Tank Collins
Encyclopedia
Derwin "Tank" Collins is a retired American
expatriate professional basketball. He played for Presto Ice Cream
in the Philippine Basketball Association
but is best known for his high school and college careers in the United States.
, Collins was not athletic as a child and gave up playing sports. When he was in seventh grade, Collins' father suddenly died. His mother forced him to play basketball to distract him from the death during the summer between his seventh and eighth grade years and would even play Tank herself. She would beat him in one-on-one until he became too good, at which point his older brothers began playing physically with Tank. This laid the foundation for his aggressive style which would come to benefit him later.
By the time he got to high school, Collins was utilizing his 6'5" (1.96 m), 215-pound (98 kg) stature to dominate his opponents. He earned the nickname "Tank" from his physique and physicality. One coach said, "He's like a 500-pound gorilla. He can do anything he wants." Collins kept improving, learned to shoot
accurately from beyond 15 feet and quickly became one of the most sought-after high school recruits in California.
During his senior
year at Pomona High School
, however, he was declared academically ineligible to play most of the season due to poor grades. Through his first seven games he had been averaging 28.6 points and 17.1 rebounds per game. Collins claimed that his focus on basketball as well as the attention he was receiving from 100+ college scouts distracted him from concentrating on his classwork. He did manage to play in the final few games of the season, but he had already proven himself enough to college recruiters where it did not affect his stock.
for two seasons to improve his grades before he was able to play NCAA Division I basketball. After his brief junior college career, he chose to play basketball for the Privateers of the University of New Orleans
(UNO). Between 1989–90 and 1990–91, Collins helped guide UNO to a period of great success. The Privateers won American South Conference
(ASC) regular season championships, outright or shared, in both years Collins played. Their season records were:
New Orleans also qualified for NCAA postseason tournaments in each of his two seasons. They earned a berth into the National Invitation Tournament
(NIT) in 1990 and advanced to the quarterfinal round. In Collins' senior season he led UNO in scoring with a 17.3 points per game average. They advanced to the 1991 NCAA Tournament
but lost to Kansas, 55–49, in the opening round. To conclude his collegiate career, Tank was named the American South Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year
.
After college Collins played in the Philippine Basketball Association
for Presto Ice Cream
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
expatriate professional basketball. He played for Presto Ice Cream
Great Taste Coffee Makers
Great Taste Coffee was one of the Pioneer teams in the Philippine Basketball Association . The company was then known as the Consolidated Foods Corporation and their chief products included well known brands like Presto Ice Cream, N-Rich Coffee Cream, Jack & Jill Fun Snacks, Great Taste Coffee...
in the Philippine Basketball Association
Philippine Basketball Association
The Philippine Basketball Association , is a men's professional basketball league in the Philippines composed of 10 company-branded franchised teams. It is the first and oldest professional basketball league in Asia and the second oldest in the world after the NBA...
but is best known for his high school and college careers in the United States.
Early life and high school
A native of Pomona, CaliforniaPomona, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Pomona had a population of 149,058, a slight decline from the 2000 census population. The population density was 6,491.2 people per square mile...
, Collins was not athletic as a child and gave up playing sports. When he was in seventh grade, Collins' father suddenly died. His mother forced him to play basketball to distract him from the death during the summer between his seventh and eighth grade years and would even play Tank herself. She would beat him in one-on-one until he became too good, at which point his older brothers began playing physically with Tank. This laid the foundation for his aggressive style which would come to benefit him later.
By the time he got to high school, Collins was utilizing his 6'5" (1.96 m), 215-pound (98 kg) stature to dominate his opponents. He earned the nickname "Tank" from his physique and physicality. One coach said, "He's like a 500-pound gorilla. He can do anything he wants." Collins kept improving, learned to shoot
Jump shot
In basketball , a jump shot is an attempt to score a basket by jumping, usually straight up, and in mid-jump, propelling the ball in an arc into the basket. It is accomplished by the player bringing his or her elbow up until it is aligned with the hoop, then sent towards the hoop in a high arc. It...
accurately from beyond 15 feet and quickly became one of the most sought-after high school recruits in California.
During his senior
Senior (education)
Senior is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the 4th year of study .-High school:...
year at Pomona High School
Pomona High School (Pomona, California)
Pomona High School is a high school operated by the Pomona Unified School District in California, located in North Pomona at 475 Bangor St. In 2002 and 2003, the Pomona High School football team won the Valle Vista League championship...
, however, he was declared academically ineligible to play most of the season due to poor grades. Through his first seven games he had been averaging 28.6 points and 17.1 rebounds per game. Collins claimed that his focus on basketball as well as the attention he was receiving from 100+ college scouts distracted him from concentrating on his classwork. He did manage to play in the final few games of the season, but he had already proven himself enough to college recruiters where it did not affect his stock.
College and later life
Tank Collins had to play basketball at a junior collegeJunior college
The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...
for two seasons to improve his grades before he was able to play NCAA Division I basketball. After his brief junior college career, he chose to play basketball for the Privateers of the University of New Orleans
University of New Orleans
The University of New Orleans, often referred to locally as UNO, is a medium-sized public urban university located on the New Orleans Lakefront within New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. It is a member of the LSU System and the Urban 13 association. Currently UNO is without a proper chancellor...
(UNO). Between 1989–90 and 1990–91, Collins helped guide UNO to a period of great success. The Privateers won American South Conference
American South Conference
The American South Conference was in the NCAA. The conference existed from 1987 to 1991.-Membership:*Arkansas State *UCF *Lamar *Louisiana–Lafayette *Louisiana Tech *New Orleans...
(ASC) regular season championships, outright or shared, in both years Collins played. Their season records were:
- 1989–90 season — 21–11 (8–2 ASC) → co-regular season and ASC conference tournament champions
- 1990–91 season — 23–8 (9–3 ASC) → co-regular season champions
New Orleans also qualified for NCAA postseason tournaments in each of his two seasons. They earned a berth into the National Invitation Tournament
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
(NIT) in 1990 and advanced to the quarterfinal round. In Collins' senior season he led UNO in scoring with a 17.3 points per game average. They advanced to the 1991 NCAA Tournament
1991 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1991 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 14, 1991, and ended with the championship game on April 1 in Indianapolis, Indiana...
but lost to Kansas, 55–49, in the opening round. To conclude his collegiate career, Tank was named the American South Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year
American South Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year
The American South Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year is a basketball award given to the American South Conference's most outstanding player. Both the conference and the award were short-lived and only handed out from 1988 to 1991. Four recipients received the award, three of which...
.
After college Collins played in the Philippine Basketball Association
Philippine Basketball Association
The Philippine Basketball Association , is a men's professional basketball league in the Philippines composed of 10 company-branded franchised teams. It is the first and oldest professional basketball league in Asia and the second oldest in the world after the NBA...
for Presto Ice Cream
Great Taste Coffee Makers
Great Taste Coffee was one of the Pioneer teams in the Philippine Basketball Association . The company was then known as the Consolidated Foods Corporation and their chief products included well known brands like Presto Ice Cream, N-Rich Coffee Cream, Jack & Jill Fun Snacks, Great Taste Coffee...
.