Atlanta Hawks star John Collins has high school # 32 jersey retired by Cardinal Newman
Cardinal Newman may be a small school in West Palm Beach, but it's produced some very impressive athletes. Most recently, the # 1 ranked golfer in the World, Brooks Koepka and NFL wide receiver Travis Rudolph. But Monday night was all about honoring their former basketball star, turned NBA Star, John Collins.
The 6 foot 5 high school version of John Collins could only have dreamed of having his # 32 Crusaders jersey retired, but the 6 foot 10 NBA version of Collins watched proudly as it became a reality.
"For me to be able to come back in here and see a retired jersey with my name on it," explains Collins. "It's a really big feeling."
Collins was just the third Palm Beach County high school player to ever be drafted in the first round of the NBA draft last year, and since then has gotten lots of court time for the Hawks. He says he can't thank his Mom enough, who raised him as a single Mom to reach for his dreams.
"No matter what city or what state he's in," says Collins mother Lyria Rissing-Collins. "I'll always pick up the phone and tell him how proud I am."
"I'm still getting over just the (initial) phase of becoming an NBA player, " says Collins. "And I think this (ceremony) is just something that adds some more fuel to that fire."
From a proud Cardinal Newman Crusader, to flourishing at Wake Forest, to an admittedly still wide eyed, yet ultra talented, Atlanta Hawk star, Collins is experiencing another childhood dream tomorrow when he takes on his hometown Miami Heat.
"I got my jersey retired up the street, and I get some family and friends to cheer me on down in Miami.