Iona landed another quality area player when it signed St. Patrick guard Jermel Jenkins, the backcourt mate of North Carolina-bound junior guard Dexter Strickland.
A 5-foot-10 point guard, Jenkins averaged 14 points and seven assists last season when the Celtics finished 25-5 record and were ranked No. 10 nationally under head coach Kevin Boyle (above).
A quick, pass-oriented guard who can also play defense, Jenkins drew interest from La Salle, St. Bonaventure, Rice and New Mexico State.
Jenkins joins Don Bosco guard Kyle Smyth; Hackensack forward Keon Williams; St. Benedict’s guard Scott Machado; Cardozo guard Trinity Fields and 6-7 Derek Wolfley of Attica (NY) High. Iona will also add Seton Hall transfer Kashif Pratt and 6-11 Louisville transfer Jonathan Huffman this year.
Needless to say, the Gaels will be playing a four-guard lineup at times with Huffman.
We think Iona coach Kevin Willard and his staff deserve great credit for landing some talented area players.
