photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas guard Sherron Collins smiles after drilling a three-pointer against Missouri during the first half Sunday, March 1, 2009 at Allen Fieldhouse.

On pages 42 and 43 of the 2009-10 Kansas basketball media guide sit a couple of small glimpses into the academic career of former KU point guard Sherron Collins.

On page 42, under the section called “The Collins File,” it lists Collins’ favorite subject as English.

On page 43, under the section titled “Off the Court,” it lists the major of Sherron Marlon Collins as African and African American Studies.

Collins’ previous work in both academic disciplines led to one of the biggest days in Collins’ life on Wednesday, when the former KU All-American officially became a college graduate.

Collecting a degree in liberal arts and sciences, Collins finally completed what he began more than 12 years after he first stepped foot on the KU campus as an official student.

“One of KU’s all-time greats and one of my players I’m most proud of just graduated,” KU coach Bill Self tweeted around 1 p.m. on Wednesday. “Congrats Sherron Collins, you’ve made many happy and proud. Rock Chalk.”

To commemorate the big day, Collins posed for a photo with Self, KU assistant Kurtis Townsend and KU staff members and former Collins teammates Jeremy Case and Brennan Bechard in front of the newly remodeled entrance to the men’s basketball offices.

After leaving KU following the 2009-10 season, Collins received limited interest from a couple of NBA teams and bounced around the international basketball scene before returning to the United States and settling back home in his native Chicago.

Last year, Collins, who has not retired his high-tops for good just yet, relocated to Lawrence, where he has remained close with the program, easily visible at home games and regularly talking with KU’s guards to help them understand how to play for Self and what it takes to play at Kansas.

Recent KU grad Devonte’ Graham often praised his time with Collins — they both wore No. 4 at Kansas — for helping him develop into the kind of A-plus leader and first-team All-American player that he became. And current KU point guard Charlie Moore, who, like Collins, also hails from Chicago, said Collins had already made it a point to coach Moore up, as well.

“I was with Sherron for a weekend earlier this summer and we just bonded and talked a lot about the season,” Moore said before his summer trip to Italy. “He (told) me about his stories and stuff like that. That’s my guy. Sherron’s great. And what he did for this program is nothing short of fantastic.”

Collins, who finished his four-year career with 1,888 points, is the fifth-ranked scorer in the history of the KU men’s basketball program and also ranks 10th on KU’s all-time assists list with 552 assists from 2007-10.

Another #KUgrad on our hands. @SHERRONCOLLINS4 graduated today with his Liberal Arts & Science degree and the #KUbball couldn’t be more proud ✊ #RockChalk pic.twitter.com/53WqDhyj6O

— Kansas Basketball (@KUHoops) August 29, 2018