Collins Twins Are Again Double-Parked in Lane

Twelve days ago at Madison Square Garden, Jason and Jarron Collins, the twin towers from Harvard-Westlake High, gave their Stanford teammates a glimpse at the special bond that exists when the two are together on a basketball court.

Jarron, 6 feet 11, was encountering defensive pressure against Iowa and reacted with the same brotherly instinct that has guided him all his life--he passed to 7-foot Jason, who jammed home a dunk.

“I just remember doing that so many times throughout the years,” Jarron said.

Added Jason: “That definitely was old Harvard-Westlake times.”

Watching from their seats, Portia and Paul Collins were in tears, as any mother and father would when their sons are reunited after a trying time.

“I felt proud, thrilled, excited,” Portia said. “My heart was moving too quickly the whole game. I was dripping wet. I was feeling it.”

From the moment they were born 21 years ago, Jason and Jarron have been inseparable on and off the court. That’s why there was family trauma the last two seasons when injuries to Jason’s knee and wrist forced him to the sideline.

“Injuries are part of sports,” Jason said. “Unfortunately, I’ve had more than my share.”

Jason lost two years of playing college basketball alongside his brother, and only those who have followed the twins realize the impact they can make playing together.

“It’s an impressive thing,” said Alex Gelbard, a Stanford reserve who played with the twins at Harvard-Westlake. “I forget how dominant they were since they haven’t been out there for so long. You realize how well they work together, the connection they have and the basketball knowledge they possess.”

Jason started against Iowa for the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic because of a hamstring injury to forward Mark Madsen. He responded with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Jarron scored 17 points, had 10 rebounds and was selected the tournament most valuable player.

“[Jarron] had the biggest smile on his face for his brother,” Paul said.

Adding to the emotional moment was the presence of nearly a dozen former Harvard-Westlake classmates attending colleges on the East Coast who traveled by train and bus to watch the tournament.

Of course, the twins probably need no one other than Gelbard to provide encouragement. Gelbard, who wants to become an orthopedic surgeon, is Stanford’s towel-waving walk-on who started on Harvard-Westlake’s 1996 state championship team.

“I’ve been playing with them for eight years, so it’s really about time they got off my coattails because they’ve been riding on my back for so long,” Gelbard joked.

Aside from his stand-up routine, Gelbard is uniquely qualified to evaluate Jason’s progress.

“It’s been two years off where he hasn’t been playing, so he’s just getting the feel of the game back,” Gelbard said. “It’s definitely coming back to him and he’s just figuring out where he needs to be. Maybe [Jarron] has jumped ahead a little bit, but Jason will catch up. It’s so great to have them back on the floor. It’s kind of scary.”

Jason still needs to rest his surgically repaired knee during practices and must adjust to double teams during games, but two years in the weight room have made him a powerful post player.

“I have to stay healthy and become a dominant force inside,” Jason said.

Said Jarron: “I’m just happy he’s out there playing basketball and enjoying it the way he used to. I think he’s still one of the better post players in the nation.”

John Wooden, who met the twins when they played in the McDonald’s all-star game as seniors, saw them play on television two weeks ago and was impressed.

“I think they’ve improved,” he said. “I’m sorry [UCLA] didn’t get them. It’s nice to get twins who are talented and good students.”

When UCLA recruited the twins in 1996, they became part of a controversy involving then-coach Jim Harrick. They were present at a recruiting dinner at a Westwood restaurant that became the focal point of UCLA’s investigation into questions surrounding Harrick’s expense report.

Harrick was fired and the twins decided Stanford would best fit their needs. It has proven a wise decision. The two have made Stanford’s academic honor roll, with grade-point averages above 3.5.

Jarron takes pride in being more than a basketball player. He was annoyed Saturday at UC Santa Barbara when Gaucho students heckled Stanford players regarding the school’s academics.

“I heard some of the students saying, ‘Oh, I’m stupid, can I go to Stanford to play basketball on a basketball scholarship?’ That’s not the way it works,” Jarron said. “I’ve known many athletes who have tried to get in and can’t because of their grades. They can call me a nerd, a dork or whatever, but to say I’m a stupid athlete, that bothers me.”

Jarron took out his frustration with 21 points and 12 rebounds in Stanford’s 62-49 victory.

He’ll be in town Saturday when Stanford plays Auburn in the John Wooden Classic at the Arrowhead Pond.

On Dec. 2, the twins will celebrate their 21st birthdays. Don’t expect them to take a trip to Las Vegas.

“I think I have a paper due that day,” Jarron said.

Jarron is a junior in eligibility and Jason is a redshirt freshman. The day is approaching when the two won’t be together at Stanford.

“I try not to think about that because I’ve been playing with him all my life,” Jason said. “That will be a very tough adjustment.”

In the next two years, the twins intend to show how much havoc two giants can create on the court.

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Eric Sondheimer’s local column appears Wednesday and Sunday. He can be reached at (818) 772-3422 or eric.sondheimer@latimes.com