Bulls find a leader in Collins

Anthony Collins barely creates a stir. He hardly gets noticed. He's 6-foot-1, 180 pounds, humble, unassuming and largely quiet, seemingly just another freshman wandering around the University of South Florida's campus.

Put a basketball in his hands, though, and everything changes.

"Your eyes will gravitate toward him," USF coach Stan Heath said. "He has presence. He has made such an impact on us already."

Collins took over the point-guard spot early in the season. He has the look of someone who could compile 100-plus career starts for the Bulls.

Premature buildup? Heath doesn't think so.

"He's our guy," Heath said. "He's our floor leader. Everyone listens to him and follows him. They just do."

Collins is one of the biggest reasons the Bulls (12-9, 5-3), who face the Providence Friars (12-9, 1-7) today at the Tampa Bay Times Forum, continue to pursue upper-echelon status in the Big East Conference.

He averages 4.9 assists and 1.9 steals, topping all Big East newcomers in those categories. He scores just 6.0 points per game, but has a knack for making the big shots, such as his floating runner that beat Rutgers.

In an upset of then-No. 24-ranked Seton Hall, it was Collins' unhesitating three-quarter-court pass that produced Toarlyn Fitzpatrick's critical layup in the late going.

"When I was a freshman, somebody told me that freshmen will always remember their seniors," said USF senior forward Ron Anderson Jr. "Your first year in college, there's something about having somebody to look up to.

"To me, as a senior, I'm going to remember my freshman. He has done more for me and this team than most people could even imagine. And he's just doing what he loves to do. I knew he was going to be special. I'm just happy everybody can see it now."

Collins, a four-year starter and two-time state champion at Houston's Westbury Christian, is the middle child in a family of five that includes two other point guards. There's older brother J.D., who was John Beilein's first recruit at West Virginia and finished eighth on the Mountaineers' career assists list. There's younger brother E.J., a starter at Houston's Lamar High.

"We're all pretty competitive," Collins said. "I think I was born to be (a leader). That's kind of what we all do."

For the longest time, Collins thought he would stay in his home state, probably playing for Baylor. But USF assistant Reggie Hanson, following up on a tip, traveled to watch Collins and promptly fell in love with his game. Heath felt the same way.

Collins, who previously didn't know much about USF, saw an opportunity.

"USF kind of came out of nowhere," said Collins, 19. "I liked the Big East competition. I liked the atmosphere, and Tampa felt like Houston to me. And I thought they needed a point guard."

When Collins signed last spring, the Bulls had a few options. The herd has since thinned. Anthony Crater, last season's starter, was dismissed from the program. LaVonte Dority, a starter early in the season when Collins was recovering from a hip-flexor injury, left the team in December and will transfer.

"When the ball is in his hands, everything just settles down," Heath said. "Right away, he had that above anybody else. Other guys may shoot better. Other guys might be bigger or stronger. But he could run the team. And that told me he was our guy.

"And he's no-maintenance. You've heard of low-maintenance kids and high-maintenance kids. Anthony is no maintenance. Zero. No problems. I can go to sleep very well when I think about Anthony."

And sometimes, no words.

Heath said he can explain something just once to Collins and it will get done. Collins will speak up when necessary. Otherwise, you have to imagine his thoughts.

"He just sits in the room and plays video games," said USF sophomore swingman Victor Rudd Jr., Collins' road roommate. "He can be funny. He's got things to say. I don't think it's because he's shy, because he's a great leader. He just sits back and observes. He kind of thinks it out. He's sort of beyond his years in that way."

Ah, but he's also still a kid.

On USF's most recent road trip, everyone devoured steaks at dinner, the obvious veteran move. Well, everyone except Collins.

He ordered a hamburger.

"I'm still learning," Collins said. "I haven't got it all figured out yet. But I believe I can do this. I think I have everyone's confidence, even though I'm younger than everybody else. I know I'm confident in myself.

"After that, it's just basketball. You just go out and do it."