The Tribune

By JONATHAN BURROWS

Tribune Sports Reporter

jburrows@tribunemedia.net

JUNIOR guard Rhema Collins has been turning heads this season with her breakout performances at Florida International University for the Panthers.

Standing at 6′2″, Collins transferred from the Ole Miss Rebels after stints in 2023-24 and 2024-25, during which she saw limited minutes off the bench and also battled a few injuries, but this season took a dramatic step forward in production.

Since joining FIU for the 2025-26 season, Collins has emerged as one of the more productive players in Conference USA.

Collins is averaging 20.7 points and 9.7 rebounds per game in 32.3 minutes per game with a field-goal percentage of 46.6 per cent, already a major jump from her time at Ole Miss, where she averaged only about 2.9 points and 2.1 rebounds per game in 2024-25.

This season she has already recorded multiple double-doubles, and her expanded opportunities have proven that the transfer may have been the right move.

On December 5, Collins had a career-defining performance in a 103-92 home win over the Georgia State Panthers. She exploded for 40 points on 16-of-21 shooting, the most in a single game by any Conference USA player this season and tied for sixth highest in the entire NCAA.

But Collins didn’t stop at scoring. She grabbed 13 rebounds, dished out four assists, had three steals, and blocked two shots, putting together one of the most complete performances in FIU’s recent history.

Her opening quarter was dominant, scoring 21 points as FIU produced 37 first-quarter points and 63 in the first half, the highest-scoring first half under head coach Jesyka Burks-Wiley.

In recognition of her historic night, Collins was named Conference USA Player of the Week, the first such honour of her career.

After the game, Collins said: “I guess you could say I was in a groove. It was just one of those nights where a lot of things were going right for me.”

Speaking on her transfer to FIU, she added: “I’m happy with the choice I made and comfortable with where I’m at.”

Her coach, Burks-Wiley, praised the team’s offensive explosion and Collins’ leadership, saying: “That 103-point effort … really, really exciting game. If you’re a fan of offence, it’s hard to not love a game like that. I’m really excited to see we’re able to go pretty deep into our game offensively.”

Collins’ 40-point outing made her just the seventh player in FIU’s programme history since 1994 to reach the 40-point mark, emphasizing the rarity of her achievement.

Her breakout year is even more striking considering her quiet start in college basketball. At Ole Miss, Collins struggled to find consistent minutes, recording modest scoring nights and occasional strong rebounding games, but never had the opportunity to showcase her full ability.

Before college, at The Webb School in Tennessee, she had shown promise as a tall, versatile forward, but her first two NCAA seasons did not provide the platform she needed.

Her move to FIU changed that. In earlier interviews, Collins admitted that adjusting to a new system and facing heightened expectations was nerve-racking but said she is “soaking up everything” and embracing the challenge.

Her mother Angela expressed pride in the transition, saying she was excited knowing FIU would finally give Rhema the playing time she needed for people back home in the Bahamas to truly see her potential.

Collins’ rise this season signals that she is no longer a reserve option but a central force for FIU, delivering dominant scoring, rebounding and defensive performances.

Her breakout year highlights the continued growth of Bahamian talent in NCAA basketball.

With her momentum building, the question now is how far she can elevate her game, and whether this season could position her as one of Conference USA’s biggest stars.