Rising Star Christian Collins Drawing Major College Interest
One of the hottest names in the 2026 recruiting class, Christian Collins is turning heads across the nation. The 6-foot-8 small forward from St. John Bosco (Bellflower, CA) currently sits as the No. 3 overall prospect in the country, according to the On3 Industry Ranking—and for good reason.
Collins has already attracted attention from some of college basketball’s biggest programs. This season alone, powerhouses like Alabama, Arizona, Cal, Kansas State, Oregon, UCLA, and USC have made visits to evaluate the five-star phenom. However, USC remains the only school he has visited so far.
Collins Impresses at Hoophall Classic
Collins made a statement at the Hoophall Classic in January, earning praise from On3’s Jamie Shaw, who described him as a standout performer.
“Just watching one quarter of basketball, and you can immediately see the upside that Christian Collins has,” Shaw noted. “Listed at 6-foot-8, the wing has a fluid athleticism with great length. What stood out in this game was his ability on the boards. Collins consistently cleaned up possessions on the defensive end, and his ball skills allowed him to push the break to an advantage for his team.”
While Collins has all the tools to be an elite prospect, Shaw pointed out one area for growth—asserting himself more confidently on offense. “At times, Collins would blend in and go a couple of possessions without getting a shot up,” Shaw said. “Even with that, Collins bumped up to No. 2 overall in the last 2026 ranking update. While he still needs to fine-tune parts of his game, he has a tremendous upside.”
Collins finished the Hoophall Classic with an impressive stat line: 12 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals—a well-rounded performance that showcased his two-way potential.
With more visits likely on the horizon, the recruitment battle for Collins is only heating up. Expect his name to be at the center of college basketball conversations for months to come.
