Charles Jenkins showed yesterday why he has garnered national attention, and might be a lottery pick in this year’s NBA Draft. The senior guard from Queens scored 21 points and helped Hofstra cruise to its sixth straight conference win, 79-60 over Delaware in Hempstead, N.Y.
The reigning Colonial Athletic Association player of the year, Jenkins became the fourth Hofstra basketball player to have his jersey retired, and the first while still active. He also increased his career point total to 2,441 — the most by any active player in the nation, as well as the most in Hofstra History.
Fellow seniors Brad Kelleher and Greg Washington, who also were honored before the game, each added 12 points for the Pride (20-10, 14-4). Washington, who has known Jenkins for five years and rooms with him, had high praise for his friend and teammate.
“I don’t think any other person would be able to do what he did. He earned every bit of respect from this league and this nation,” Washington said. “The sky is the limit for him. I’m just glad that he’s on our side.”
Jenkins also ranks second in points in CAA history behind only David Robinson (Navy) and was also one of 30 players on the list for the Naismith Award, which goes to the best collegiate player in the nation. But he hasn’t let all of that go to his head.
“I definitely know how it feels to be the one that no one knows,” Jenkins said. “Now that people know me, I’m not gonna change, I’m gonna continue to work hard and be the person that I can be.”
Jenkins, who had to red-shirt the 2006-2007 season, chose number 22 to honor his brother, who was 22 years old when he died in 2001 after being shot. He was very emotional and said he thought of his brother as his number was being retired before the game.
“I haven’t been this nervous since I was a freshman,” Jenkins said after the game. “I was too busy thinking that this was gonna be my last game. I stay here every summer just to stay in the gym. It was hard for me to play knowing that it was my last game, but I still had to be a competitor. I think I’m starting to appreciate it now because we won.”
Many in the sellout crowd of 5,050 arrived early at the David S. Mack complex, to watch Jenkins warm up. He did not disappoint, shooting 8-of-18 from the field, and scoring 20 or more points for the 22nd time in 30 games this season. Jenkins was averaging 23.3 points per game before yesterday’s games, which was ranked sixth in the nation.
Delaware (13-16, 8-10) was led by Jawan Carter, who scored 21 points.
Hofstra overcame a sluggish start to break open the game in the early part of the second half. After only leading by seven at the break, the Pride got buckets from Jenkins as well as Washington and Kelleher, to make it a 20-point lead midway through the second half.
Hofstra clinched the No. 3 seed and a bye in the CAA Tournament next week and will open tournament play on Saturday against the winner of Friday’s game between James Madison and William & Mary. The Pride beat William & Mary twice this season and won their only meeting with James Madison.
Jenkins said he hopes to add at least three more wins to his senior season, because that would mean a trip to the NCAA Tournament for the Pride, something they have not achieved since 2001.
“That’s the ultimate dream,” he said. “It’s been a long time coming since Hofstra’s been in the NCAA tournament. I think that would definitely sum up my season and my whole career at Hofstra.”