Since he was 4 years old, basketball has been more than a hobby for Cadence Collins — it has been a daily routine.
And as the Chattanooga Prep Sentinels spent their offseason preparing for a chance to become just the third boys’ basketball program in TSSAA history to win four consecutive state titles, Collins has helped set the standard for what hard work looks like.
The 5 a.m. workouts and tough practices will be put to work when the Sentinels tip off their 2026-26 schedule Wednesday night with a home game against Notre Dame. It will also mark a return to the court for Collins, whose most recent official prep basketball game was on March 22, 2025, when Chatt Prep repeated as the Class 1A state champ before moving up in reclassification and winning at that level last season while Collins was sidelined with a torn ACL.
More than 600 days have passed since he was in action for the Sentinels.
“I am blessed to be back,” Collins said. “I am just grateful to be able to come back out there and show the work that we have been doing. Having to miss last season made me even hungrier this year to come for it all. I have always trusted in God’s plan.”