St. John's alum Daniss Jenkins impressed by Rick Pitino's new Red Storm squad
Former St. John's guard Daniss Jenkins returns to the court to practice with the current team during an open practice preparing for the upcoming season on Wednesday at Carnesecca Arena. Credit: Dawn McCormick
Fresh off signing a two-way contract with the Detroit Pistons and a strong performance in the NBA Summer League, Daniss Jenkins was back on the St. John’s campus Wednesday and worked out with the Red Storm in some highly competitive short 5-on-5 games.
He liked what he went up against.
“They play really hard and the guards are really tough-minded and you need that,” Jenkins said of Kadary Richmond, Deivon Smith and Simeon Wilcher. “The way the guards compete on defense and make the tough play on offense, it’s going to make everyone else want to rise to the occasion. Tough guards are going to win you games.”
“They have size and speed and Coach P has them getting after it,” he added.
Coach Rick Pitino said of this season’s team it’s “the most talent I’ve had since the Louisville days in terms of depth, athleticism and speed.”
The former Storm star wasn’t about to disagree but pointed out that it’s hard to get a true feel with RJ Luis Jr. not yet cleared for contact after surgeries for shin splints, Ruben Prey and Lefteris Liotopoulos still not on campus and freshman Jaiden Glover just out of an arm cast.
If there is one aspect that intrigues Jenkins, it’s who will take the role he had last season as the team leader.
“At some point somebody’s got to emerge as a leader and bring it all together . . . and make this train run,” Jenkins said. “They look like they have all the pieces for a great season, but someone has to [seize] that spot.”
There are four players back from last season’s rotation – Wilcher, Brady Dunlap, Zuby Ejiofor and Luis – but Pitino also brought in fifth-year transfers Richmond from Seton Hall and Smith from Utah. Jenkins suggested Wilcher has the potential.
“He can be a good as he wants to be – it’ll just come down to how bad he wants it,” Jenkins said. “He will be more of a focal point this season and maybe he emerges.”
Jenkins averaged 9.6 points, 3.8 assists and 3.6 rebounds in five Summer League games and will report with the Pistons on Aug. 19.
Roger Rubin returned to Newsday in 2018 to write about high schools, colleges and baseball following 20 years at the Daily News. A Baseball Hall of Fame voter since 2011, he has covered 13 MLB postseasons and 14 NCAA Final Fours.