Rick Pitino lands first St. John’s recruit with Iona transfer Daniss Jenkins
After losing one Iona University star earlier in the week, a different one is following Rick Pitino to Queens.
nypost.com
By Zach Braziller
Rick Pitino is on the board.
After losing one Iona University star earlier in the week, a different one is following the coach to St. John’s.
Daniss Jenkins verbally committed to St. John’s on Thursday, becoming Pitino’s first recruit at the Queens school.
Jenkins was an All-MAAC second-team selection last season after averaging 15.6 points, 4.9 assists and 4.4 rebounds and shooting 36.1 percent from 3-point range, as he helped Iona win the MAAC regular-season and postseason titles.
Coach P took care of me here at Iona. I had one of the best years of my college career with him,” Jenkins told The Post. “It was a no-brainer to go be with him for my last year of eligibility.”
The 6-foot-3 Jenkins heard from a number of schools, such as Ohio State, SMU and Wichita State, but was set on finishing his college career with Pitino.
The Dallas native took an official visit, with MAAC Player of the Year Walter Clayton, to St. John’s last weekend.
On Tuesday, Clayton chose to transfer to Florida.
That decision didn’t sway Jenkins.
He told Pitino during the visit he was fully committed to him, and the Hall of Fame coach responded: “DJ, I would love to have you as my point guard.”
Jenkins spent two years at the junior college level, and was ranked third nationally among JUCO prospects by JUCORecruiting.com.
He was being recruited by the likes of Texas Tech and Iowa State when he picked Iona.
He has one year of eligibility left.
“I think that’s a good get for them,” a MAAC coach familiar with Jenkins said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Combo guard, good feel for the game, can score the basketball. He’s obviously not a MAAC-level player. He’s a quality piece.”
Jenkins joins standout center Joel Soriano and forwards Mohamed Keita and Drissa Traore on the St. John’s roster.
Pitino and his staff are involved with a number of players to add to the team, such as transfers Chris Ledlum (Harvard), Cormac Ryan (Notre Dame), Noah Thomasson (Niagara) and Sean Conway (VMI).
Conway will make an official visit this weekend, along with Iona transfer Cruz Davis.
St. John’s is also in the final five for four-star recruit and former Notre Dame signee Brady Dunlap.
Ledlum will be visiting on Sunday and Monday.
Jenkins’ commitment could help with Thomasson, a high-scoring guard who will be visiting St. John’s at the end of the month.
The two Texans have known each other since high school.
“My brother,” Thomasson tweeted in response to Jenkins’ commitment, along with three emojis: eyes, heart and a storm cloud.
“We’re definitely talking,” Jenkins said, “and I’m definitely telling him how great of an opportunity this would be for us in the backcourt to play together.”
