John Jenkins might have been in his future home city when he participated in the NBA Draft Combine last week in Chicago.

The former Station Camp and Vanderbilt standout was one of 60 players invited to the annual event, held this year at the University of Illinois Chicago. Many of those that cover the NBA have Jenkins slated as the No. 29 overall pick for the June 28 draft, which would make him a member of the Chicago Bulls.

“You see Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen all those names and all the great coaches and of course the championship banners it’s definitely motivation for me. I would love to play for the Bulls,” Jenkins said during a media session at the Combine.

Jenkins’ measurables at the Combine were 6-4.25 inches with shoes, 212 pounds, a 6-8.5 wingspan, an 8.3-5 reach, 7.1 percent body fat and a hand length and width of nine inches.

He is considered by most to be the top shooter in this year’s draft class. Click here to read what Ed Isaacson of NBADraftBlog.com said to The Standard about Jenkins post Combine.

The SEC Tournament MVP this season, Jenkins led the league in scoring the past two seasons and led the nation in 3-pointers made per game (3.8) while shooting 44 percent from beyond the arc last season.

“I think every shooting guard’s going to say they’re the best shooter but I definitely work at it to be the best,” he said.

NBADraft.net, which compares Jenkins to Dell Curry and J.J. Reddick, said of Jenkins at the Combine: John Jenkins was also lights out during the 3-point drill. His best moment was in an isolation on the wing where he tool Orlando Johnson off the dribble, pulled back, knocked his defender off balance and nailed a midrange jumper.

“He’s a role player. You bring him in to hit jump shots,” ESPN’s Chad Ford said during the ESPNU coverage of the Combine.

The book on Jenkins is good range and a quick release, and Fran Fraschilla during ESPNU’s coverage called him the “ultimate specialty player.” Dime magazine rated him the top shooter in this year’s draft class but also noted he needed to “develop more of a slashing game” and if he can play enough defense “he could develop into a wonderful role player.”

“My thing in these workouts is basically focusing on two things: making shots and playing defense,” Jenkins said.

He added that he thought his ball handling was one knock his game has taken.

“But now that I handle the ball in workouts I think perception’s starting to change on that a little bit,” Jenkins said. “I can handle the ball a little bit and I’m definitely a willing defender. I’m a good leader and guys are starting to notice that in these workouts.”

“Obviously, he’s an incredible shooter, you hear so many people saying he’s the best shooter in the country. I think that’s fair, but just seeing other areas of his game develop has been the biggest highlight for me,” his high school coach, Seth Massey, said earlier this spring.

Jenkins was one of three Vanderbilt players invited to this year’s Combine. Also attending were Festus Ezeli and Jeffrey Taylor. 

— Corby A. Yarbrough, Sports Editor
@Corby_Yarbrough on Twitter
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