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Philip Jenkins (188-G-90, college: Life) is a 30 year old 188cm guard from Goose Creek South Catrlina that is playing hiss econd season with VFL Bensheim. He had previous experience in Germany playing three years with TS 1856 Frankfurt-Griesheim. He played at various school’s in the States with Francis Marion University (NCAA2), Cleveland State Community College, Clinton Community College and Life University. He spoke to eurobasket about basketball.

Philip thanks for talking to eurobasket.com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you?

I’m in Bensheim currently and basketball life has been so kind to me.

Talk a bit about how you experienced COVID in the last year and a half? What were the biggest challenges for you on and off the court?

I had Covid back in December and I beat it without any difficulties. I have invested in my own home gym and home basketball court so the pandemic hasn’t stopped me at all with getting better on a daily basis.

With everything that you saw off the court how do you think did COVID make you stronger as a man?

Covid has made me more self reliant and got a chance to focus on other goals I have outside of basketball

Your playing your second season with VFL Bensheim. Congrats on moving up to the Regionalliga. Was it a bit strange moving up despite not playing a full season?

Thank you. It was strange but all teams had the same advantages and disadvantages as the league approved us finishing what we started

What do you say to the haters who say that moving up despite not playing a full season isn’t really justified?

Miles , I love haters , I love pressure, I love being counted out. This is what drives me as a player. When they tell you that you can’t achieve something and then prove them wrong. I have been going against the odds all my life so it’s normalized to me.

What was so special about last season’s team? They came together and really stepped it up during the top 4 tournament.

That’s easy, CHEMISTRY! What you see on the court is a direct reflection of who we are off the court, together.

How excited are to play in the Regionalliga and match up against the leagues other top guards? I know you know how the Regionalliga level is. What are you expecting from yourself?

I am super excited about proving myself every year no matter what league or level it is! I expect to get out the game as much as I put into it, a ton of work is always rewarded and put on display to be recognized.

How excited are you to be playing for the experienced Igor Starkevic? Do you believe that he will be able to top Moritz Benzing?

Through the years I’ve scrimmaged and had exhibition games against Igor and he also recruited me one year. So I’ve known of him for a while and he is an absolute excellent coach and knows the game so well and with his experience I’m excited to learn and grown.

Let’s talk about your game. You’re a 188cm guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description?

Kyrie Irving. He is an ultra scorer and his passing is underrated.

You have proved in Germany that you’re an explosive scorer. Talk about the other strengths that your game incorporates.

My playmaking skills are overshadowed by my scoring but I absolutely love to create for others more than I like to create for myself.

How did your leadership skills grow last season? It was your second time in your career that you helped a pro team go up a level.

I grew so much as a leader by keeping in touch through the 6 month pause in the season, making sure everyone’s family is doing good and also making sure they were working out staying fit.

On what area’s of your game are you working on most now so you will be ready for the Regionalliga level?

I’m working on my defense and conditioning to make sure I apply pressure on both ends of the floor but also have the stamina to play the whole game if needed

You played three years for TS 1856 Frankfurt-Griesheim. How do you feel did your game grow in the Oberliga and Regionalliga 2? You dominated play heavily. Did it feel like being a man among kids at times?

Commitment level as a team was a problem at Griesheim but my commitment and level of focused was self motivated and unswayed by anything. Knowing this I made sure to prepare myself to play whole game each game and lead my team in every category and try my hardest to win doing whatever it took and whatever we needed.

You really bounced around schools playing at Francis Marion University (NCAA2), Cleveland State Community College (NJCAA) Clinton Community College (NJCAA) and Life Univeristy. What were the pro’s and cons of playing at so many schools?

Pros: I got a chance to live in different states experiencing different cultures and people which prepared me for overseas life Con: You don’t get a chance to break any records because your not with 1 school for all 4 years.

At what school do you feel was your game able to progress the most?

My freshman year I redshirted at Francis Marion & focused on gaining weight. Out of high school I was 145 pounds, end of my freshman year I was 185 lbs. It completely changed the player I was.

Who was the toughest player you ever faced that reached the NBA?

John Wall. I attended a Five Star Basketball Camp my senior year with over 500 players and I made the 20 player all star game at the end where I played with John Wall.

Please name your five best teammates of all-time.