Tech's Willie Jenkins to play pro basketball in Turkey
Willie Jenkins' life-long dream of playing professional basketball is coming true.
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Willie Jenkins' life-long dream of playing
professional basketball is coming true.
The former Tennessee Tech standout has signed a lucrative contract
to play professional basketball in Turkey.
Jenkins, a 6-foot-6 forward, inked with Tinar Karsiyaka, a
Division One team in the Turkish League that finished fifth in its
conference with a 16-10 overall record.
"The deal in Turkey is one of the best you can get out of
college," Jenkins told the Herald-Citizen. "I'm making a pretty
decent amount of money."
Jenkins' agent Michael Whittaker would not disclose the details of
his client's contract but did say that the Jenkins would be making
somewhere between $65,000 and $100,000 this season. Jenkins joins
the team that former Eastern Illinois star and Ohio Valley
Conference Player of the Year Henry Domercant has been playing on
since leaving EIU a couple of years ago.
"When Henry first signed, he made $65,000 straight out of
college," Whittaker said. "Willie is making more than that."
Before Jenkins can set his sights on heading overseas, his hopes
of playing in the NBA are still alive. The Philadelphia 76ers have
expressed an interest in Jenkins and he may have a chance to
compete for one of two roster spots Philly has open.
"My agent called me and told me about the deal in Turkey but then
he called right back and said Philadelphia had called him and
wanted to know if I could come to their mini-camp," Jenkins
recalled. "I will know in a week or two if they are going to invite
me to the mini-camp."
While waiting for his professional aspirations to get ironed out,
Jenkins spent a week in Bermuda with representatives from the
Boston Celtics and other professional athletes participating in a
type of outreach program.
"It was a great experience," Jenkins said. "It helped clear my
mind. There
wasn't a phone or TV, so all I could do was bond with the guys
from the NBA
who were over there. They kept telling me I can play in the
NBA."
Jenkins, who enjoyed a tremendous college career, has a viable NBA
resume.
After transferring to TTU from the University of Massachusetts,
Jenkins was named the 2004 Ohio Valley Conference Newcomer of the
Year after netting 19.5 points and grabbing 7.2 rebounds per
game.
As a senior, Jenkins was tabbed the 2005 OVC Player of the Year
after averaging nearly 20 points and seven boards a contest. He was
also named Honorable Mention AP All-American and NABC First Team
All-District. He is also the first Golden Eagle to get invited to
the prestigious Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, a tournament
that is essentially an NBA tryout camp, since Van Usher following
the 1991-92 campaign.
"Even if I go to Turkey, my NBA hopes are still alive," he said.
"If I have to go over there and then come back to the States and
try to make the NBA again, that's what I'm going to do."
Pending the outcome of the 76ers minicamp, Jenkins is scheduled to
leave for Turkey on August 22. He says he is going over there with
his own personal gameplan.
"I'm going over there to play basketball, get better and get
closer to God. I'm going to read my Bible every day."
For more information on the Turkish league, check out the website
eurobasket.com.
