Hoops prospect feels at home in Clemson
By: rmacrae@bellsouth.net January 15, 2015

By Hale McGranahan.

When De’Riante Jenkins was a freshman quarterback at Lake Marion High School, his best target at wide receiver was a four-star prospect named Mike Williams.

Williams went on to sign with Clemson, where he was named co-MVP of the Tigers’ offense in 2014.

Jenkins, who was originally scheduled to finish high school this spring, left Lake Marion in 2013 and has since re-classified to graduate in 2016. He now attends West Oaks Academy in Orlando, Florida.

The 6-foot-5, 175-pound prospect is also focused solely on basketball, and it’s starting to pay dividends. Virginia Tech, East Carolina and USF have offered. Clemson joined the mix last month when assistant coach Steve Smith informed Jenkins that the Tigers were ready to pull the trigger.

“(Smith) told me how they would use me and how coach (Brad) Brownell likes my style and how I play basketball,” Jenkins said, during a recent interview with TheClemsonInsider.

Classified as a combo guard by 247 and a small forward by Rivals, Jenkins thinks his gridiron background translates to the hardwood.

“I’d probably be a good passer and a good play-maker, that’s what I do well,” he said. “If I went to Clemson, I could work on that everyday.”

Jenkins visited Clemson earlier this month for the ACC opener against North Carolina.

“It was a good visit, they just couldn’t make any shots,” Jenkins said.

After the game, he spoke with Brownell.

“He was telling me how good the people are up there in Clemson and I would be in good hands,” Jenkins said. “He was telling me about the new arena they’re building and when they’re going to start building it, all those things, and how could I help them become a good basketball team, and how they could help me become a good player on and off the court.”

Having been to Clemson for football and basketball camps, Jenkins is familiar with the small-town feel.

“You won’t get any trouble or anything, nothing like that. It also feels like home,” he said.

Jenkins wouldn’t name any favorites, but he does plan on making a decision before the end of the summer.