Charles Jenkins, SG

While most NBA draft prospects stay in college for perhaps one or two seasons, Jenkins is the "old man" of the 2011 draft class, as he spent five seasons at Hofstra University. It was "time well-spent," as he polished his game to the point where scouts are regarding him among the top combo guards in the country, as he can not only score at a record-setting pace, but has also proven to be a very efficient ball handler and passer.

In four seasons with the varsity, Jenkins amassed a school record 2,513 points, as that total is also the second-most ever by a Colonial Athletic Association performer and placed second among active NCAA performers behind Jimmer Fredette of Brigham Young (2,599 points). He is just the 63rd player in college basketball annals to register 2,500 points during a career.

Jenkins also etched his name into the record books in several other career categories. He finished his Pride tenure as the school's fifth-best assists leader (489), also placing fifth with 180 three-point field goals made and 213 steals. He joined Speedy Claxton (1996-200) as the only players in school annals to record over 2,000 points, 500 rebounds and 400 assists at Hofstra.

Jenkins is one of five Hofstra players to win the Haggerty Award in its history, joining Bill Thieben (1956), Rich Laurel (1977), Speedy Claxton (2000) and Norman Richardson (2001). All four previous winners went on to play in the NBA, and Jenkins could make it 5-for-5, as he is a strong candidate to be selected in this June's NBA Draft. He is also the third player in the history of that award to receive it three times in a career.

The previous three-time Haggerty winners both went on to long professional careers as well. McMillian was a first round draft pick of the Los Angeles Lakers and averaged 19.1 points in the playoffs for the Lakers' 1972 NBA championship team, before finishing his nine-year NBA career with the Buffalo Braves, New York Knicks and Portland Trail Blazers. Mullin had a long and distinguished NBA career (17,911 points) and was a member of the United States gold medal winning team at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.

Jenkins recently became the 25th student-athlete to have his jersey number (#22) retired by Hofstra. He also became the first athlete to have a number retired while still active. The combo guard scored in double figures 122 times in 128 career games, including an active streak of 58 straight, which is second longest in the country. He produced 12 games of 30 points or more and 65 of 20 points or more.

As a freshman, Jenkins was named the Colonial Athletic Association's Rookie of the Year. He started all 29 games he played in, averaging 15.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game, scoring in double figures 27 times, including in each of his final fifteen contests.

In 2008-09, Jenkins received the first of three Haggerty Awards he would win during his career. The first-team All-CAA choice was one of just six players in the nation to averaged at least 19 points (19.7 ppg), four rebounds (4.8 rpg) and four assists (4.3 apg), as his scoring averaged ranked second in the league. He also blocked 15 shots and had 46 steals.

The 2009-10 campaign saw the guard be named CAA Player of the Year, along with picking up mid-major All-American honors. The four-time CAA Player of the Week ranked 20th in the nation in scoring (20.6 ppg), as he was one of five players in the nation to average at least 20 points, four rebounds (4.5 rpg) and three assists (3.9 apg) per game. He had a career-high 61 steals and also had a hand in blocking 19 shots.

Jenkins was again named CAA Player of the Year as a senior, adding All-District and All-American recognition. He ranked sixth in the nation with a 22.61-point scoring average during his final campaign. His 746 total points placed fifth on Hofstra's annual record chart, as his total of 702 points as a junior rank seventh on that list. He also averaged 3.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.7 steals per game.

Jenkins helped the Pride to a 21-12 final record and a second-place finish in the CAA at

14-4 (the program's highest finish since joining the CAA in 2001-02). He shot 51.7 percent from the floor on the year, while nobody else in the top 15 in scoring nationally shot over 50 percent, and also averaged 2.2 turnovers per game.

