USF basketball standout David Collins remaining with Bulls for final season

USF rising senior guard David Collins confirmed Friday he’ll remain at USF for his final season, a decision that could propel the Bulls into NCAA Tournament conversation next winter.

“Going through the NBA draft process has been a great learning experience,” Collins, set to graduate next May, said early Friday afternoon via social media.

“I love the University of South Florida and I know we are building something special here. We’ve built a great program and there are so many things we have yet to accomplish, and I can’t wait to get back to work with my teammates later this summer.”

Collins, who has posted double-figure scoring averages each of his three seasons, announced in early April he would enter the NBA draft but keep his eligibility options open.

Though the ongoing coronavirus crisis has forced the postponement ― or cancellation ― of NBA pre-draft camps, Bulls coach Brian Gregory said recently that Collins had solicited feedback from a number of NBA executives and expected a decision on his future soon.

NBA prospects initially had until June 3 to withdraw their names from the draft, but that date has been pushed back indefinitely as the global crisis continues.

“David was aggressive, as we were aggressive, in terms of getting him a lot of information with some various meetings; I think it was five to seven GMs, assistant GMs and things like that,” Gregory said Monday.

“I think he’s done a really good job of analyzing it, done a really good job of listening and kind of putting some things into practice.”

Collins, who averaged 13.7 points last season, ranks seventh in USF history with 157 steals and will attempt to become only the third Bulls player to record 200 in a career.

His announcement means USF returns five of its top six scorers from last season’s team. That total doesn’t include 2019 American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year, Alexis Yetna, who missed the entire 2019-20 season with a knee injury.

Additionally, the Bulls bring in coveted freshman combo guard Caleb Murphy and 6-foot-8 Iowa State transfer Luke Anderson, who had to sit out the 2019-20 season. Another low-post addition ― 6-8, 250-pound Mississippi State transfer Prince Oduro ― is seeking a waiver that will allow him to play this year.