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Tex Greene

Kenny Collins' Journey to the Firebirds

Updated: Aug 29, 2023

Kenny Collins is a 6’5” Shooting Guard for the Raleigh Firebirds, and one of the most important members of the team. He grew up not too far from Raleigh, in Clayton, North Carolina, as the oldest of four children. Clayton is where Kenny would spend much of his childhood, attending high school at Corinth Holders High School. At Corinth Holders, Kenny would play both basketball and football, one of the best dual athletes the school has ever seen. As a quarterback, Kenny was third in the state of North Carolina in total passing yards.



His incredible athletic ability would land him multiple scholarships, for both basketball and football. Kenny first played AAU basketball for the Clayton Titans. He played there until he was 16, and then moved onto the North Carolina Red Storm and the North Carolina Force. One of the best games of his career occurred during this time, when he dropped 50 points.


Credit to the St. Augustine Website for Picture


As high school ended, Kenny would take his talents to Saint Augustine University, located here in Raleigh. He would major in sports management, as he knew that after his playing days were over, he wanted (and still wants) to be an athletic director at a high school.


After a great college career, Kenny played basketball internationally, and it was during some down time after a stint in Mexico that he met the Firebirds’ team owner, Wade Harris. He’s been playing with the team ever since, and we couldn’t be happier to have him on our roster. Kenny’s been a part of some great moments on this Firebirds squad, such as last year. The Firebirds were down 15 points with around 3 minutes left when they stormed back to take the lead, and Kenny hit the game winning shot to send it to overtime.



Kenny’s ability to shoot is incredible, and he attributes his skills to God and his work ethic. “I put a lot of hard work into this game, into my craft,” said Kenny. “My ability to shoot the ball is God given, I’m blessed to have that ability.” "He's one of the best shooters I've ever seen," said Avon Thomas, a friend of Kenny's from college. "When he gets hot, it's unbelievable."


"{He's} a great shooter," said teammate Desmond Jackson. "And a great shooting guard."




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