Horace Jenkins facts for kids
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 14, 1974 Elizabeth, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| High school | Elizabeth (Elizabeth, New Jersey) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Listed weight | 180 lb (82 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College |
|
| NBA Draft | 2001 / Undrafted |
| Pro career | 2001–2009 |
| Career history | |
| 2001–2002 | C.S. Borgomanero |
| 2002–2003 | Virtus Roma |
| 2003–2004 | AEK Athens |
| 2004–2005 | Detroit Pistons |
| 2005–2006 | Hapoel Jerusalem |
| 2006–2007 | Efes Pilsen |
| 2007 | Hapoel Jerusalem |
| 2007–2008 | Fortitudo Bologna |
| 2008–2009 | Juvecaserta Basket |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
Horace Jenkins, born on October 14, 1974, is a former professional basketball player from America. He played for teams in the NBA, which is a major league in the United States, and also for teams in Europe and Israel.
Contents
Early Life and High School
Horace Jenkins went to Elizabeth High School in New Jersey. He finished school there in 1993.
College Basketball Journey
Starting at Union County College
Jenkins played basketball for one season at Union County College. He then took a break from college to be with his family after his son, Hakeem, was born.
Working and Returning to College
For the next three and a half years, Horace worked hard. He had jobs with the United States Postal Service, as an electrician, and even on a garbage truck. He saved up money because he really wanted to go back to college and play basketball again.
Success at William Paterson University
When he returned to college, Jenkins played for William Paterson University. He became a star player there.
- He was named the Division III Player of the Year three times (in 1999, 2000, and 2001).
- He was also chosen as a Division III All-American three times.
- Jenkins set many school records during his time at William Paterson.
- In 2001, he won the ESPN NCAA dunk contest. He beat Jeff Trepagnier, a famous player from a bigger college division. Jenkins, who is 6-foot-1-inch (1.85 m) tall, won with an amazing dunk from the foul line.
Professional Basketball Career
Starting in Europe
After college, Jenkins tried to join the NBA. He went to three NBA tryout camps in 2001, but no team chose him in the 2001 NBA draft. He then joined the Orlando Magic for a rookie camp. He was invited to their main training camp but decided to play overseas instead.
In 2001, he signed a one-year contract with Cimberio Borgomanero, a team in Italy's second basketball league. He also played in the NBA Summer League with the New York Knicks in 2002 and the Seattle SuperSonics in 2003.
Joining the Detroit Pistons
Horace Jenkins got his big chance in the NBA in the summer of 2004. He played in the NBA Summer League with the Detroit Pistons. Before that, he was playing for AEK Athens in Greece. The Pistons' team president, Joe Dumars, saw Jenkins playing while watching videos of another player.
Jenkins had been playing very well in Europe. He averaged 20.1 points, 3.3 assists, and 1.8 steals per game in 12 EuroLeague games with AEK Athens. Dumars was impressed and invited Jenkins to the Pistons' summer camp in 2004. Jenkins played well in the camp, averaging 8.2 points and 2.8 assists in 5 games. This was enough for the Pistons to offer him a guaranteed one-year contract, which he signed on August 4, 2004.
Playing in the NBA
Jenkins started the 2004–05 NBA season on the injured list. However, he did play in 15 NBA games that season. He was on the bench when the Pistons raised their 2004 championship banner. He also saw the famous "Pacers–Pistons brawl" from the sidelines.
- His NBA debut was a short two-minute appearance against the San Antonio Spurs.
- The very next night, he scored 9 points against the New Orleans Hornets.
- On December 10, 2004, Jenkins scored a career-high 10 points against the Atlanta Hawks. He was one of only three Pistons players to score double figures in that game.
- He scored 2 points in his home state of New Jersey against the Nets on February 5, 2005.
- Five nights later, in a rematch of the 2004 NBA Finals, Jenkins scored 8 points in just 6 minutes against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Jenkins' final NBA game was on April 20, 2005. He scored 6 points, grabbed 2 rebounds, and had 1 steal in 20 minutes of playing time against the Charlotte Bobcats. This was the most time he ever played in a single NBA game.
Even though he wasn't on the playoff roster, the Pistons reached the NBA Finals for the second year in a row. Horace Jenkins was known for being one of the oldest rookies in the NBA. His life story, about working hard to support his family and playing in Europe before signing his first NBA contract at age 29, was featured on ABC during the 2005 NBA Finals.
Return to Europe and Israel
In 2005, Jenkins signed with Hapoel Jerusalem B.C., a team in Israel. He quickly became the team's star player. He helped lead them to the semifinals of the EuroCup and to the finals of the Israeli League.
In the summer of 2006, he joined Efes Pilsen, a major team in the Turkish League. In the middle of the 2006–07 season, he returned to Hapoel Jerusalem. He helped the team reach the Israeli league Final Four, where they lost to their rivals, Maccabi Tel Aviv. On August 3, 2007, Jenkins signed a one-year contract with Climamio Bologna in the Italian League.
Awards and Accomplishments
- NABC NCAA Division III Player of the Year: 2000–01
- EuroLeague MVP of the Round: 2003–04 Regular season Round 13
- ULEB Cup Top Scorer: 2005–06
- Most points per game in the 2005–06 ULEB Cup: 20.4
See also
In Spanish: Horace Jenkins para niños
