Dwayne Travis Collins, was born on April 13, 1988, to two amazing people that I was blessed to call Mom and Dad, Patricia Collins and Donald Woods.  Through their love and sacrifice for me and my siblings, I learned early on the importance of being strong, kind, generous, and having an unwavering faith in God. This life lesson would be the foundation of my life and very existence!

Growing up in South Miami Heights, Florida, I, like every other young African American boy, began playing Optimist flag football at Goulds Park. Attending Miami-Dade County Public Schools allowed me to hone my skills as an athlete. From Pine Villa Elementary School, Mays Middle School, to Miami High School, I learned to love sports. But it was during my freshman year that I developed a passion for basketball. I flourished as an All-State and All-Dade-County selection during my junior and senior years, dominating both on and off the court. I led Miami High to the state title as a junior and played for the Miami Tropics AAU team under Coach Art "Pilin" Alvarez. When I graduated in 2006, I committed to the University of Miami, where I majored in Business and excelled on the court from 2006-2010 as Number #21 "POWER" forward. While there, I made history by becoming the second player to reach 1,000 points, 850 rebounds, and 100 assists.

After college, I was drafted into the NBA by the Phoenix Suns in the 2010 draft, but did not play during that first year. I later signed with Italian team, Cimberio Varese for the 2010-2011 season, but was released after sustaining a knee injury. Even so, my determination and resilience allowed me to rejoin the Phoenix Suns for the 2013 NBA Summer League.

After my basketball career, I obtained my real estate license in Florida in 2022 and by 2023 connected with a few real estate agencies.  I joined the Lennar Homes organization as a project manager and worked as a Superintendent at Avanlon Bay Communities. Over the years, I managed to travel throughout the country and overseas, both professionally and personally. Being an educated man, I had the opportunity to teach school and mentor and encourage the minds of young people. I really enjoyed teaching at an elementary level. I had many interests, experiences, hobbies, and opportunities; yet none can compare to the experiences I had with spending time with my family and friends. I was a blessed man to love and be loved by such amazing people, I called: Family!

There are many fond memories of afternoons hanging with my brothers, cousins, and grandmother Bessie Mae Hart, where we would watch Disney movies for hours. Or building memories with my family and friends. To my friends, ...... To my mother and my father, who preceded me in death, thank you for the best "playbook" of life – You made me who I became, and I will love you for eternity. To my family, please know that your genuine love centered on me, remember the fun and the memories we shared. To my friends and teammates, we had some good times...remember them and keep making memories.  To those I hold close to my heart...and you know who you are...Our love will keep me near. I love you all!

Dwayne