Sherron Collins didn???t grow up in the best of Chicago???s neighborhoods. With his father in prison and his best friend dead after a drive-by shooting, Collins is happy to be 600 miles away in Lawrence, Kansas.

He credits the local Boys and Girls Club for saving his life, giving him a safe place to spend time after school let out each day. Now he feels safe all of the time, walking around campus and town without having to look behind him every few seconds. Sherron spends a lot of his time with teammate Brady Morningstar, because he still doesn???t like to be alone.

Sherron???s father was known around the neighborhood as ???Gym Shoe Daddy,??? because he always had new shoes for his children, but was never around to be a real dad. When Sherron???s child was born last summer, he promised to be the best father he could for the baby. He loved Sherron Jr. with all his heart, but less than two weeks after the happiest day of his life, tragedy struck. The baby???s lungs couldn???t get oxygen and he died from an infection. Before he shoots each free throw, Sherron glances at a tattoo on his right forearm that bears his son???s name.

A standout freshman on the Jayhawk team that advanced to the Elite Eight, Sherron averaged nearly 10 points per game this season.