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Is Detroit Pistons prospect Zach Collins the next KAT?

By Braden Shackelford

Apr 3, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Zach Collins (32) interacts with guard Josh Perkins (13) during the second half against the North Carolina Tar Heels in the championship game of the 2017 NCAA Men's Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 3, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Zach Collins (32) interacts with guard Josh Perkins (13) during the second half against the North Carolina Tar Heels in the championship game of the 2017 NCAA Men's Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Detroit Pistons will be picking in or near the top-10 in all likelihood come time for the NBA draft. One prospect who will be there, according to Chad Ford is freshman power forward/center Zach Collins, who put his talents on display for NBA scouts in the NCAA tournament.

The Detroit Pistons’ should have a top-10 pick or close to it when the draft roles around in the ensuing months.

But who will they take?

If the board plays out the way Chad Ford projects, the Pistons will be taking freshman forward/center Zach Collins from Gonzaga.

Collins has solid fundamentals, grit, good basketball IQ, and checks off all of the athletic boxes you ask for in a big man.

In fact, his per 40 minutes numbers are actually better than a recent number one overall pick and Rookie of The Year recipient, Karl Anthony-Towns—and it’s not even close.

Take a look, per sports-reference:

Collins per 40 minutes:

Points: 23.2
Rebounds: 13.6
Steals: 1.1
Blocks: 4.1
Field goal percentage: 65.2
Three-point percentage: 47.6 (10-21 career)
Free throw attempts: 8.8
Free throw percentage: 74.3

Anthony-Towns per 40 minutes

Points: 19.5
Rebounds: 12.7
Steals: 0.9
Blocks: 4.3
Field goal percentage: 57.7
Three-point percentage: 25 (2-8 career)
Free throw attempts: 6.5
Free throw percentage: 81.3

Now are these numbers the whole story? No, the eye test is still the most important test. That said, Collins dazzled in the tournament and certainty passed my eye test.

Some will point to the team around Anthony-Towns as reason for Collins superior numbers. I would argue that Collins played on a championship caliber team and that it’s a moot point.

So why is Collins so far down the draft board at this stage in evaluation?

For starters, he played for Gonzaga not Kentucky. Secondly, he’s white and there are biases that say white athletes are inferior athletes.

He’s just been under the radar is all.

Come draft time, I would be shocked if Collins isn’t being mentioned as one of the five or six best players in this draft.

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