Arizona State guard pulls back from NBA Draft, will return to school

Arizona State guard Frankie Collins announced he would return to the Sun Devils on Friday.

A former three-star prospect from Sacramento, Calif., Collins began his career with a commitment to Michigan, joining the Wolverines over offers from Minnesota, Auburn, Georgetown, Kansas, Oklahoma, TCU, USC and Virginia Tech, among others, according to 247Sports. He joined a 2021 Michigan recruiting class that featured two five-star forwards in Caleb Houstan and Moussa Diabate.

Collins then transferred to Arizona State in 2022 following his lone season in Ann Arbor. Out in the desert, he played in 35 games (making 34 starts) during the 2022-23 season. He earned averages of 9.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 27.9 minutes per contest.

The 6-foot-1-inch guard announced he would enter the 2023 NBA Draft while maintaining his college eligibility in March.

"I have also been blessed to have coach Bobby Hurley as my coach and the entire ASU staff who welcomed me in with open arms," Collins wrote in a late-March Instagram post. "I am grateful and forever indebted for the leadership and support that you have provided thus far. Thank you."

The return of Collins could be one of the final pieces needed to help Arizona State take another leap in the Pac-12 standings. The talented guard should pair well with the six transfers and two players who have signed their letters of intent as part of the team's 2023 recruiting class.

LSU guard Adam Miller, a 4-star transfer and a starter for the Tigers, highlights the Sun Devils' portal additions, while center Shawn Phillips, Miller's teammate at LSU, will also take his talents to Tempe via the transfer portal.

Arizona State ended the past season with an overall record of 23-13, improving from the 14-17 record they had posted the prior campaign. This time around, the Sun Devils took fifth place in the Pac-12 after gaining an 11-9 record against conference opponents. They took spots behind Oregon, USC and Arizona in the conference standings.