West Coast Convo’s All-WCC Second Team
By Josh Horton
Feb 13, 2014; Stockton, CA, USA; Brigham Young Cougars guard Kyle Collinsworth (5) drives to the basket against the Pacific Tigers during the first half at Alex G. Spanos Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Kyle Collinsworth – Guard – BYU
By Andrew Perkins
Tyler Haws drew up the blue print, and Kyle Collinsworth followed it to a T. A year ago, KC was living life as a missionary in the outer reaches of Russia while Tyler Haws stormed onto the national scene on the heels of his mission in the Philippines. This year, it was Collinsworth who made his presence felt immediately following his two years of service, using a similar training regimen as his superstar teammate used the season prior.
Some even contend that it is Collinsworth, not Haws, who has been BYU’s most valuable player this season. KC is the definition of a stat sheet stuffer; he ended the season averaging 14 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.6 assists. He also shot 49.7% from the field, which is exceptional for a guard. KC’s 6’6″ frame allows him to pose match up problems for opposing guards, and his quickness and athleticism parlay that into an uncanny ability to get to the rim. On defense, his length can also disrupt opposing players from positions 1 to 4. In BYU’s recent win over San Francisco, Collinsworth played his best man-to-man defense of the year against Dons’ forward Cole Dickerson. As for his superlative rebounding abilities, KC finished second in the WCC in rebounds per game, which put him ahead of WCC’s most quality big men such as Dickerson, Brad Waldow and Sam Dower. Collinsworth pulled double digit rebounds nine times this season. Putting it all together, he had six games where a triple-double was within reach, including a 15 point, 10 rebound, 9 assist performance against Pepperdine. In a sentence of basketball cliché, Collinsworth is a stat sheet stuffer and a match up nightmare.
Unfortunately, KC’s season ended prematurely due to a torn ACL. Given all the ways he contributes to the Cougars, he will surely be missed as his team enters postseason play. On the fortunate side of things, KC still has two more years to ball for BYU and plenty of stat sheets left to stuff.