NBA Draft 2012 Prospect Profile: John Jenkins

Orlando Pinstriped Post turns its attention to the 2012 NBA Draft with a look at mid-tier draft prospects who might be available when the Orlando Magic select 19th overall. Previously in the series: Meyers Leonard, Terrence Jones, Arnett Moultrie, Moe Harkless, Doron Lamb, Tony Wroten, Jeffery Taylor, Andrew Nicholson, Marquis Teague, Kendall Marshall, Perry Jones, Royce White, and Fab Melo.

Shooting guard John Jenkins, who played three seasons with Vanderbilt, led the Commodores in scoring this past season, as the sharpshooting 6' 4", 212 pound Tennessee native averaged 19.9 points per game on 47.4% shooting, including 43.9% on three-pointers, and 83.7% from the free throw line while committing only 1.6 turnovers per game. Jenkins, who turned 21 years old in March, scored 20 or more points in 17 of 35 games, with a high game of 28 points on two occasions, and made 5 or more three-pointers in 9 games. Jenkins had one of his worst games in the Commodores' loss in the second round of the NCAA Tournament to Wisconsin, scoring 13 points on 3 of 13 shooting.

Jenkins' effective field goal percentage of 62.0% and true shooting percentage of 65.6% are darn near off-the-charts for a shooting guard, and his deadly outside shooting will give him a role in the NBA, writes hoopshype.com in their evaluation of Jenkins, and compares him to Orlando Magic shooting guard J.J. Redick.

Joe Treutlein of draftexpress.com writes how Jenkins is an interesting prospect because of his one potent skill, but his success will largely be dependent on where he's drafted due to his obvious limitations. Treutlein points out that Jenkins is a below average athlete and slightly undersized for the two-guard spot, and there are question marks about what else other than shooting he could consistently contribute with in the NBA. Defensively, Jenkins lacks the lateral quickness to consistently stay in front of guards, and it'll be likely be a struggle for him to ever be an average defender in the NBA.

Treutlein praises Jenkins' great mechanics and decision-making skills to get off high efficiency shots with ease, and his effort level and fundamentals on defense, even though he lacks athleticism to be a good defender.

If the Magic decide to deal Redick or move Jason Richardson to small forward, they would do well to consider drafting a dead-eye shooting guard like Jenkins, but he won't likely excel in any other area, and is below average athletically. It will be important for Jenkins' future success how he is utilized by his coach and the offensive scheme he plays in. According to Treutlein, if Jenkins could expand his passing game, it could be helpful to his long-term prospects, and would add to his outstanding perimeter shooting.