Sherron Collins, who scored five touchdowns in Chicago Crane High’s football opener last August, says he’ll be content watching, not playing, in Kansas University’s nonconference clash against Northwestern State on Saturday night at Memorial Stadium.

“I like to hit,” said Collins, KU’s 5-foot-11, 215-pound basketball freshman point guard, quickly adding, “I don’t like to get hit.

“I’ve seen the hits at this level. I don’t like to take hits over the middle like that.”

Collins – a receiver/defensive back who had a single-game Public League-record 350 receiving yards in a game his senior year – is playing only one sport at KU, though he still is carrying enough weight to hold his own on the gridiron, if he so desired.

“I’m comfortable with the weight I’m at,” Collins said. “I am in shape. That’s not a problem. (But) I’m going to lose 10 pounds. I will lose weight as time progresses. I’ll get a couple of steps faster, quicker, more explosive. That’ll help me.”

The McDonald’s All-American who skied for a vicious dunk to end the prestigious prep all-star game last spring in San Diego has not let his stocky frame slow him during preseason pick-up basketball action.

“I can’t explain how he plays. He’s the quickest freshman I’ve ever been around,” said Collins’ roommate, freshman guard Brady Morningstar. “His ball-handling is unbelievable. He’s strong as can be. He brings a great attitude and (is) another floor leader on the court.”

Though he still carries the weight needed to play football, ballyhooed Kansas University freshman Sherron Collins will play only basketball for the Jayhawks.

“Strength-wise,” junior guard Russell Robinson said of Collins, who also was a baseball star at Crane, “he’s probably ahead of every freshman who has come in the last couple of years, picking up the weights and not finding that hard at all. He brings a lot of energy to the court. He is quick, strong and finishes well around the basket.”

Interchangeable guards Robinson, Collins and Mario Chalmers are expected to lead a high-octane offense this season.

“I will push the ball up the floor every time,” Collins said. “Our bigs, our littles : everybody can run. I will throw lobs, get post feeds. I’ll go to the basket. I’ll run the offense first. If there are no open looks, coach tells me to drive it.”

Collins, who exploded for 52 points in one Pro-Am League game earlier this summer in Chicago, also is capable of stepping out and drilling shots from three-point land.

“It hits the bottom of the net,” Robinson said of a typical Collins outside shot. “I don’t know how it’ll be when pressure is on him, but he has nice form. His shot has been good.”

Sherron Collins winds up for a dunk during the first round of the McDonald's All-American Slam-Dunk Contest. Collins participated in the all-star showcase in March in San Diego.

Collins has tinkered with his shot since arriving on campus for summer school and into first semester.

“I’ve gotten confident with my shot,” Collins said. “It’s the same shot, but before I was blocking the ball too much with my left hand. I have long range, but most of the time I won’t have to shoot it long-range. I’ll distribute the ball, do what coach asks me to do. I have a lot of good guys around me.

“I’m not here for me. I’m here to help my team out.”

He credits his teammates for helping his transition to college.

“This is a lot different. Chicago : I was in the city. It was more hostile. It’s more quiet here,” Collins said.

“That first week here was so hard. You are on the phone every two minutes talking to somebody back home to see what’s going on. You miss your home, your friends, but I got myself to a better situation. It’s not too hard an adjustment. The guys welcomed me, and we have fun.”

Collins, who said he believed the Jayhawks would have a strong team his freshman season, isn’t counting the days until he bolts for the NBA.

“If it’s there, I’ll take the opportunity,” said Collins, one of many future pros on the Jayhawk team. “I’d talk it over with coach first. If it’s not there, I won’t force it.”

He said he approves of everything about KU, even going to class.

“I like all my classes,” Collins said, noting “math” was his toughest course. “It’s not too hard, but there are a lot of problems to answer, the most homework of any class.”