Positives: With 2,513 points to his credit, Jenkins has proven he can carry the offensive load … Has very good range from the perimeter and despite a lack of size, he is physical driving to the basket and in drawing contact, converting at an 81.1% rate from the foul line … Scrappy defender who might lack the size to go up and challenge attempts by taller perimeter shooters, but is an "in your face" type who can be quite disruptive in the passing lanes … While known as a gunslinger, he has very good basketball IQ and picks and chooses as a shot selector (takes what the defenses give him) … One of the top producers in this draft class scoring beyond the arc (shot 42.0% from three-point range last year) and has very good shooting mechenics, as his release lets him fire in an instant and he shows good touch, along with elevation taking his jump shot … His mid-range game is where he really excels, as he has that precise stop-&-go skills to pull up on a dime, set his feet and pull up off the dribble to get high release with his jumper … Do not be fooled by his size, as he is more than powerful enough, along with showing that instant burst with his initial step to get to the basket regularly when operating inside the arc … Crowd pleaser with his change of direction agility, demonstrating the balance and body control to get to the rim and shoot from either side … Compensates for a lack of size with a nice wingspan (6'8") for a point guard, along with excellent vertical skills (36-inches) and a good standing reach (8'2.5") … Very creative with the ball in his hands, doing a nice job of distributing it … Has very good leg drive to the basket, knowing how to draw contact on the way to the rim, as he likes to get very physical when playing the inside game … With that ability to draw contact, he gets to the foul line regularly, where he has very good arch on his attempts … Even at his size, he gets more than enough elevation with his jumper to keep it high and above the outstretched arms of even front court types … Shows good body weave and balance in dish-&-drive situations, needing just a little space to be creative with the ball … Creates space for himself and does a good job of setting his feet when operating in catch-&-shoot situations … Despite his ability to score points in bunches, he is very patient on the court, letting the action come to him before he decides to attack the rim and draw contact in the lanes, drop back to gain space for his jumper or just feeding the ball out to an open target … Has good explosiveness getting into the paint with his crossover and his elevation skills have seen him gain good success crashing the boards, especially the offensive glass, coming up with impressive rebounding figures for a player a shade under six-feet tall … Can pull back and hoist up a smooth fade away shot or take the ball off the dribble, lift high off the ground and put up points in a hurry … With his range and high release point, he can quickly unleash the outside shot from NBA three-point range … Shows classic shooting form, effortlessly fading back to get the space he needs to execute his jump shot … Has a quick spin move coming off screens to put the ball up from behind the arc … Has very good balance and body control to separate from the defender and is able to create separation with his initial step slashing to the basket … Has become an efficient passer who has the range to fire the ball out long distances, especially when pushing the ball up court on the fast break … Shows good lateral movement skills when moving to defend vs. perimeter shooters, as he does a nice job of hedging on screens, sticking his hands into the opponent's dribble or timing his leaps to alter or block the opponent's shot … Tenacious crashing the boards, where his elevation, wing span and sheer determination will see him even out-battle centers to secure the rebound, as he has very good second jump ability under the glass.

Negatives: Mysteriously, he received little national attention, outside the New York area, despite ranking with the all-time elite scorers from this era … Sort of caught between two positions, as his scoring acumen dictates he would be much more suited for the two-guard spot, but standing just 6:01.5 will cause him to have defensive issues trying to take on taller perimeter shooters, especially since he lacks good leaping ability or great court quickness … Does not have the explosive burst driving to the basket, but compensates with above average strength, using his thick frame to draw contact on the way to the rim …

Still, without that explosion, he will have problems dealing with bigger men working inside at the next level … Good passer, but since he was basically the entire offense at Hofstra,

Some scouts feel he can get too aggressive with the ball and lacks great vision to look for other teammates with better scoring opportunities … Must adjust to not getting even half as many scoring opportunities at the next level (questions arise on how he will play without the ball in his hands … Has shown he is not unselfish with the ball, but lacks repetitions when it comes to playing a "pass first, shoot second" kind of mentality coaches want from a point guard.

Compares To: RAJON RONDO, Boston -- From a strength standpoint, Jenkins favorably compares to Celtics' muscle man Rondo, George Hill of San Antonio and Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook. As a shooter, you can see that he can be another Rodney Stuckey (Detroit), coming off the bench to provide instant offense. As a defensive guy, he looks a lot like Baron Davis (Cleveland) with his ability to disrupt in the passing lanes. For us "old timers" that have followed basketball at all corners of the earth, he has lots of John Williamson (ex-Net) in his game, especially with that tank-like physique.

In addition to the Haggerty Award, Jenkins also earned national recognition this season by earning third-team All-American honors from five major media outlets, including The NBA Draft Report, Sports Illustrated.com, CBS Sports.com, The Sporting News, and Basketball Times … Earned the Chip Hilton Award from the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), which is given to a senior who has demonstrated personal character on and off the court … All-Colonial Athletic Association first-team pick and was named the CAA's Player of the Year for the second-straight season … All-District selection by NABC and USBWA … Naismith Award Midseason Top 30 list selection (including one of three from mid-major conferences) … ESPN Gameday Mid-Major Player of the Year, adding CAA All-Tournament Team and Puerto Rico Tip-Off All-Tournament team honors … Three-time CAA Player of the Week (Dec. 13, Jan. 10, Feb. 28) … Mid-Majority.Com Baller of the Week (Dec. 13) … FoxSports.Com Player of the Week (Jan. 10) … Ranked sixth in the nation in scoring, averaging 22.608 points per game … Totaled 75=46 points, the fifth-best season total by a Pride player … Connected on 249-of-482 field goals (51.7%), as his 249 made shots rank seventh on the school annual record list … Tied for eighth on the Hofstra season-record chart by delivering on 66-of-157 treys (42.0%) … Also finished eighth on the school season list with 182-of-221 free throws (82.4%) … Grabbed 111 rebounds (3.364 rpg), while blocking 21 shots (0.636 bpg) … Tallied 57 steals (1.727 spg) and handed out 158 assists (4.788 apg).

