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OKC Thunder: Making the case for Nick Collison to be in Basketball Hall of Fame

By Rylan Stiles

NEW YORK - JUNE 26: Nick Collison talks to the media after being selected by the Seattle Sonics during the 2003 NBA Draft at Paramount Theater at Madison Square Garden on June 26, 2003 in New York, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2003 NBAE (Photo by M. David Leeds/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK - JUNE 26: Nick Collison talks to the media after being selected by the Seattle Sonics during the 2003 NBA Draft at Paramount Theater at Madison Square Garden on June 26, 2003 in New York, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2003 NBAE (Photo by M. David Leeds/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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22 Mar 2002: Head coach Roy Williams of Kansas talks with his player Nick Collison #4 during a time out against Illinois during the third round of the NCAA Mens Basketball Tournament at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin. Kansas beat Illinois 73-69. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Elsa/ Getty Images. /

The Jayhawk years:

After playing in a small Iowa town, and dominating high school basketball, Collison finally caught a break. Then Jayhawks head coach Roy Williams offered Nick Collison a scholarship to come play basketball for the best program in college basketball. When the Jayhawks call rarely do players hang up. Collison enrolled at KU in 1999, his freshman season was a great one.

His 10-points and 6.9-rebounds per game as a freshmen proved Collison was a leader, with great talent. Along side NBA talents like Drew Gooden and Kirk Hinrich, the Jayhawks finished 24-10 in his freshman campaign.

His sophomore year, Collison saw a bump in offensive production. Dominating down low, Nick posted 14-points per game, with again 6.7-rebounds. He kept that pace for his junior season where he turned in a 15-points per game effort with 8-rebounds.

Collison the KU Senior makes his mark:

Finally, his Senior year at Kansas rolled around. For one final time, Collison will don the blue and red in Lawrence. This is where he truly took off. The forward born in Iowa scored 18-points per contest! He added 10-rebounds a game.

His Senior Year the Jayhawks won 14-games only dropping two contests all year in conference play. Led by Kirk Hinrich and of course Nick Collison the Jayhawks found themselves in the NCAA title game. They lost that contest to Carmelo Anthony and the Syracuse Orange. Nick Collison led the 2002-03 Jayhawks in both points and rebounds.

Alas Collison’s college career ends without a title, but he brought home a few other awards. Nick won the Big 12 player of the year award in his senior campaign. He was a consensus All American, a two-time all region player, and was listed on the NCAA All-Tourney team.

Texas point guard T.J. Ford won the John Wooden player of the year award in 2002-03, and you could make the argument (maybe wrongfully so), that award should’ve been given to Nick Collison.

But, Collison again was overshadowed by a flashier player, at a more appreciated position. We would soon learn that will be the trend of his career.

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