April 20, 2001

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Andre Collins, a 5-9 point guard who played this past year at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Va., has signed a national letter of intent to play basketball at the University of Maryland, head coach Gary Williams announced.

The signing of Collins brings to three the number of players who have signed national letters of intent with the Terrapins in the past six months. Two other players - guard Michael Grinnon of St. Dominic High School in Oyster Bay, N.Y., and forward Ryan Randle of Allegany College in Cumberland, Md. -- signed with the Terps during the early signing period this past November.

"Andre Collins gives us added quickness and provides depth at the point guard position," said Williams. "We look forward to him being an important part of our team this coming season."

Collins prepped at Crisfield (Md.) High School, where he led his team to a 25-3 record and a Maryland 1A state title as a senior in 2000. He averaged 30.5 points, 9.9 assists, 5.1 steals and 4.9 rebounds per game on his way to earning first team all-state honors (small schools). He was selected Player of the Year on the Eastern Shore and was tabbed to play in the Capital Classic All-Star game following his senior season. He was a four-year starter who totaled 2,152 points in his career, never averaging fewer than 10 points in a season.

Collins averaged 29 points, five assists and seven steals as a junior at Crisfield.

At Hargrave, where current Terp Lonny Baxter played during the 1997-98 season, Collins averaged 15.6 points and 8.0 assists per game in helping lead his squad to an overall record of 27-1. Collins is one of 11 players from this past year's Hargrave team to land a Division I scholarship, according to Hargrave coach Kevin Keats.

Next weekend, Collins will play in the inaugural Baltimore Charm City Challenge at the Towson Center. Collins will be joined on a team of U.S. all-stars by his future Terp teammate, Michael Grinnon. The U.S. stars will face a team of college-bound Baltimore-area standouts April 28.