Sherron Collins doesn’t need to worry about being called a “ballhog” or a “gunner” at any time this season.

“Coach wants me to shoot. He says I can take 18 to 20 shots a game. It’s nice to know I can do that,” said Collins, Kansas University’s junior point guard.

He scored a career-high 25 points off 9-of-14 shooting — he made four of six three-pointers — in Tuesday’s 85-45 rout of Florida Gulf Coast. The 5-foot-11, 200-pounder hit six of 11 shots — one of four threes — in KU’s 71-56 season-opening victory over UMKC.

“I don’t count my shots. I don’t pay attention to that. I’m just hot right now. Everything is falling,” said Collins, who has made 15 of 25 shots (60 percent), including five of 10 from three.

He averaged 22 points a game in two exhibition games while making 15 of 21 shots, including three of five threes.

“Right now he’s good, and he’s confident,” KU coach Bill Self said of Collins.

“Our guys should play through Cole (Aldrich, center who has cashed 11 of 14 shots) and should play through Sherron. If we look to get those guys chances to score in different areas, we’ll have a chance.

“Cole and Sherron should be taking the shots, the majority of them,” Self added. “Everybody else should be taking open looks.”

Collins — the leader of this young team — has averaged 33 minutes of floor time in KU’s first two games. For that to continue, he’ll have to stay healthy. Remember, he had left knee problems last season, corrected by offseason arthroscopic surgery.

“I am 100 percent. Nothing is bothering me,” Collins said. “Playing more in the game is taking a little toll on my body. Other than that, I’m fine. Practice is fine. I’m 100 percent and happy to be out there.

“It’s a big relief,” he added of his knee feeling fine. “I’m kind of speechless at this time about my health. Knock on wood ... I hope I stay this way. I just know I feel good.”

He’s added a pull-up jumper — one in which he goes full speed before suddenly stopping and popping from 12 to 15 feet.

“I am comfortable to get my own shot, to do what I want,” Collins said. “That’s something I worked on with coach (Joe) Dooley in the offseason. He did a great job with me helping me learn different moves. We knew I’d have to score in different ways.

“I’m confident right now. I try to get my teammates going because I know I’ll get going. I’m in no rush to shoot the ball.”

Collins was extra fired up about Tuesday’s game, considering it followed the unveiling of the 2008 national title banner.

A video preceded the banner, one that included a shot of the play in which Collins fed Mario Chalmers for a game-tying three with 2.1 seconds left in regulation of the national title game versus Memphis. Collins, who shoveled the ball to Chalmers after charging 70 feet from the far baseline to the right wing, looks like he may have been lightly shoved by Derrick Rose before passing the rock to Chalmers.

“I’m so glad it was a no-call because we’d have gotten two shots (at foul line) instead of (a) three,” Collins said. “I thanked the ref. He said it wasn’t a foul. I said, ‘I’m glad it wasn’t a foul.’’’

KU, of course, went on to roll in overtime for the title.

Back to the present: KU, 2-0, will play Washington, 1-1, at 9 p.m. Monday at the Sprint Center and meet either Florida or Syracuse on Tuesday night in CBE Classic games.

“We’ve moved past last year. We know it’s not the same team as last year,” Collins said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do to get ready for next week. Practice will be harder, more intense. We know there are tough games coming up.”

lRecruiting: Dominic Cheek, a 6-5 senior shooting guard from St. Anthony High in Jersey City, N.J., will visit Rutgers this weekend and Pittsburgh on Nov. 25, Rivals.com reports. Cheek also is considering KU and Villanova. Memphis is no longer on his list following the signing of Xavier Henry. ... John Wall, a 6-4 senior point guard from Word of God Christian Academy in Raleigh, N.C., plans on visiting Baylor and possibly Miami and Duke in coming months. He also has North Carolina State, KU and Memphis on his list.

— Assistant sports editor Gary Bedore can be reached at 832-7186.