He was once rated as the top overall prospect in Arizona's 2015 class, but things changed quickly for Red Mountain High School's 6-foot-5 senior guard Jalen Jenkins after he decided to leave the state of Arizona during the summer of 2013.
In 2013, while preparing to enter his junior season at Mesa High School, Jenkins instead decided to leave the state of Arizona and transfer to top-rated IMG Academy in Florida. After the move, and for whatever reason, Jenkins decided to return back to the state of Arizona after a short stint away. Instead of returning to Mesa HS, Jenkins instead came back to Arizona, only to enroll at Red Mountain HS, also in Mesa, Arizona, and a huge rival of his former Mesa Jackrabbits.
Making a long story short, Jenkins finished out his final two seasons of high school at Red Mountain - helping lead the team this season to a 17-11 overall record, while averaging 9.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists per/game.
No longer was Jenkins considered as the dominant guard prospect that many envisioned him becoming. Instead, Jenkins saw his college recruitment tail off a great deal over the past two years - a very rare occurrence in high school, and not something I have often seen during my 20 years as an evaluator.
Rather than hold out for a division-I college offer this spring or even attend a prep school program for another season to hone his skills, instead Jenkins will accept a scholarship offer from Benedictine University and head coach Steve Schaeffer.
Benedictine recently move their operations to the state of Arizona, where the NAIA basketball program will pick up play this fall. Schaeffer has worked hard over the past year to recruit some strong basketball talent, and Jenkins will immediately add serious depth to their roster.
Congratulations to Jenkins and his family on this decision.
