Junior Karson Jenkins emerging as the player, leader that Snider needs

Snider coach Jeremy Rauch had confidence in Karson Jenkins entering this season, that point was never in doubt.

Some of that faith had to do with the junior’s personality and potential. But another aspect was the fact that Jenkins brought back the majority of the varsity playing experience – just under nine minutes per game on average – to a team that was gutted by graduation.

Well, Jenkins has exceeded all expectations. His latest effort, 31 points in Friday’s 80-65 win over Wayne in both teams’ SAC opener, was the latest example of his ascension to the top of the Panthers’ roster both in terms of scoring and leadership.

“It was really just about the opportunity with Karson,” Rauch said. “He and I have a good relationship, and for awhile I have been sending him (texts) about the importance of being the extension of the coach on the floor.

He has done remarkably well. I would say probably ahead of the curve in terms of what we expected.”

Through four games, Jenkins is averaging 25.2 points a contest for the new-look Panthers, a team that has a variety of newbies in bigger roles. The duo of Jenkins and fellow junior Aidan Lambert have been thrust into the spotlight as the duo that will carry the load for Snider as its youngsters get their feet wet. So far so good, with the Panthers sitting at 3-1 with their lone loss coming in overtime to Leo.

But Jenkins has had the biggest impact, not just because of his points but also where he gets those points from. The junior is also the primary point guard for Snider, controlling the offense and directing where the ball goes.

“I knew that I was going to be the leader of the team (this year,” Jenkins said. “As the point guard with the ball in my hands a lot, I know that I have to be that guy to step up. Even when I am not scoring I need to make the plays that gets us points.”

The Panthers scored enough on Friday. After a back-and-forth first half with the game within one at the break, Snider broke loose in the third quarter to up the lead into double digits in the third quarter. Jenkins was big in the run, making some big shots and some key passes as the Panthers pulled away from a feisty Wayne group that was led by the likes of senior Christian Flanagan (11 points) and junior Jashaun Hargrave (13 points).

For Jenkins, it was the next step in his emergence as the Panthers started off the league slate with a win and erased the bad taste of the team’s first loss of the year one week prior at Leo.

And that may be the biggest lesson of all, a young group moving past a loss and getting back on the winning track against a solid league foe.

“We take pride in working harder than our opponents both in game and in practice reps, even mental reps,” Rauch said. “But we are growing the most as an inexperienced team competing in games, and Karson is leading the way in that respect.”