High majors eyeing D.C. forward
It shouldn't come as a surprise that Kris Jenkins is putting himself on the map at a young age. All of the signs are there that he'll be a good player. But, getting him to talk about himself is another matter.
A 6-foot-5 sophomore forward at Washington (D.C.) Gonzaga College, Jenkins has made a name for himself on the high school level and in the summer where he runs with the mighty D.C. Assault.
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A wide bodied kid who can overpower guys around the rim, Jenkins also has small forward skills on the perimeter. Because of that, the debate about whether he's more small or power forward has raged. Jenkins doesn't care either way.
"I consider myself someone that is trying to get better as an all-around player," Jenkins told Rivals.com when asked if he was a small or power forward. "A lot people consider me an undersized big. I just consider myself a team player who does whatever is needed."
Jenkins does recognize that his advanced strength helps him on the floor.
"My strength is scoring in the paint, being able to finish with contact," said Jenkins. "I'm a good passer too. I feel like I make the right play most of the time."
On the other hand, he's also taking the steps to make sure he can defend on the perimeter.
"I'm working really hard on guarding smaller guys," said Jenkins. "I'm also learning when I can go for a steal and when I can't."
So far, the sophomore has heard from the likes of Virginia, Virginia Tech, Georgetown, Pittsburgh, Villanova, Xavier, Miami, Marquette and George Mason among others.
Even with all of the individual attention, Jenkins says that his recruitment is totally off of his radar for now. He's more concerned about meeting some team goals.
"That (recruiting) isn't even a priority right now," said Jenkins. "The priority is just getting better as a team at Gonzaga and making a title run this season."