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Things got off to a rough start for UK today as the football Cats blew a chance to upset a top-five Georgia team.
Thankfully, things are ending on a very high note, as the basketball team landed a commitment from five-star forward Daimion Collins, who picked the Cats over the Texas Longhorns, Oklahoma Sooners, Kansas Jayhawks and Texas Tech Red Raiders.
Collins, a Texas native, was long believed to eventually become a Big 12 commitment, as Texas and Oklahoma were the clear-cut favorites for Rivals’ 10th-ranked recruit for much of the last year.
However, UK made a game-changing move in August with the hiring of former Longhorns assistant Jai Lucas, who is already making a big impact on the recruiting trail for UK. Collins was offered by UK just five days before the Lucas hire was made official, and the rest is history.
Kentucky now has a three-man 2021 class of Collins, four-star guard Nolan Hickman and four-star forward Bryce Hopkins.
Now, here is what Twitter had to say about the Cats’ big pickup.
#BuiltDifferent pic.twitter.com/MxV7RjfnCp
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) October 31, 2020
‼️BREAKING‼️Elite 2021 forward @CollinsDaimion is officially off the board to @KentuckyMBB and came on the show with me to breakdown the decision to join @UKCoachCalipari and #BBN.
— Jason Jordan (@JasonJordanSI) October 31, 2020
Full link ➡️ https://t.co/4oteBcyAwY pic.twitter.com/8q5XVaGOuR
BREAKING NEWS: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Daimion Collins commits to The University Of Kentucky. #BBN #BuiltDifferent pic.twitter.com/sfm6qvQ0uM
— Daniel Smith (@ukfandan37) October 31, 2020
2021 5⭐️ Daimion Collins has committed to KENTUCKY! #BBN
— Moore Edits (@moore_edits) October 31, 2020
The 6’10” Forward from Atlanta, TX chose the Wildcats over Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, & Texas Tech
Kentucky now has the #3 Recruiting Class in 2021 (Other additions: 4⭐️s Bryce Hopkins & Nolan Hickman) pic.twitter.com/8XxEOt8R2h
Kentucky's 3-man class of Daimion Collins, Bryce Hopkins and Nolan Hickman jumps 23 spots to No. 2 nationally.
— TheCatsPause247 (@TheCatsPause247) October 31, 2020
5⭐️ PF Daimion Collins has committed to Kentucky!
— Kentucky Men’s Basketball Daily (@kentucky_daily) October 31, 2020
He joins 4 ⭐️’s Bryce Hopkins and Nolan Hickman. Kentucky now has the no.3 ranked recruiting class pic.twitter.com/isivnM8Dfc
Daimion Collins commits to Kentucky. This in my opinion is a very important and beneficial commitment for John Calipari. One of America’s top shot-blockers is headed to the SEC.
— Jake (@jakeweingarten) October 31, 2020
Two straight Top-40 commitments in 2021 for UK.
The Lone Star State has been good to Kentucky under John Calipari:
— Chris Fisher (@ChrisFisher247) October 31, 2020
Aaron/Andrew Harrison (2013)
Julius Randle (2013)
De'Aaron Fox (2016)
PJ Washington (2017)
Jarred Vanderbilt (2017)
Tyrese Maxey (2019)
Daimion Collins (2021)
@CollinsDaimion welcome to the family brotha BBN we got a good one!!
— Skyy Clark (@skyyclark) October 31, 2020
Thanks for letting #HoopAddicts be apart of the journey bro ! Congrats @CollinsDaimion pic.twitter.com/0M8xWbEXJD
— JMcGill (@IamJMcGill) October 31, 2020
Kentucky is getting this in 2021 @CollinsDaimion #BigBlueNation #BBN pic.twitter.com/O3Zts9P4o0
— Michael Timmins (@iFilmHoopers) October 31, 2020
You’re already seeing the impact of Jai Lucas at Kentucky. Hell of a hire by John Calipari.
— Shawn Smith (@gbbcountry) October 31, 2020
BIG BLUE NATION ⚪ pic.twitter.com/OmaJlMtSy9
— BBN-MJ (@Jaloudi4) October 31, 2020
Remember when Hubie Brown said “tremendous upside potential” during an NBA draft years ago?
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) October 31, 2020
It’s a silly word salad to try to capture the idea of a relative unknown with massive potential.
And it actually fits new Kentucky pledge Daimion Collins. https://t.co/mahOK5zPmS
NEW: UK has landed five-star forward Daimion Collins.
— Jon Hale (@JonHale_CJ) October 31, 2020
"He is untapped potential. I see some of these guys, they’re muscled up, they look great. He hasn’t even come close to the man he’s going to be. That’s probably the most exciting part about him." https://t.co/QON1O8MPY8
Top-25 senior Daimion Collins has committed to Kentucky.
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) October 31, 2020
Collins to @PaulBiancardi: "They will push me to be my best. I like how their players have developed. Me playing with and against great players, hopefully it will make me a great player. I am ready for the challenge.”
Five-star forward Daimion Collins has committed to #Kentucky, he tells @247Sports. #BBN
— Brandon Jenkins (@BJenkins247) October 31, 2020
"For the NBA being my all-time dream, I feel Coach Cal will be able to develop me to be ready for the next level." - @CollinsDaimion
Story: https://t.co/aWNDD3vjcz pic.twitter.com/gFon2kSyVx
Daimion Collins also joins Skyy Clark mentioning the role the NBA bubble played in his commitment to Kentucky. As it turns out - having more than half a dozen players, dominate the sport, every night for months straight, is good for that college's recruiting. Who knew ♂️ ♂️
— Aaron Torres (@Aaron_Torres) October 31, 2020
No offense to anyone else Kentucky has signed and Isaiah Jackson has a chance but Daimion Collins is the ELITE shot-blocker and rim protector the Wildcats have been missing since early on in John Calipari's tenure as head coach.
— Chris Fisher (@ChrisFisher247) October 31, 2020
Kentucky (@KentuckyMBB) lands @TeamGriffinEYBL ESPN big man Daimion Collins (@CollinsDaimion) as expected.
— Adam Finkelstein (@AdamFinkelstein) October 31, 2020
Breakdown of game ⬆️
Analysis & reaction to #BBN fit ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/RxPk6d1jOz
5️⃣⭐️ Daimion Collins has committed to Kentucky ‼️ @CollinsDaimion #bbn pic.twitter.com/771G1Fqqg2
— BallerTV (@BallerTV) October 31, 2020
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