Former Kentucky big Daimion Collins commits to South Florida

Daimion Collins has had quite the college basketball journey that started at Kentucky and made a stop at LSU. Now the the big man will be leaving the SEC for the American Athletic Conference.

The redshirt senior will spend his final year of eligibility at South Florida.

NEWS: LSU transfer forward Daimion Collins, a former 5⭐️ recruit, has committed to South Florida and head coach Bryan Hodgson, he told @On3sports.

The 6-9 junior averaged 8.0 points and 4.3 rebounds per game this season. Began his career at Kentucky. https://t.co/TAh84LBglG pic.twitter.com/DxaoMCHwQl

— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) April 17, 2025

Daimion Collins was a top-15 recruit in the 2021 high school cycle. The 6-foot-9 big from Texas was in the same Kentucky signing class as Shaedon Sharpe, TyTy Washington, and Bryce Hopkins. Collins spent two seasons at Kentucky before entering the transfer portal following the 2022-23 season. The big stayed in the SEC and spent two seasons at LSU playing for head coach Matt McMahon.

The transfer played just six games for the Tigers in 2023-24 due to a shoulder injury. Daimion Collins returned to LSU in 2024-25 and had his best season as a collegiate player. Collins averaged 8.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks on .581/.206/.613 shootings splits in 20.4 minutes per game. The veteran started in 22 of 30 games played.

Now Daimion Collins will head to South Florida where former Arkansas State head coach Bryan Hodgson is taking over the program in Tampa.

Kentucky Basketball 2025-26 Roster Tracker

COMMITS (5)

• Kam Williams – G – Tulane – 9.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 1.3 APG, 48.5% FG, 41.2% 3PT | Committed 3/28
• Jaland Lowe – G – Pittsburgh – 16.8 PPG, 5.5 APG, 4.2 RPG, 37.6% FG, 26.6% 3PT | Committed 4/5
• Mouhamed Dioubate – F – Alabama – 7.2 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 1.1 APG, 61.7% FG, 46.2% 3PT | Committed 4/7
• Jayden Quaintance – F – Arizona State – 9.4 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 2.6 BPG, 52.5 FG% | Committed 4/8
• Andrija Jelavic — C — Mega — 10.8 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.4 APG, 50.3% FG, 32.3% 3PT | – Committed 4/12

RETURNING / INCOMING (7)

• Otega Oweh – G – Rising Senior – 16.2 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 1.7 APG, 49.2% FG, 35.5% 3PT
• Brandon Garrison – C – Rising Junior – 5.9 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 1.9 APG, 50.9%
• Collin Chandler – C- Rising Sophomore – 2.7 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 0.7 APG, 36.1% FG, 34.7% 3PT
• Travis Perry – PG – Rising Sophomore – 2.7 PPG, 0.8 RPG, 0.6 APG, 31.3% FG, 32.1% 3PT
• Trent Noah – F – Rising Sophomore – 2.7 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 0.4 APG, 45.1% FG, 33.3% 3PT
• Malachi Moreno – C – Incoming Freshman – Great Crossing (Georgetown, KY)
• Jasper Johnson – SG – Incoming Freshman – Overtime Elite (Lexington, KY)

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