Calipari said then Collins had to prove to him that he deserved to play over those ahead of him.

At Alabama, Collins got a chance because Calipari said he woke up Friday morning thinking UK could lob the ball over the Alabama defense and Collins could finish. He responded with 10 points and six rebounds in nine minutes. He went 6-for-6 at the foul line.

Kentucky had a +13 scoring margin with Collins on the court and is now 12-0 in games Collins has scored this season. However, before Saturday he had TWO POINTS total in SEC play.

“I didn’t play him five or six games. Now he has forced me to figure out how to play him,” Calipari said about Collins. “I have got to play him 15 minutes a game.”