Recent basketball transfer Zaon Collins is set for a fresh start with the Fresno State men’s basketball team after facing jail time in his past.
Collins, a six-foot point guard from Las Vegas, Nevada, reached a plea deal in June of 2023 after being charged with reckless driving, a felony, a misdemeanor and vehicular manslaughter in the death of Eric Echevarria in December 2020.
An arrest report from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department stated that Collins was driving nearly 90 miles per hour in a 35-mph zone just before the crash. Police alleged that he was intoxicated, showing signs of cannabis use at the time of the crash.
Collins served 90 days at the Clark County Detention Center in 2023 as part of the deal.
This information came to light after Collins was listed on the Fresno State men’s basketball roster this week.
Prior to his sentencing, Collins apologized to Echevarria’s family and said he “hurt many people” because of the crash.
A prosecutor said at his hearing that Echevarria’s widow is “fully in support of this resolution today.” He added that while the agreement was lower than what the District Attorney’s office was normally comfortable with, there were concerns with statutes in relation to Nevada’s tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) laws.
After his release, Collins played his freshman season at Salt Lake Community College in Utah, starting 23 of 32 games.
Collins helped the Bruins go 30-4 on the year, ranking No. 3 nationally as he averaged 6.0 points, 4.6 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game.
The now sophomore was highly recruited out of high school and ranked as high as the No. 43 player in the Class of 2021 after leading Bishop Gorman to three consecutive high school state championships in Nevada.
According to Gabe Camarillo at KMPH, Collins is enrolled in a program at Fresno State called Project Rebound that is “tailored to support formerly incarcerated individuals in their higher education journey.”
The program states that it “aims to empower students to attain academic success, make positive contributions to their communities, and lay the groundwork for a prosperous future.”
Now a Bulldog, Collins will join a Fresno State roster under Head Coach Vance Walberg with a team full of transfers around him, all looking to carve out a role on the team.
The Bulldogs will open the 2024-25 season at home in the Save Mart Center against Sacramento State on Friday, Nov. 8.
