Leonard "Buck" Jenkins (born February 15, 1971)[1] is an American basketball coach and former professional player who is the head coach of the boys varsity team at the Riverwood International Charter School. He played college basketball for the Columbia Lions and is the program's all-time leading scorer.[2]
Riverwood International Charter School | |
---|---|
Position | Head coach |
Personal information | |
Born | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | February 15, 1971
Listed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
Career information | |
High school | Woodbridge (Woodbridge Township, New Jersey) |
College | Columbia (1989–1993) |
NBA draft | 1993: undrafted |
Position | Guard |
Career history | |
As coach: | |
2010–present | Riverwood International Charter School |
Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Playing career
editJenkins was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[1] He attended Woodbridge High School in Woodbridge Township, New Jersey,[3] where he is the school's all-time leading scorer.[4]
Jenkins played for the Columbia Lions from 1989 to 1993. He was the Lions' leading scorer in his three final seasons and was named to the first-team All-Ivy League each time.[2] Jenkins was selected as the Ivy League Men's Basketball Co-Player of the Year in 1993 alongside Jerome Allen of the Penn Quakers.[4] He set a Lions record when he scored 47 points during a game against the Harvard Crimson on February 15, 1991.[2] Jenkins' 1,767 career points are the most by a male Lions player.[2][a] He was inducted into the Columbia Athletics Hall of Fame in 2008.[2]
Jenkins played professionally in Europe for two seasons.[2]
Coaching career
editJenkins worked as an assistant coach for the Columbia Lions after his playing career.[2] He worked for the youth development program Inner Strength, Inc. in Georgia.[2]
Jenkins served as the head coach of the boys junior varsity basketball team at Riverwood International Charter School from 2008 to 2010. He was promoted to the position of boys varsity basketball head coach in 2010.[6]
Coach Jenkins was named Region Coach of the year for the 2023-24 basketball season. He was previously named Region Coach of the Year in 2016. <https://patch.com/georgia/sandysprings/jenkins-named-riverwoods-2016-coach-year></ref>
On Friday, March 8, 2024, Jenkins led the RICS Raiders to their first state championship over the defending 2023 state champions, Alexander High School (Douglasville, GA), by a score of 67-63 in overtime at the Macon (GA) Coliseum. <https://www.ajc.com/sports/high-school-sports-blog/class-6a-boys-riverwood-67-alexander-63-ot/PNXUMZRF5ZALBHCSFZTLPEF2CA/#:~:text=The%20Riverwood%20basketball%20teams%20stands,2024%20at%20the%20Macon%20Coliseum></ref>
Personal life
editJenkins is married (1998) to Lydia (Francis) who is also a graduate of Columbia University. They have two children. Son, Elijah, played college basketball for the Embry–Riddle Eagles.[7] Elijah currently plays for the German Club ~ Deutzer TV in Cologne. https://erauathletics.com/news/2022/9/19/mens-basketball-jenkins-inks-contract-with-german-club-deutzer-tv.aspx Their daughter, Nailah, played volleyball for the Northeastern Huskies[8] and played a fifth year as a graduate student at Fordham University. https://amsterdamnews.com/news/2023/09/14/nailah-jenkins-finds-fresh-inspiration-at-fordham/ Both children graduated from their respective undergraduate universities and are currently working on graduate degrees.
Notes
edit- ^ Jenkins held the overall Columbia basketball record until he was surpassed by Camille Zimmerman in 2018.[5]
References
edit- ^ a b "Buck Jenkins". New-York Historical Society Museum & Library. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Buck Jenkins". Columbia-Barnard Athletic Consortium. October 2, 2008. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
- ^ "Woodbridge High School". Woodbridge High School. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
- ^ a b Tydings, Sam (August 14, 2015). "Columbia all-time moment No. 6: Buck Jenkins named '93 POY, sets school scoring record". Ivy Hoops Online. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
- ^ "Zimmerman Passes Jenkins for Basketball Scoring Record". Columbia-Barnard Athletic Consortium. January 20, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
- ^ "Buck Jenkins". Riverwood Athletics. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
- ^ "Elijah Jenins". Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
- ^ "Nailah Jenkins". Northeastern University Athletics. Retrieved July 21, 2021.