Associated Press All-American honorable mention, adding first-team NABC All-District honors … Chosen CollegeHoops.Net and CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major All-American … Second team All-ECAC choice … First-team All-CAA and named the league's Player of the Year … Haggerty Award Winner (top player in New York metropolitan area) … Four-time CAA Player of the Week … Started all 34 games, ranking 20th in the nation with a 20.647-point scoring average, as his 702 total points rank seventh on the school season-record list …

Made 235-of-531 field goals (44.3%), 63-of-154 treys (40.9%) and 169-of-210 free throws (80.5%) … Grabbed 154 rebounds (4.529 rpg) and blocked 19 shots … Credited with a career-high 61 steals (1.794 spg) and posted 134 assists (3.941 apg) … One of only five players in the country who averaged at least 20 points, four rebounds and three assists per game … Had 25 straight games in double figures, including nine straight of 20 or more to close out the season.

First Team All-CAA pick and Haggerty Award winner (top player in New York metropolitan area) … Three-time CAA Player of the Week … One of six players in the nation who averaged at least 19 points, four rebounds and four assists per game … Led the team and placed second in the league while finishing 32nd nation in scoring with a 19.656-point average, as he hit on 40.4% of his field goals (203-of-503), 31.3% of his three-point attempts (31-of-99) and 82.1% of his free throws (195-of-234, fifth-best success total in a season by a Hofstra player) … Averaged 4.781 rebounds (153), 4.281 assists (137), 0.469 blocks (15) and 1.438 steals (46) per game, while amassing 629 points.

Named CAA Rookie of the Year, adding Metropolitan New York Rookie of the Year and third-team All-Metropolitan New York honors … Four-time CAA Rookie of the Week … Played in and started 29 games (missing one game against Longwood due to illness) … Finished 10th in the CAA in scoring at 15.034 points per game (436), as he scored in double figures in 27 of 29 games, including the last 15 in a row (with one of the exceptions coming in his debut at Holy Cross) … Had 160-of-340 field goals (47.1%), 20-of-61 treys (32.8%) and 96-of-123 free throws (78.0%) … Totaled 49 steals, 15 blocked shots, 133 rebounds (4.586 rpg) and 60 assists (2.069 apg).

Red-shirted as a freshman.

SUMMER LEAGUE BASKETBALL

Helped Long Island to a gold medal at the 2008 Empire State Summer Games, averaging 23.3 points over four contests, including 25 in the gold medal game … Coached at the Westchester Rising Stars Basketball Camp.

Jenkins started all 128 games he played in, missing just the 2007 Longwood clash due to the flu … Over his four seasons, Jenkins amassed 2,513 points, becoming only the 63rd player in NCAA history to reach the 2,500-point plateau … Shattered the old Hofstra scoring record, held by former teammate Antoine Agudio (2,276 points), and also finished fifth in school history with 489 assists, 213 steals and 177 three-pointers … His 2,513 points also rank second in Colonial Athletic Association history, behind only David Robinson of Navy (2,669) … His 746 points scored as a senior rank fifth and his 702 points in 2009-10 rank seventh on the school season-record chart … His 192 free throws made in 2008-09 placed fifth and his 182 as a senior rank eighth on Hofstra's annual record chart … Made 249 field goals in 2010-11, seventh-best in school annals, while his 66 three-pointers that year rank tied for eighth on the Pride's season-record list … Became only the third player in the 78-year history of the Haggerty Award to win it three times, joining Jim McMillian of Columbia (1968-70) and Chris Mullin of St. John's (1983-85).

Lettered three times in basketball at Springfield Gardens (Queens, N.Y.) High School, where he was named to the All-New York City team by the New York Post, and the All-Queens team by the Daily News … New York City Player of the Year Award recipient by Student-Athletes, Inc … Averaged 21.1 points, 7.2 assists and 5.1 rebounds as a senior … Averaged 14.5 points and 5.8 assists as a junior and 7.7 points and 5.6 assists as a sophomore … Helped Springfield Gardens to a combined 43-8 record over his final two seasons, while earning back-to-back team MVP Awards … An honor roll student in the classroom.

Business Education major … Born 2/28/89 … Resides in Springfield Gardens, New York.