HAMMOND, Ind. – High on the recruiting wish list of Purdue University Calumet’s men’s basketball program for 2007-08 has been a point guard – and the Peregrines have landed one in Texas high school all-stater Josh Collins.The 6-feet-1 Collins averaged 17 points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals per game in leading San Antonio MacArthur High School to a 22-11 record last season and earning Class 5A all-state recognition by Texas Basketball magazine. He also gained all-district and all-region honors.

Selected as well this year to the National Society of High School Scholars, he plans to major in engineering at Purdue Calumet. “He can shoot, pass, handle the ball, and he has a good concept of the game,” Purdue Calumet acting men’s basketball coach Russ Marcinek said. “Plus, he’s an excellent student.”

Marcinek credited 1992 Purdue Calumet alumnus and former standout Ben Simmons with acquainting his alma mater with Collins. Simmons, a Texas business man, is founder and general manager of International Sports Training Institute in Houston.

Collins is the fourth recruit to commit to the Purdue Calumet men’s team for 2007-08. He joins in the Peregrines fold 6-5 transfer swing player Krste Krstevski (Lake Central HS/Florida International University), 6-1 transfer guard Antonio McNeal (Gavit HS/Joliet JC) and 6-3 wing player Joe Elabed (Morton HS).