UPDATE: Former USC star Jordyn Jenkins announced her commitment to the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA).
In 2022, as usual, the NCAA Transfer Portal is overflowing with players (almost 1100 players, at last count).
Last year, Washington added grad transfer Nancy Mulkey, as well as, transfers Lauren Schwartz and Trinity Oliver — players that started the majority of UW’s games during the 2021-22 season.
Truly valuable PAC-12-level talent is always hard to find in the Portal, but the Huskies have at least one glaring need begging for a solution from the transfer list.
Washington Needs an Effective Post Centerpiece
The Washington Huskies face an upcoming 2022-23 season without center Nancy Mulkey as the centerpiece.
Mulkey’s biggest and (most eye-catching) contribution “down-low” was on defense as a shot-blocker.
UW Head Coach Tina Langley’s offense mostly positioned Mulkey at the high post and (straightaway) beyond the three-point arc.
However, Mulkey was efficient around the basket — 66.7% shooting within four feet of the rim and 41.2% on shots in the paint.
Langley’s offense does not necessarily require a low-post bruiser, but paint efficiency is sorely needed.
As a team, UW made only 36.6% of their shot attempts in the paint.
Unfortunately, when Alexis Whitfield recently transferred from the program, she took her offensive paint efficiency with her — 50% shooting in the paint and 52% at the rim — and left UW thin in frontcourt players.
Currently, Darcy Rees is UW’s only option at center.
Rees is at her best when playing both inside and outside offensively, incorporating her three-point shot (50% at the right wing) , as well as, posting up occasionally (77.8% shooting within four feet of the rim, but only 25% in the paint).
Besides Rees, Haley Van Dyke is the only other frontcourt player, although she plays mostly at wing on offense — she shoots 62.5% within four feet of the rim and 30.8% in the paint.
Washington’s roster could use a versatile, talented 6″2 big ; who is an efficient rebounder and inside scorer that can also help protect the rim — that player is Jordyn Jenkins.
Local Product Makes Good
Jordyn Jenkins was a five-star high school recruit out of Kent, WA (Kentridge High School) in the Class of 2020.
Jenkins teamed with former UW player Quay Miller to win a Washington state high school championship.
As a high school senior, Jordyn was The Seattle Times state player of the year, averaging 21.5 points and 9.2 rebounds per game.
Jenkins was 78-11 in her three years playing at Kentridge and committed to USC over Washington.
Jenkins is Efficient and Deadly
During PAC-12 play, Jordyn Jenkins averaged 17.9 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, as a sophomore.
She is the only PAC-12 player ranked in the Top 10 in both statistical categories for the 2021-22 season.
Over the entire season, Jenkins shot 52.2% shooting from the field overall; including, 52.5% on two-pointers and 40% from behind the three-point line.
Inside the paint, Jordyn Jenkins made 42.2% of her shots and 57.3% within four feet of the rim.
Jenkins’ toughness and excellent footwork leads to her superior ability to finish in traffic, even against larger players.
.@jordyn_jenkinss gets the and-1!
📺: Pac-12 Network
📲: https://t.co/IZ1xmJ77oO pic.twitter.com/MyRVEvtL1i— USC Women's Basketball (@USCWBB) February 7, 2022
Jenkins also has an underrated ability to draw contact in the paint, as her nearly six free throw attempts per game in conference play ranks third in the Pac-12.
Combined with her free-throw shooting proficiency, almost 30% of her offensive production came from the charity stripe this season.
As an added bonus, Jenkins is a very respectable 6-for-15 from 3-point range this season, albeit the limited sample size.
JORDY FOR 3@jordyn_jenkinss has 21 points now and we've re-taken the lead!
📺: Pac-12 Washington
📲: https://t.co/Shf99wW9GP pic.twitter.com/as8H4bBGkT— USC Women's Basketball (@USCWBB) February 12, 2022
Jordyn’s all-around stellar performance earned her PAC-12 conference recognition on the All-Pac-12 team and as Co-Most Improved Player.
#Pac12WBB Co-Most Improved Player of the Year, presented by @Nextiva: Jordyn Jenkins. ✌️
Full release ➡️ https://t.co/5rMSUS9Whn#FightOn | @USCWBB pic.twitter.com/3pJZk18p3k
— Pac-12 Conference (@pac12) March 1, 2022
More impressive, Jenkins received her significant PAC-12 accolades as only a sophomore.
Playing at an elite level so early in her career suggests Jenkins will continue to improve over her remaining two seasons, as she matures physically and mentally.
All signs point to Jordyn continuing to improve with seemingly unlimited potential.
A Permanent Homecourt Advantage at Washington?
Coming home to play for the Huskies at the iconic Hec Edmundson Pavilion could be an added bonus for Jenkins.
Jenkins recently played at Washington on February 11th and quickly made herself right at home.
At Hec-Ed versus UW, Jordyn Jenkins tallied 29 points and 15 rebounds, both career-highs.
Performing in front of her family and friends on a regular basis could provide a natural boost for the Washington native’s play.
The hometown kid was cooking tonight! 👩🍳
Jordyn Jenkins joined the broadcast after her career night helped give @USCWBB the victory in Seattle.#FightOn | #Pac12WBB | @ZayoGroup pic.twitter.com/xfrlUAq5JY
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) February 12, 2022