Veteran forward Daimion Collins was ‘fantastic’ in LSU’s first SEC win of the season

Coming off their first SEC win of the 2024-25 season, LSU basketball is quickly finding itself a star on the defensive side of the ball, as veteran forward Daimion Collins shined in his latest outing against his former head coach John Calipari and the Arkansas Razorbacks.

LSU basketball forward Daimion Collins ‘wows’ against former coach John Calipari and the Arkansas Razorbacks

First announcing his commitment to the University of Kentucky on October 31, 2020, it wasn’t long ago that it looked like the Wildcats and at-the-time head coach John Calipari held the keys to Daimion Collin’s future as a basketball player at the collegiate level.

That was, at least, until spring of 2023, when the former five-star forward out of Atlanta, TX, elected for the transfer portal, and eventually LSU basketball.

Now, two years later, John Calipari is the head coach for Arkansas, and as soon as the Tigers found themselves facing off against the Razorbacks, well, Collins very well may have seen this as an opportunity to have himself a career day.

Recording seven points, 10 rebounds and four blocks Tuesday evening, in what would go on to finish as a 78-74 victory for the purple and gold, Collins looked like every bit of his old five-star self, and Calipari’s squad clearly had no answers for him down low.

“Daimion, fantastic. Ten rebounds, three of them on the offensive glass, he blocked four shots, I thought he gave us really good rim protection. He hit some big free throws as well at winning time,” LSU basketball head coach Matt McMahon said about the veteran forward. “I thought his interior defense was huge for us.”

Bayou Tough Tiger of the Game – Daimion Collins @CollinsDaimion pic.twitter.com/1XHKb4CNxH

— LSU Basketball (@LSUBasketball) January 15, 2025

While Collins might not be the first name you think of when discussing the 2024-25 LSU basketball roster, he’s certainly inserting himself into that discussion, and it’s thanks in large part to his ability in the paint. Averaging 8.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks through 15 game appearances for the Tigers, Collins is becoming more and more important to his team’s success as the season goes on.

While he won’t necessarily light up the score board, it’s likely that LSU will need him to continue his improvement if the purple and gold hope to make the jump to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since Matt McMahon first took over in Baton Rouge.

With a current record of 12-5 (1-3 SEC), LSU basketball will now turn their attention to a dangerous No. 11 Texas A&M squad that most recently lost their last two games by a combined total of 18 points against No. 4 Alabama, and No. 8 Kentucky, respectively.

The game between the SEC foes is set to take place on Saturday, January 18, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. CT in Reed Arena, College Station, TX, and will be available to watch live on SEC Network.

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