Collin Gillespie is a professional basketball player best known for his leadership at Villanova and his steady rise in the NBA after going undrafted in 2022. With increasing attention around his performances, many fans want to know more about his career journey, family background, and life off the court.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Collin Andrew Gillespie |
| Date of Birth | June 25, 1999 |
| Age | 26 years (as of January 2026) |
| Birthplace | Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 6’1″ (185 cm) |
| Weight | 195 lbs (88 kg) |
| Position | Point Guard |
| College | Villanova University |
| Current Team | Phoenix Suns |
| NBA Draft | Undrafted (2022) |
Growing Up Outside Philadelphia
He was born in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania, just outside Philadelphia, on June 25, 1999. His father is a police officer, a detail that shaped his understanding of discipline and public service from an early age.
He attended Archbishop Wood Catholic High School in Warminster, Pennsylvania, where coach John Mosco guided his development. Despite his talent, he entered his senior year with zero Division I scholarship offers—a reality that would have discouraged many players.
Everything changed during a tournament where college coaches finally saw what Mosco had been seeing daily in practice. Strong performances earned him offers from Rider, Hofstra, and Villanova. He chose the Wildcats, the local powerhouse program.
As a senior at Archbishop Wood, he averaged 24.1 points per game and led his team to the PIAA Class 5A state championship in 2017. The Philadelphia Daily News named him Philadelphia Player of the Year, and he won Catholic League MVP honors.
In one memorable game, he scored 42 points against Neumann Goretti, a team featuring Kentucky recruit Quade Green. That performance showed he could compete against elite talent even when scouts hadn’t noticed him yet.
The Villanova Years
He enrolled at Villanova in fall 2017, initially planning to redshirt his freshman year. Coach Jay Wright had different ideas, telling him he was “playing above his years” and putting him into the rotation immediately.
His college career began with the Wildcats’ 2017-18 championship run. As a freshman, he averaged 4.3 points in 14.4 minutes per game but contributed to winning basketball. In the NCAA championship game against Michigan, he had four points and five rebounds as Villanova won 79-62.
Wright valued him particularly for his decision-making—he posted a 2.6-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio as a freshman, remarkable for a first-year player. According to Villanova‘s official basketball profile, Wright attributed this to him “thinking about his teammates and trying to make them better.”
Injuries tested his resolve throughout college. He fractured a bone in his left hand during December 2017 practice, missing over a month. He broke his nose in practice before his junior season, forcing him to wear a protective mask for several games.
The most devastating injury came March 3, 2021, during a win over Creighton—he tore his MCL, ending his senior season prematurely. At that point, he was named Big East co-Player of the Year alongside teammate Jeremiah Robinson-Earl.
Most players would have moved on to professional basketball. Instead, he took advantage of the NCAA’s COVID-19 eligibility waiver and returned for a fifth year in 2021-22.
Becoming Villanova’s Leader
His decision to return paid off historically. In his final college season, he won the Bob Cousy Award as the nation’s top point guard and was named outright Big East Player of the Year for 2021-22.
He became the first player in Big East history to win both Player of the Year and Scholar-Athlete of the Year in the same season. The Associated Press, USBWA, and The Sporting News all named him third-team All-American.
He scored a career-high 33 points on a swollen ankle in an 89-84 win at Providence on February 15, 2022—the kind of performance that defined his competitive nature.
When his Villanova career ended, he ranked as the program’s 12th all-time scorer with 1,858 points and held the record for most games played at 156. His jersey now represents an era of Villanova basketball built on intelligence and toughness.
The Professional Path Nobody Expected
Despite his college accolades, he went undrafted in June 2022. The Denver Nuggets signed him to a two-way contract worth $508,891—a chance, but not a guaranteed NBA future.
His NBA journey almost ended before it began. On July 30, 2022, the Nuggets announced he had undergone surgery for a lower leg fracture suffered in an offseason workout. He missed the entire 2022-23 season while Denver won their first championship.
After recovering, he spent 2023-24 bouncing between Denver and their G-League affiliate, the Grand Rapids Gold. He showed flashes—including a 36-point, 11-rebound, 12-assist triple-double in a G-League game on January 24, 2024.
Denver didn’t extend a qualifying offer after that season, making him an unrestricted free agent. The Phoenix Suns signed him to a two-way contract worth $578,577 on July 2, 2024.
The Phoenix Breakout
His Suns debut came October 26, 2024, in Phoenix’s home opener against Dallas—the defending Western Conference champions. He scored 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting in a 114-102 victory, immediately showing he belonged.
His breakthrough moment came March 4, 2025, in a game against the Los Angeles Clippers. The Suns trailed by 23 points before he sparked a 23-point comeback, playing 15 crucial minutes in the third and fourth quarters. His energy and decision-making drew comparisons to Suns legend Steve Nash.
After proving himself on a two-way deal, Phoenix signed him to a standard one-year contract worth $2,378,870 on July 2, 2025—his first full NBA contract.
The 2025-26 season has been his personal coming-out party. Through January 2026, he’s averaging career-highs of 13.6 points, 4.8 assists, and 3.8 rebounds while shooting 44% from the field and 42.9% from three-point range.
According to his official NBA profile, he has become one of the Suns’ most reliable contributors off the bench, providing exactly the culture and energy that owner Mat Ishbia wanted when he discussed changing the team’s identity.
Net Worth and Contract
According to contract details on Spotrac, his current one-year deal with Phoenix pays $2,378,870 for the 2025-26 season.
His career NBA earnings through three seasons total approximately $4 million when combining his Denver contracts and Phoenix deals. His estimated net worth is in the $1-2 million range, accounting for taxes, agent fees (he’s represented by Jordan Gertler and James Dunleavy of Excel Sports Management), and living expenses.
The interesting part is what comes next. He’s set to become an unrestricted free agent after this season, and his performance has dramatically increased his market value.
Phoenix holds his Early Bird rights, allowing them to offer up to 105% of the league average salary (approximately $12.5 million annually) without using cap space. Other teams with available cap room or willing to use mid-level exceptions could offer $15-15.5 million per year.
ESPN’s Tim Bontemps discussed him on “Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective” podcast, noting: “He has turned himself into a starting point guard. He’s going to be an interesting guy to see how much money he gets as a free agent next summer.”
If he maintains his current level of play, he could sign a four-year deal worth $50-60 million total—life-changing money for someone who went undrafted three years ago.
Relationships
Collin Gillespie has previously been linked to a relationship that became public during his college years. According to a Sportskeeda report, he shared a photo with his then-girlfriend on Instagram in early 2020, which drew attention from fans at the time.
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Since then, he has kept his personal life private. There has been no recent public confirmation about his current relationship status, and he appears focused mainly on his basketball career.
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