Sherron Collins' Next Stop Is D-League's Red Claws

The NBA D-League has been a hot bed for NBA assignments this year -- Luke Babbitt marked the 15th assignment of the season -- but that doesn't mean the trend has to slow down anytime soon.

In fact, it may just be heating up.

According to a league source, the Charlotte Bobcats have assigned Sherron Collins, a first team All-American for the Kansas Jayhawks last season, to the D-League's Maine Red Claws.

Collins, a 5-11 point guard, has appeared in 12 games for the Bobcats this season but for a total of just 29 minutes. Unfortunately for the rookie, he hasn't been able to make the most of his time as he's hit just one of his eight shot attempts, that coming in an 18 point loss to the Philadelphia 76ers over the weekend.

The diminutive guard had a decorated four seasons at Kansas as he was twice named to the All-Big 12 First Team and also earned the Big 12 Tournament's Most Outstanding Player award as a senior. Collins is also the winningest player in Kansas history with 130 victories, having helped the Jayhawks to a 2008 national championship victory and three Big 12 Tournament titles. Along with the team accolades, Collins is one of only two players in school history to record at least 1,800 points and at least 500 assists and he finished his career fifth on Kansas' all-time scoring list (1,888 points) and seventh on the all-time assists list (552).

On a lighter note, Collins also was the recipient of the most recent Frances Pomeroy Naismith award, an "award given to the nation's outstanding senior male collegian 6-foot and under who has excelled both athletically and academically."

Despite all of his college accomplishments, Collins went undrafted in this year's draft due to questions surrounding his conditioning as well as his small stature. He was able to latch on with the Bobcats in the Orlando Summer League, however, and after averaging 12.5 points and shooting 56 percent from the field (including an impressive 8-of-13 from beyond the arc) and earned a spot in the Bobcats training camp this fall.

Collins was able to edge out Javaris Crittenton as the team's third point guard in the preseason, but has yet to receive much playing behind D.J. Augustin and Shaun Livingston which triggered his assignment to the Red Claws.

Questions surrounding his small stature and conditioning have plagued Sherron Collins

In Maine, Collins will play with an NBA-caliber cast that includes fellow rookie call-up candidates Tiny Gallon and DeShawn Sims in the front court while former Atlanta Hawk guard Mario West and recent Phoenix Suns cut Matt Janning will join him in the backcourt. The team is coached by Austin Ainge, son of Boston Celtics general manager Danny Ainge.

Collins will also join a contemporary in Scottie Reynolds of the Springfield Armor as both players were first team All-Americans that went undrafted this past season.

Collins' first D-League game will come this weekend in Erie, Pa., as he'll face off against the Erie BayHawks on Friday and Saturday night. Both games will be streamed live on the D-League's Futurecast.