UNLV cuts ties with star recruit Collins

mugshot of due suspect Zaon Collins
Photo credit LVMPD

Las Vegas, NV (KXNT) - Zaon Collins will not be playing basketball for the UNLV Runnin' Rebels.

The school announced Thursday that it would be cutting ties with the former Bishop Gorman star, who was the prize catch of head coach T.J. Otzelberger's latest recruiting class.

In a statement, the school said, in part, “We have talked with the Collins family and have come to the mutual decision that it is in the best interest of everyone that Zaon focus on his other priorities and will not be joining our program.”

The move comes after Collins was charged with a pair of felonies related to a fatal crash that happened last week near Blue Diamond and Fort Apache.

Police say that Collins was going nearly 90 miles an hour when he struck another car, killing that car's driver. Police said it appeared than Collins was driving impaired and found a jar containing what was called a "green leafy substance" in Collins' vehicle.

On Thursday prosecutors formally charged Collins with reckless driving and driving under the influence causing death.

Collins has been on house arrest with strict electronic monitoring since late last week.