Kris Jenkins
Forward, Villanova
Everyone knows about Wildcats guard Jalen Brunson, one of the top recruits in 2015. And then there’s Josh Hart, the team’s leading scorer. But the motor for the Wildcats, a team that has blitzkrieg the rest of the field, is Kris Jenkins.
Listed as a forward, Jenkins is a shooting guard at the NBA level. And in order to be a successful shooting guard, you have to be a reliable three-point shooter. Jenkins, after shooting 37 percent from beyond the arc during the year, went 8-10 in the Sweet 16 after shooting 6-9 in the second round from deep. Oh, and he hit the game-winner in the NCAA Championship game.
Yeah, pretty impressive. He’s also led the Wildcats in scoring in two out of their four wins while dropping 13 points against the country’s top team, Kansas.
Prior to the draft, Jenkins wasn’t guaranteed to be picked. Now scouts can look at him as a microwave scorer, someone who can get hot over a short period of time. He’s also big, for a guard, and is a solid defender. Those kind of guys usually find a spot on an NBA roster. And if Villanova wins the title, Jenkins probably wins tournament MVP (well, Hield still might I guess). The junior almost certainly declares for the draft if that happens.
Where does he go?
Probably somewhere between picks 31 and 45. It’s tough not seeing a team bet on Jenkins. I think Minnesota, with tons of athletic talent but a cupboard barren of shooters, could find series use for Jenkins.
Next: Angel Rodriguez