Collin Tjin is an 11-year-old basketball player out of California who could dribble circles around you.
Last year when he was 10, Whistle released an eight-minute video about the youngster, profiling his game, his training regiment and his other ventures in car design. If you want to be impressed with the talent and maturity of someone likely at least half your age, check it out.
In the opening minutes, we get to see Collin in his element and get a rundown of his skill set from his trainer, Clifton Baker. The kid has a smooth jumper, incredibly fast hands and unbelievable footwork, particularly considering his age.
Later, the training session moves from the gym to beach, and Baker explains the reasoning behind putting Collin on the sand. He makes some good points about protecting joints and using resistance to build strength, which are especially important for someone Collin’s age but can be useful tips for any hooper trying to save their body from unnecessary punishment.
As the video continues, we learn about Collin’s car designs, which have won major professional competitions. He and his father, Neil Tjin, work on cars and designs together often, and it’s an important part of their relationship. We get to see them in a garage together, checking out the vehicles and explaining their designs.
The Spin on Collin Tjin
Now at the ripe old age of 11, Collin is still putting on shows at his games. He has a YouTube channel that showcases tons of his highlights and training sessions, plus a clip of on-court appearances he’s made with the Harlem Globetrotters. There are videos dating back to five years ago on the channel dating all the way back to when the kid was 5.
College and professional basketball are a long way away for Collin Tjin, and there’s no telling what his future holds. However, if he does make it that far in his hoops career, he will be one of the first major basketball players whose progression as a player from the very beginning as kindergartner will be open for anyone to see. Imagine if we had extensive footage of Michael Jordan’s youth games or of Allen Iverson dribbling around the streets of Hampton, Virginia, years before he would do the same on the Philadelphia hardwood. This wasn’t possible not long ago, and it’s an intriguing thought about how the future of the sport will look and how it will be covered and consumed by those who follow it.
Whether it’s Collin Tjin or not, there will be an NBA player in the next 10 to 20 years whose entire basketball life will be readily available for the world to see at the click of a button.
