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Q&A: John Jenkins talks new team, high school days

John Jenkins, who is now with the Phoenix Suns, played at Station Camp and Vanderbilt.

John Jenkins, who is now with the Phoenix Suns, played at Station Camp and Vanderbilt.

Former Station Camp and Vanderbilt standout John Jenkins, talks with one of his basketball campers, Alex Froboese, on Wednesday.

Former Station Camp and Vanderbilt standout John Jenkins, talks with one of his basketball campers, Alex Froboese, on Wednesday.

GALLATIN — Station Camp High School is a place where John Jenkins became a Parade All-American, averaged 42.3 points as a senior and the Gallatin Fire Marshall regularly stopped by to make sure the gymnasium did not overcrowd.

The former Vanderbilt standout returned this week to the place where his No. 12 jersey is retired for the fourth annual John Jenkins Basketball Camp that began Wednesday and concludes Friday. The Phoenix Suns shooting guard took some time before the start of his camp to talk to The Tennessean about the camp’s growth, his high school days, and playing in the NBA.

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The John Jenkins Camp is now in its fourth year. What does that mean to you?

It’s unbelievable how far it’s come. At first, I just wanted to make it a little thing for my hometown and didn’t really know what to expect, and (now) it’s big for our city’s standards. It’s pretty cool to experience, and giving back to my community is all I want to do. The game of basketball is a fun sport and you can learn a lot of life lessons from it.

You had an illustrious high school career at Station Camp. What is the feeling like when you step back inside the gymnasium? Do you have any lasting memories from your high school days? You have said on a couple of instances it felt like a blur.

It’s really crazy because I was so in the moment. My team depended on me every single night to show up and maybe hit 40 or 50 points a game. For a 16-year old kid that takes a lot of focus, along with doing my chores at home and doing my schoolwork.

Every night I was getting everyone’s best defender, every team’s best shot, and the crowds were going crazy. Some of them wanted to see me fail, and as a kid that was tough for me to go through. (Some nights) I had 40, we lost, and I felt like I had zero. Or if I had 50 and we won it was OK. I never really got to enjoy the moment afterward.

After the last game of my senior year, I felt like I had an elephant off my back because I had so much pressure.

Former Station Camp and Vanderbilt standout John Jenkins works with players at his youth camp on Wednesday.

Former Station Camp and Vanderbilt standout John Jenkins works with players at his youth camp on Wednesday.

How are things now? You struggled to get playing time with the Dallas Mavericks, got waived, and then picked up by the Phoenix Suns. Do you like the fit?

I had a great preseason and it went well. But in the NBA on a veteran team, they’re going to play their veterans over the younger guys. That’s just how it is the majority of the time. I had a great coach in coach (Rick) Carlisle, Dallas is a first-class organization.

Coach Carlisle actually called Phoenix on my behalf and let them know that they should give me a chance and they did, so I thank him for that. And now I’m just trying to do good on that and hopefully cement a spot in the rotation.

Phoenix has five players from Kentucky. Does it feel like an old SEC battleground from time to time? You didn’t play against every Kentucky player on the team, but there has to be some familiarity, right?

There is. I played against Eric Bledsoe since we were in AAU and played against Brandon Knight. I make sure I wear my Vandy shirts all the time and they wear their UK stuff all the time. I’m just glad there are a bunch of SEC guys in the locker room. We’re all one now so it’s good for our team.

You played well over the last quarter of the season and you shot the ball well from deep. In today’s NBA with a bigger emphasis put on shooting the 3-pointer, does that give you confidence that you can make any roster in the league?

(Shooting) is right up my alley and shooting 3s is something I’ve done my whole life. And now that it’s becoming a staple in the NBA and teams have to have shooters, it’s going to extend my career even more. I’m thankful for it.

The death of Pat Summitt Tuesday had a huge effect on the state of Tennessee and the country’s basketball community as a whole. What did she mean to you?

All sports just know her as one of the best coaches of all time. Not only with what she did on the court, but how she approached her players and what she demanded out of them. That’s rare these days. I played against her son in high school, she was there, and I was shocked, as if she was an NBA player or something. She was a legend. I wish the best for her family, it’s sad to see her go.

Jenkins speaks to campers following the conclusion of Friday’s session of his fourth annual basketball camp at Station Camp High School.

Jenkins speaks to campers following the conclusion of Friday’s session of his fourth annual basketball camp at Station Camp High School.

Phoenix Suns guard John Jenkins works with some younger players during the final day of his fourth annual basketball camp at Station Camp High School.

Phoenix Suns guard John Jenkins works with some younger players during the final day of his fourth annual basketball camp at Station Camp High School.

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