Horace Jenkins facts for kids
Horace Jenkins (born October 14, 1974) is an American former professional basketball player. He played for teams in the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the United States, and also for several teams in Europe and Israel. His journey to becoming a professional player was quite unique, showing that hard work and determination can help you achieve your dreams.
| 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 | |
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Contents
Horace Jenkins: A Basketball Journey
Early Life and High School Basketball
Horace Jenkins was born on October 14, 1974. He grew up in Elizabeth, New Jersey. He attended Elizabeth High School and graduated in 1993.
College Career and Big Dreams
After high school, Horace 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. For the next three and a half years, Jenkins worked hard at different jobs. He worked for the United States Postal Service, as an electrician, and even on a garbage truck.
Once he saved enough money, he decided to go back to college and play basketball again. He joined William Paterson University. There, he became a star player. He was named the Division III Player of the Year three times (in 1999, 2000, and 2001). He also earned the title of Division III All-American three times. Jenkins set many school records and was also named the 2001 Basketball Times Division III Player of the Year.
In 2001, Jenkins won the ESPN NCAA dunk contest. He beat Jeff Trepagnier, a famous dunker from Division I. Jenkins, who is 6 feet 1 inch tall, finished the contest with an amazing dunk from the foul line.
Becoming a Pro Basketball Player
After college, Horace Jenkins tried to join the NBA. He went to three NBA pre-draft camps, but no team chose him in the 2001 NBA draft. In the summer of 2001, he joined the rookie camp for the Orlando Magic. He was even invited to their training camp. However, he decided to sign a one-year contract with Cimberio Borgomanero, a team in Italy's second basketball league.
Jenkins continued to try for the NBA. He played in the NBA Summer League with the New York Knicks in 2002 and with the Seattle SuperSonics in 2003.
Playing in the NBA: The Detroit Pistons
Horace Jenkins finally got his big chance in the summer of 2004. He played in the NBA Summer League with the Detroit Pistons. The Pistons' President, Joe Dumars, saw Jenkins playing while watching videos of another player. Jenkins had been playing really well for AEK Athens in Greece. He averaged 20.1 points, 3.3 assists, and 1.8 steals per game in the EuroLeague.
Dumars was impressed and invited Jenkins to the Pistons' summer camp in 2004. Jenkins played well, 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. He signed it on August 4, 2004, at the age of 29.
Jenkins started the 2004–05 NBA season on the injured list. But he did play in 15 NBA games. He was even on the bench when the Pistons raised their 2004 championship banner. He also saw the famous Pacers–Pistons brawl from the sidelines.
His first NBA game 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 his career-high of 10 points against the Atlanta Hawks. He was one of only three Pistons players to score double figures in that game.
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. This was the most minutes he ever played in an 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 overseas before reaching the NBA, was even featured on ABC during the 2005 NBA Finals.
Playing Overseas: Europe and Israel
In 2005, Jenkins signed a contract with the Israeli team Hapoel Jerusalem. He quickly became the team's star player. He led them to the semifinals of the ULEB Cup (now called the EuroCup) and to the finals of the Israeli League.
In the summer of 2006, he joined Efes Pilsen, a big team in Turkey. 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 the Italian team Climamio Bologna. He also played for Juvecaserta Basket before ending his professional career in 2009.
Awards and Achievements
Horace Jenkins earned several important awards during his basketball career:
- NABC NCAA Division III Player of the Year: 2000–01 season
- EuroLeague MVP of the Round: 2003–04 Euroleague Regular season Round 13
- ULEB Cup Top Scorer: 2005–06 season
- Most points per game in the 2005–06 ULEB Cup: 20.4
See also
In Spanish: Horace Jenkins para niños
