Pre-Draft Workout Interview: Mardy Collins

Height: 6'6"
Weight: 205 School: Temple
Position: PG/SG

Celtics.com: So what's your workout schedule been like thus far?

Collins: "This is my third. Last Monday I did Sacramento and Tuesday I was in Utah."

Celtics.com: Do you look at the mock drafts on the Internet?

Collins: "I really don't pay any attention to any of that. My agents told me to stay away from that stuff. I have friends telling me where they saw me on mock drafts and things like that, but I really try not to pay attention to it."

Celtics.com: Are you a legit 6'6"?

Collins: "When they took my height, I'm 6'6" with shoes, 6'4 ½ without, but hopefully they go with the 6'6"."

Celtics.com: What's it like playing for John Chaney?

Collins: "It was a great experience, playing for a Hall of Fame coach. He taught me so many things about the game that will help me at the next level. You've got guys who came from the program like Aaron McKie and Eddie Jones, guys who were in the league for a long period of time because of the things they learned from Coach. So if I can use the knowledge I've gained from Coach, I think I can be in the league for a long time too."

Celtics.com: What's the scouting report on you?

Collins: "I'm a good defender who plays the passing lanes well. I'm good at running the offense, especially in a situation like this when you already have a franchise player in Paul Pierce, I could be that person to come in and distribute the ball to him, get him the ball in places when he needs it. And just my versatility overall; [I can] play more positions than just point guard."

Celtics.com: What do you think will be the biggest adjustment for you coming into the NBA?

Collins: "Getting used to the speed of the game, the speed and strength of the game. At Temple we played a slow-down pace, and I think in the NBA the pace is so much quicker. That's going to be a tough adjustment, playing at a quicker pace."

Celtics.com: And how about that three-minute run at the end of the workout?

Collins: "It was tough. I'm in pretty good shape, but it was pretty tough. If I had to do it again I would."

Celtics.com: What's it like to come in here and see all of those banners?

Collins: "When you think of the Boston Celtics, you think of the NBA. For so long they've been the face of the NBA, ever since the beginning, with all of the championships. Now you see a team like the Detroit Pistons, that's what it was back in the day with the Celtics. They've always had great teams, not just great individual players. And that's something I'd really like to be a part of."

- Compiled by Peter Stringer on May 22, 2006