UCF’s push to build out its 2027 class could get another major boost Friday night, when Jeremy Jenkins Jr. is set to reveal his college choice on League Ready’s Instagram live.
The 6-foot-8 forward from Riviera Preparatory High School in Miami has trimmed his list to four schools: UCF, TCU, Georgia Tech and Houston. For the Knights, the appeal is obvious. Jenkins is an in-state prospect with Miami ties, and that kind of proximity to family and friends can matter in a tight recruiting race.
Coach Johnny Dawkins and his staff have already stacked up multiple four-star commitments in this cycle, and Jenkins would be a natural next piece if UCF can close. The Knights are trying to keep finding the right kind of talent to match Dawkins’ vision, especially when landing elite prospects is never simple.
Adam Finkelstein, 247Sports director of scouting, described Jenkins as a forward with a developing inside-out game. Finkelstein also pointed to Jenkins’ size and length, noting his 6-foot-11 wingspan and his ability to push the ball after a rebound to start the break.
There’s still work to do, though. Jenkins’ recent EYBL numbers showed a player with upside but plenty of polish left to add. He averaged 12 points on 38/15/70 splits, along with 1.2 assists and 3.9 defensive rebounds for the Nightrydas.
That’s the kind of project Dawkins has shown he can handle. During his decade in Orlando, he has helped develop NBA talent, and Taylor Hendricks remains the program’s highest draft pick after going ninth to the Utah Jazz in 2022.
If Jenkins lands with the Knights, he’d become the third four-star commitment in the class. He would join Deuce McDuffie, who committed Thursday, and Jacoby Briscoe, who committed last Thursday.
McDuffie, a shooting guard at Monarch Academy in Kansas City, Kansas, said the coaching staff believed in him and recognized his potential during his official visit. Briscoe, Virginia’s No. 2-ranked player, averaged 14 points per game last season for The St. James Academy and improved as a 3-point shooter.
Those two commitments already gave UCF a stronger look in the backcourt. Jenkins would give the Knights a needed frontcourt addition, especially with three frontcourt seniors - Churchill Abass, Elijah Hulsewe and Isaiah Malone - set to move on after the season. That would leave John Bol and Jason Asemota as the only experienced returners up front.
UCF’s recent momentum on the recruiting trail has been helped by the on-court success that came last season, when the Knights reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019. Now the program is trying to turn that into another win Friday night.
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Dior Johnson Just Gave UCF Fans A Reason To Watch Friday
Johnny Dawkins decision to bring Dior Johnson back for another season already looks like one of the early storylines worth watching around UCF. In the season opener, Johnson delivered a huge night in a 96-95 overtime win over Florida Gulf Coast, giving the Knights exactly the kind of late-game shot creation they were hoping to have back in the rotation.
Johnson did most of his damage after halftime and kept pushing the pace into the extra session, helping UCF survive a tight one on a night when every possession mattered. The Knights needed calm at the line to finish it off, and Johnson was right in the middle of the pressure moments, a reminder that Fridays game could be worth circling if he keeps carrying that load. [Read more 🡒]