Cork Basketball: Sean Jenkins delivered another brilliant display on the biggest stage

CORK native Sean Jenkins had a stellar year with Dublin club Griffith College Eanna, leading them to their first InsureVan.ie Men’s Super League title by bagging 24 points in the final against Killester. 

He was the MVP in that decider and also led his college Tallaght University Dublin to the Varsity final, averaging over 20 points by playing 20 minutes per game and was named on the All-Star five in the tournament. He capped off his amazing season by being picked by his peers in the second Super League All-Star five. Jenkins and Killester's Paul Dick were the only two Irish players chosen, the other 13 players slots taken by American and European players.

Even better was the call from the Irish coach Mark Keenan to join their upcoming tour of Los Angeles, which gives him the perfect opportunity to be selected for the next two Euro Basket windows.

The former Neptune underage dynamo returned to Ireland two years ago after spending five years on scholarship in America. Though he had plenty of offers to play in the Super League, Eanna was a perfect fit.

"To be honest I am delighted with the way the season went. It took me most of last season to try get over an ankle injury that I picked up in the States. I then injured my groin, which needed surgery to repair the damage and the recovery period after the surgery really tested me both mentally and physically. 

"I had to basically learn to walk again. I am very grateful to all my teammates and coaches as they were there for me, always encouraging and inspiring me to get back on the court.

I really think that the league has improved a lot since I played with Neptune, as the standard of the Americans are more athletic and there are a lot more top European players playing with different clubs now. 

"So every time I go on the floor I need to be at my best in every game, as I could be guarding a different American or European player on any given night."

Jenkins is always a player that I liked as a coach, as I watched him develop into a gifted baller and an even better young man, which is a credit to his mother Angelene Myers. He always had a great work ethic and an incredible basketball IQ. He had the ability to always make the right plays at key moments and led Neptune National Cup honours at U18, U20 and in Division 1, bagging MVP trophies to boot.

"On my return from the States I always knew that I could score the ball in any situation on the court. I also knew that I needed to improve my defensive awareness and skills if I was to compete. 

CHANGE

"The other big transition was I had to get used to training with my team three nights a week rather than every day in the States, so I worked out every morning myself, lifting weights early and then working on all aspects of my game. 

"I was always able to use the facilities in my downtime in the gym at my college TUD and it gave me the opportunity to get some shots up or practice my defensive skills."

He also does a lot of coaching within the club and which he finds very rewarding. 

"I coach a lot of different age groups and I have really connected with all the younger players. It also gives me a chance to give something back to the club as they made me feel very welcome from the get-go.

"At the moment I’m just after being called up to the Irish squad for the trip to Los Angeles so I am eager to make a positive impression. It is always an honour to represent your country as I played with the U16 and U18 teams in the European Championships in the past, so I’m really excited to be wearing the green jersey this summer."

He is mulling over some offers to play professionally in Europe. 

"The first thing is to get an agent to give me the right advice. Then I will make a decision, however, it is an ambition of mine to play professionally but I am leaning on playing another season with Eanna."