BY JEFF WALKER
A-J SPORTS EDITOR

Pat Knight has said that recruiting junior-college players will be a priority for his program. With two on this year’s team who figure to receive significant playing time — South Plains College’s Nick Okorie and Seward County (Kan.) Community College’s Darko Cohadarevic — Knight added another on Thursday when a 6-foot-7 forward from Mississippi gave Texas Tech an oral commitment.

Theron Jenkins is the newest Red Raider in waiting, coming to Lubbock next season from Itawamba Community College in Fulton, Miss.

“I just felt like it was the best place for me to go,” said Jenkins, who will have two years of remaining eligibility at Tech. “I had narrowed my schools down to Texas Tech and Nebraska and I feel like Tech is the place where I can do what I need to do.”

Jenkins helped the Indians reach the National Junior College Athletic Association Tournament last year. ICC, seeded fifth, was eliminated by second-seeded Chipola in the third round to finish with a 30-4 record.

Jenkins played in all 34 games last season, averaging 7.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.5 steals per game. He shot 50 percent (93 of 185) from the field and 37.2 percent (29 of 78) from 3-point range.

“I think he’s going to be something that Texas Tech doesn’t have,” ICC head coach Marty Cooper said. “He’s long, but he can also make shots. He can block shots on defense and he’s really athletic.”

Cooper said Jenkins was a role player last season playing behind five starting sophomores, but his playing time increased throughout the season.

One of Jenkins’ teammates, Anthony Brock, signed with Alabama this year, while another, Sergio Kerusch, joined Western Kentucky.

Itawamba is ranked No. 12 in the preseason NJCAA poll. South Plains, the defending NJCAA national champion, is No. 18.

“This year, he’s going to be our guy,” Cooper said. “If he doesn’t average about 16 to 20 points, we’re not going to be the No. 12 team in the country for long.

“The thing about him, though, is he’s not just a shooter. He can pass, too, and he’s really improved since high school.”

Oral commitments are non-binding. Jenkins said he plans to sign during the early period in November.

To comment on this story:
jeff.walker@lubbockonline.com uE074 766-8735
terry.greenberg@lubbockonline.com uE074 766-8700