Horace Jenkins Jr.

Horace Jenkins Jr. was born 10-14-74 in Elizabeth “Eastwick” New Jersey to Horace and Jean Jenkins. He was born into an athletic family as his father ran track and his uncles excelled in basketball, baseball and football.

Horace began playing organized sports when he was 10 years old. Horace played pop Warner football for Elizabeth P.A.L. where he played running back and corner back and excelled at both. People who grew up with Horace and know him personally think that he’s just as good football player as he is a basketball player, most people think that he may even be better in football and always wonder what it would have been like if he had stuck to football.

Horace didn’t start playing organized basketball until the 8th grade. He played for Grover Cleveland middle school and after 1 year of organized basketball hoops became his true passion! Horace began to really focus on strictly basketball helping his freshman team go 22-1 while he averaged 12 points and 4 assist per game. The following year as a sophomore he helped his team conquer the Union County Junior Varsity Championship. As a junior his role was delegated to a back up and Horace really didn’t see a lot of playing time but gained a valuable experience and allowed that to be his teacher. That made Horace a much better person and player fueling him to come back the following year with a vengeance. Unfortunately Horace was academically ineligible and was not able to play his senior year. In Horace’s eyes that was another valuable lesson which taught him a lot about himself.

After graduating in 1993 Horace enrolled into Union County College he majored in Business Management and stared on the Owls basketball Team where he averaged 19.7 points, 4.0 assist and 3.7 steals! Déjà vu began to set in on Horace as his grades began to slip and so did his focus. This was all due to the birth of his now 13 year old son Hakeem Jamar Jenkins. Horace’s focus began to shift totally to Hakeem and being the best father that he could be to his child.
While Horace worked to support his family he lit up leagues everywhere and along the way had some stellar standout performances. In the Jersey Shore Basketball Summer League Horace scored 49 points, had 9 assist, 6 steals, and had 9 rebounds against Duke Universities Jason Williams. In 6 years in the Jersey Shore League Horace averaged 36.3 points, 8 assist, and 7 rebounds. He also won 3 championships, had 2 seasons where he averaged over 40 and most of all twice won MVP honors. Horace also played in the East Orange Pro- Am Summer League for 8 years and his career numbers there are an astounding 35 points, 6 assist, and 5 rebounds. In the East Orange Pro-Am Horace has 4 championships, 3 seasons of over 40 points a game, 1 of those 40 point seasons was 46.5 and most of all 3 MVP’s!

Horace destiny began in Branch Brook Park, Newark where he dominated his competition and earned championships. His skills caught the eye of his college coach Jose Rebimbas who used Branch Brook to scout talent for William Paterson University. After Jose saw Horace playing and the two were introduced the rest was history. Horace led William Paterson to 2 final four appearances, 1 national championship appearances, 3 sweet 16 appearances, 2 NJAC Championships. He was nationally Ranked/most notably number 1 and received national exposure from sports and news organizations placing him on the NBA radar! After a few year of playing play overseas, Horace was invited to play summer league ball with the Detroit Pistons. He took full advantage of the opportunity playing really well and grabbing the attention of Detroit’s president of basketball operations, Joe Dumars. Horace fondest memory is being apart of the NBA finals atmosphere and coming so close to getting a NBA ring and Championship.

After the NBA, Horace went to Israel to play for Hapoel Migdal Jerusalem. He had a standout year winning the Israeli cup and averaging 19 points, 3 assist, and 3 steals. Horace finished 2nd in the MVP voting, 1st in Scoring at 22 points a Israeli Championship and also the Uleb cup Final Four! The following year he went to play for Efes Pilsen for Turkey. With Efes Pilsen Horace led his team in scoring in the Euro league which happens to be the 2nd best league to the NBA with 15 points, 2.7. Assist and 2 steals. He also led them to the top 16 of the Euro league and won the presidents Cup of Turkey and was name the MVP of that game. Horace is currently playing in Italy again with Upim Forutudo Bologna and is having a solid season so far. In the Italian league he’s averaging 17.5 points, 3 assist and 2 steals and in the Uleb cup was averaging 23.5 points, 3.7 assist and 3 steals. Horace is married and has 6 beautiful children 2 boys and 4 girls.

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