St. Bonaventure basketball junior takes on the Questions

Each week, CatholicSportsNet.com will be getting to know a new student-athlete from around the country, by asking him/her a series of 20 questions - some in-depth, some lighthearted - that will provide insight into the thoughts and personalities of the men and women who are doing great things on and off the courts, fields, tracks, and courses.

As a senior at Marion Harding High School in Ohio, St. Bonaventure junior Jessica Jenkins was an advanced tennis player. She was even named the GBC Tennis Player of the Year during her final season of competition.

But Jenkins ultimately decided to play college basketball instead of pursuing tennis, and it appears she made a great decision.

Earning her spot in the Bonnies' starting lineup as a freshman several years ago, Jenkins has continued to improve and has become one of the best players on the SBU team. In just two complete seasons, and seven games into her third, Jenkins is currently fifth on the Bonnies all-time career 3-pointers made list with 154. With just four more treys, Jenkins will move into sole possession of fourth place on that list.

This season, Jenkins is second on the team in scoring and has led her team to a 7-3 record through SBU's first ten games by averaging 12.3 points per game. She has scored the second most points (128) this year, leads the team in minutes played (328), and has converted the most three-point shots (26) on the team.

Jenkins, a Marketing major, currently maintains a 3.43 GPA off the court - an academic achievement that mirrors her successes on the basketball floor. She is the daughter of Bruce and Sherry Jenkins. Sherry played basketball at Xavier University for one season.

The Bonnies have not played a game since a 56-47 win at Buffalo on Dec. 10., but are preparing for the UTSA Christmas Classic in San Antonio Dec. 20-21. Jenkins took time from practice, and studying for exams, to answer the CatholicSportsNet.com 20 Questions. Her answers are below.

1. How did you choose the college you attend?

The coaches really made this feel like this was a place that I wanted to spend four years.  They have such passion for the game, I wouldn’t have wanted to play for any other group or spend this time at any other school.

2. What is your favorite part of college athletics?

Having a second family here with my teammates because I really don’t know what I would do without them

3. How do you balance academics and your sport?

Time management is everything in college, just making sure that I have time for everything.  I tend to write everything down and cross it off after I get each thing done. 

4. What is the hardest part about being a student athlete?

Balancing time, not just school and basketball but also time to relax and have somewhat of a social life.  Even though it can be tough I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

5. What do you do for fun when you aren’t in class or at practice?

Mostly watch movies and catch up on TV shows that I’ve missed.  Nothing too exciting, always need to relax so my body can recover.

6. What is the best characteristic that you bring to your teammates?

I can always lighten the mood so things aren’t so serious all the time.

7. What does your team do as a pre game ritual?

We have a lot of little things.  A few people have dances they do before every game, we play the same songs in the locker room before every game too.

8. What music do you listen to before a game?

Right now, all Eminem, but it changes every month or two.

9. What role does your faith play throughout school, games, and practice?

It helps me to be a leader and a role model.  Also, it keeps me humble as well.

10. Favorite pro team to watch?

Boston Celtics, there isn’t even a close second.

11. What is your coach’s best quality?

He has the ability to relate to each player on the team.  He knows how to motivate each and every one of us and knows exactly how to get the best out of us.

12. Why is a team captain(s) so important to the team?

To give direction; captains have to set the example for everyone to follow.  The younger players look up to us to know how to act so we need to not only be leaders vocally, but also leaders by example.

13. How does your team handle defeat? What do you say to your team after a tough loss?

Losing is never fun and never something you get used to.  Basically, one loss can’t lead to another and there are always details from a loss that you can learn from so that when you run into that again in another game down the road you can come out with a W not a loss.

14. What is your favorite pre game snack?

Oreos with hot sauce (an old teammate got me hooked).

15. Favorite movie quote?

There are so many good ones but I’ll go with the first one to pop in my head: “If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball.” - Dodgeball

16. What advice do you have for young student athletes as they decide where to go to college?

Just to make sure that you are going to go somewhere that you want to spend the next four years, not just somewhere that you can manage to spend the next four years.  Go somewhere you are going to absolutely enjoy being.

17. Best smart phone app?

Remote. It turns your phone into a remote basically so I can control my music on my laptop from my phone.

18. How do you think your involvement in college sports and academics will benefit you when you begin to look for a job?

I want to stay in athletics in some way once I am done playing and have to find a job in the real world, so I think being in the college athletic environment has given me some insight that non-athletes might not have.  Hopefully it gives me the upper hand on some of the competition.

19. What does it mean to play athletics for a Catholic college?

It just reminds me to keep my faith close to home at all times.

20. What is your proudest athletic achievement?

Playing for a D-I college. This has been my dream since I can remember, and it is amazing to know that I am living out my dream.