Los Angeles Lakers land their dream prospect in 2017 NBA Mock Draft
By Nick Ziegler
Center. Gonzaga. Zach Collins. 6. player. 38.
Despite not being a starter at Gonzaga, forward/center Zach Collins finds himself going in the Top 10 to the Orlando Magic.
One of the great stories of the college basketball season was getting to see Gonzaga go toe-to-toe with UNC in the National Championship. Gonzaga had an extremely talented team, and one of their difference makers was Collins.
Seeing a potential first round pick coming off the bench for Gonzaga helped prove their legitimacy. Even though they fell short against UNC, Gonzaga and Collins had a great season. Last season, Collins averaged 17.3 minutes, 10.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game.
Where Collins’ numbers really get impressive are when looking at his per 40-minute stats. Per 40 minutes, Collins averaged 23.2 points, 13.6 rebounds, and 4.1 blocks per game.
As the Magic try to stack young talent, Collins will be a great addition. Collins’ best game arguably came in the Final Four against South Carolina. In the win, Collins played 23 minutes and totaled 14 points, 13 rebounds, and six blocks.
As shown in college, he is capable of playing at power forward as well. Nikola Vucevic is certainly a talented player in his own right, and he and Collins should be able to play some minutes on the court together. With both being able to stretch the floor a bit from the position, the Magic could have a dynamic front court.