Jenkins looking forward to NBA draft

Charles Jenkins is ready for a new beginning. As he reflected on his years at Hofstra, the two-time Colonial Athletic Association player of the year looked toward the next chapter of his basketball career. It can be described in three letters: NBA.

"I definitely want to get drafted,'' Jenkins said. "Like in college, all I needed was one school to have belief in me, and I'm going to make the best of any situation I have. I feel the same way with the pros. I just need one foot in the door, an opportunity to showcase my talent, and I definitely will perform and do the best I can.''

There is reason to believe Jenkins will get that chance. Scouts do not want to be quoted by name, but a consensus seems to place Jenkins as a low-first-round or second-round pick in the June draft.

Most believe the 6-3 shooting guard must prove he can handle the duties of a point guard in the NBA. But he did play point guard at times for Hofstra, and NBA director of scouting Ryan Blake said today's NBA sets no limits on size, saying he could "play at either [guard] position.''

Blake would not predict how high Jenkins will go in the draft, saying his showing at next month's Portsmouth Invitational (Va.), the annual gathering for many potential draftees, will be important.

Jenkins is the latest in a long list of Hofstra guards to knock on the pro door. The most successful was Speedy Claxton, who was picked 20th in the first round by the 76ers in 2000. He had an eight-year NBA career and has been a frequent visitor at Hofstra games. "I talk to Speedy all the time,'' Jenkins said. "He's telling me, 'Just compete.' I'm going to go in a situation where guys are looking at me at the next level where I'm actually going to be paid for basketball.

"I'm the same person I've been, the same kid that played basketball on the street all day every day. I think my love for the game is going to stay the same, just knowing that there is a lot more at stake. It's my life now. When I was a kid, I played basketball for free. But now, from a financial standpoint, I have the opportunity to help my family.''

When Jenkins entered Hofstra from Springfield Gardens High School, a bevy of talented guards surrounded him. Loren Stokes, Carlos Rivera and Antoine Agudio became great teachers. "I studied their habits, I took advantage of my opportunity around them and tried to become a better basketball player,'' Jenkins said. "It worked out for me.''

Jenkins went on to shatter Agudio's Hofstra career record of 2,276 points, finishing with 2,513 to become only the 63rd player in Division I to reach 2,500.

Averaging 23.1 points per game at the time, Jenkins went into the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament semifinal game against Old Dominion needing only 17 points to reach 2,500. He got 16.

So Jenkins entered what turned out to be his last college game -- a loss to Evansville in the College Basketball Invitational -- with 2,499 points. He added 14 to his total.

Would he have been disappointed if he did not reach the milestone? "Most likely not,'' he said. "I don't take any of that into consideration when I play basketball. I just think to be aggressive and do what I can for us to win. Being that everything is said and done, it definitely was a great opportunity for me to separate myself from a lot of people who have played the game.''

Jenkins is prepared for what is about to unfold. "I don't really get nervous,'' he said. "I'm just excited about the opportunity. I came a long way. There were a lot of people who didn't know about me at all. Just to have the opportunity to prepare for the NBA draft is something that is very exciting.''