By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Jordan Jenkins (Sr., F, Placentia, CA/Valencia HS) of Willamette University has been named First Team All-Northwest Conference in men's basketball for the 2018-19 season after leading the NWC in scoring and rebounding in conference games. Jenkins, who averaged 22.2 points and 11.8 rebounds per game in conference play, was one of six players selected for First Team All-NWC honors. The All-NWC team was determined in voting by the league's head coaches. Last year, Jenkins was named Second Team All-NWC.
"This honor is a testament to Jordan's work ethic, the likes of which our program was so fortunate to witness the past four years," Willamette Head Coach Kip Ioane said.
Other First Team All-NWC Men's Basketball selections for 2018-19 were Austin Butler and Joey Hewitt from NWC regular season champion Whitman College, Jimmy Wohrer from University of Puget Sound, and Kyle Roach and Ben College from Whitworth University. Butler was named NWC Player of the Year. Guard Kyle Hansen from Puget Sound was chosen NWC Freshman of the Year. Whitman Head Coach Eric Bridgeland was named NWC Coach of the Year.
A total of 18 players were chosen for the All-NWC Men's Basketball Team. In addition to six players on the First Team, five players were selected for the Second Team and seven players received Honorable Mention.
Willamette ended the season with a 9-16 overall record, including 6-10 in the Northwest Conference. The Bearcats were 8-5 at home and went 7-6 in their final 13 games. WU averaged 82.9 points per game.
First Team All-Northwest Conference
Jordan Jenkins (Sr., F) was the only Willamette player to start all 25 games. He averaged 20.0 points and 10.3 rebounds per game for the entire season. He placed eighth all-time at WU in season scoring average. He completed his four years at Willamette with 1,109 career points and 588 career rebounds. He also achieved 219 assists, 62 blocks and 57 steals during his career.
This season, Jenkins shot 58.4% from the field (180 of 308) to tie for eighth on the Bearcats' all-time list. In addition, he sank 127 of 168 free throws (75.6%). He scored in double figures in 24 games and earned 20 or more points 16 times. He earned 16 double-doubles with double-digit scoring and rebounding. He tied for ninth in NCAA Division III in double-doubles.
"The hours he spent in the gym and the weight room translated into being a First Team dominant force in this league," Ioane commented.
Jenkins scored over 30 points in back-to-back games near the end of the season, while setting a new career-high each time. He registered 31 points against Pacific University on Feb. 5 , and then scored 32 points against Puget Sound on Feb. 9. He also grabbed a career-high 19 rebounds in the game versus Pacific. He averaged 28.3 points per game in Willamette's last four games.
Additional NCAA rankings for Jenkins at the end of the regular season included 17th in defensive rebounds per game (7.96 avg.), 28th in total rebounds (257), 33rd in total rebounds per game (10.3 avg.). He was 54th in the nation in field goal percentage, 57th in total points (501), and 63rd in points per game. He finished 28th in free throw attempts, 33rd in free throws made and 59th in total field goals made.