Sherron Collins makes an entrance like a heavyweight champ, his confidence swelling with every sign of approval from the masses. He wouldn’t have looked out of place wearing a robe and a pair of boxing gloves Friday night as he led his new Kansas University teammates onto James Naismith Court.

He has arms like a defensive tackle and a thick neck to match, but put a basketball in his hands, and he’s pure point guard, off to the races and looking for a big man to feed.

Mix in a politician’s smile, and Collins has all the elements that make him a potential leader.

Collins not only had the best footwork during the Dances With Stars competition, he was the most entertaining basketball player during Friday’s Late Night scrimmage, which was messier than the average college dorm room. Pure slop.

A 5-foot-11 freshman out of Crane Tech in Chicago, Collins averaged 33 points, eight rebounds and six assists. As a sophomore at Crane, he broke the Public League football game record with 250 receiving yards. In baseball, he dominated from the mound and at the plate. He’s a winner.

Collins said he was “really nervous” at the outset of the scrimmage and calmed down after he tore down the court with the ball, drew a foul and hit the free throw.

“If I’d have missed the free throw, I would have been a lot more nervous,” he said.

With the help of a pick here or there, Collins had the look of a player who can get to the lane pretty much whenever he wishes. Even on a team with exceptional quickness, he stood out.

KU ought to win the loose-ball battle every game, and it will be about far more than hustle. It will be about quickness. KU has it at every position.

Collins used his to draw defenders to him in the lane and knew where to go with the basketball. He hit Sasha Kaun and Darrell Arthur with underhanded passes and once sent a bullet to an open Brandon Rush in the corner.

Like a clever quarterback who creates running opportunities for himself by executing such terrific fakes – see, you’re not the only one looking forward to Kerry Meier’s return this afternoon – Collins passes so well he creates scoring opportunities with fakes. He executed a beauty in the scrimmage, but missed the layup. His hesitation dribble will create opportunities for himself and others as well.

Collins seemed to be sucking wind quicker than anyone else out there, but it’s not as if he’s in denial.

“I’m looking forward to getting in better condition, better shape,” Collins said.

KU coach Bill Self, asked to name the highlight of the night, said: “It certainly wasn’t our play.”

He did single out Collins.

“Sherron was unquestionably one of the best out there,” Self said. “He makes things happen. … He did a good job of getting to the lane. He’s got a presence out there.”

With defending national champion Florida returning all five starters, KU won’t be ranked No. 1. Yet, with Collins joining returning starters Russell Robinson, Mario Chalmers and Rush, and with Julian Wright set to play some on the perimeter, it would be impossible not to rank KU No. 1 in the nation in perimeter depth.