Daniss Jenkins sounded like he was ready to run through a wall for his new team Thursday night, moments after agreeing to a two-way contract with the Pistons.
If St. John’s star point guard had any disappointment about going undrafted, he wasn’t showing it.
“All I needed was somebody to give me a chance,” Jenkins told The Post on Thursday night. “That’s all I ever needed, somebody to believe in me. See that vision.”
Jenkins, a 6-foot-4 guard from Dallas, had 12 NBA workouts, including with the Knicks and Nets.
He knew there was a good chance he wouldn’t hear his name called, and didn’t know what kind of deal he could land.
But the Pistons were impressed by Jenkins, and stayed in contact with his agent throughout the draft.
Shortly afterward, Jenkins got the good news that he had a two-way contract on the table, and didn’t hesitate.
In fact, when he got the formal offer from the Pistons, he asked them to repeat it.
“We think Detroit is a really good spot,” Jenkins said. “They really liked me from the jump, a long time ago. It just lined up perfectly for both of us. … They’re looking for guys who can come in and change the culture, and I’m a perfect guy for that type of stuff. I’m about the right stuff. I’m ready to come in and contribute and be a great piece for whatever they’re trying to build over there.
“I like starting from the ground up and being a part of something special.”
He took a circuitous journey to get to this point, starting his college career at Pacific, then junior college, before landing at Iona University with Rick Pitino.
He followed Pitino to St. John’s, and proved he could play at the high-major level.
Jenkins averaged 14.9 points, 5.4 assists and 3.5 rebounds and shot 44.6 percent from the field, leading the Johnnies to a fifth-place finish in the loaded Big East and a spot in the Big East Tournament semifinals.
“Go help the Pistons @Djenkinss5 like you did Iona and St John’s,” Pitino posted on X. “You have all the characteristics of a terrific contributor in the NBA. So proud of our leader!”
The rebuilding Pistons are a good landing spot for Jenkins.
There figure to be opportunities as the franchise looks to surround former top pick Cade Cunningham with the right pieces.
Jenkins is very close with guard Marcus Sasser and knows Cunningham and Pistons first-round pick Ron Holland well, too.
“Yeah, because he’s tough as nails,” an NBA scout said when asked if Jenkins could play in the league. “There’s a reason why Pitino loves him, there’s a reason why Pitino brought him with him. He’s going to find a way to scrap his way. However good he’s going to be, whether that’s end of the bench, overseas, Euro league, he’s going to get every ounce of talent out of himself.”
First up is the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, which starts July 12.
Jenkins has watched the event for years, imagining himself playing in it.
Now, he will get that opportunity.
He sounded ready to lace up his sneakers immediately.
“I’m very, very excited,” he said. “It’s something I dreamed of. I grew up watching it my whole life. You get to live out the dream before it really starts.”
St. John’s center Joel Soriano agreed to an Exhibit 10 contract with the Hornets on Thursday night, meaning at least two members of Pitino’s first Johnnies team will play in the NBA Summer League.
