Wake Forest’s John Collins, whose emergence as the ACC’s best big man this season helped the Deacons to their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2010, has decided to hire an agent and remain in the NBA draft. The 6-foot-10 sophomore made the announcement Tuesday with a post on Twitter. “After long conversation with my family, I have decided to enter the NBA draft and also hire an agent,” Collins wrote. “I would like to thank everyone at Wake Forest that was instrumental in my progression to the young man I am today. “I will always bleed black and gold and do my best to represent the university in the most positive way possible.” Collins started the season as a relative unknown, but ended up ranking third in the ACC in scoring at 19.2 points per game while ranking second in rebounds at 9.8 and leading the league with a field goal percentage of .620. His performance and leadership helped coach Danny Manning’s team to a 19-14 record and a first-round NCAA tournament date against Kansas State. A skilled big man who has just begun scratching the surface of his ability, Collins is projected by most mock drafts to be taken somewhere between the 12th and 18 picks in this year’s draft. “The way he moves his feet in the post, he’s very, very active,” Louisville coach Rick Pitino said after watching Collins burn his Cardinals for 25 points and 11 rebounds earlier this season. “He’s a terrific basketball player, the best post player in our league by far, if not the country.” Although the Deacons will miss Collins’ presence in the post, Manning took a step toward replacing him Wednesday by signing 6-foot-11 French center Olivier Sarr to a National Letter of Intent. Sarr is a four-star recruit who is considered one of the top international players entering college in 2017-18. Junior Doral Moore, a higher rated prospect than Collins coming out of high school, and sophomore Sam Japhet-Mathias are Wake’s only two returning big men.]
