Paul Jenkins

Paul Jenkins was born Paul Jeffries Jenkins on November 8, 1905, in Knoxville, Tennessee, to William Alexander Jenkins and Rosanah Minerva Haynes. He attended Louisville’s duPont Manual High School, where he helped win the 1923 Kentucky state basketball championship before graduating in 1924. As Manual’s captain, he also led the state tournament in scoring with 45 points in four games, edging Fort Thomas standout Allphin by one point. His prep career began a connection with Kentucky basketball that would eventually bring him distinction as both a player and a coach.

Jenkins played for Kentucky’s freshman basketball team in 1924–25 under Ray Eklund, developing alongside several future varsity teammates. Contemporary coverage described a talented freshman squad that remained undefeated entering its final scheduled game. Jenkins also captained and quarterbacked the freshman football team, establishing himself early as one of the university’s versatile athletes.

As a sophomore in 1925–26, Jenkins became a key contributor to Eklund’s varsity basketball team and earned All-Southern Conference recognition. His 132 points ranked second on the Wildcats behind Gayle Mohney, and the pair’s coordinated offensive play drew praise in the university yearbook. Kentucky finished 15–3, went unbeaten against conference opponents during the regular season, and reached the Southern Conference Tournament semifinals. Jenkins’s ball handling and ability to create scoring opportunities helped make that team one of Kentucky’s strongest early squads.

Elected captain for his junior season in 1926–27, Jenkins shouldered greater responsibility as Kentucky struggled under coach Basil Hayden. He led the Wildcats with 100 points in 16 games during a 3–13 campaign, with two victories over traditional rival Centre providing welcome highlights. His role extended beyond scoring: when Hayden suffered from tonsillitis during the season opener, the coach relayed instructions through penciled messages to Jenkins. Through a difficult winter, the captain remained Kentucky’s central figure on the floor.

Reelected for 1927–28, Jenkins became the first Kentucky basketball player to serve as captain for two seasons, according to the Kentucky Kernel. New coach John Mauer built around his experienced leader while introducing a new system to a lineup featuring several younger players. Kentucky rebounded to finish 12–6 and advanced to the Southern Conference Tournament semifinals. Jenkins appeared in all 18 games, supplying continuity and leadership during an important recovery for the program.

His senior season offered several fitting farewell moments. Against Berea on January 4, 1928, Jenkins made his first start of the season following football and helped Kentucky win 37–16 before a capacity crowd at Alumni Gymnasium. Lexington Herald coverage praised his clever ball handling and deceptive floor work. He played his final home game in a 30–20 victory over Centre on February 18. At the subsequent alumni luncheon honoring the team, Mauer praised Jenkins, and his teammates presented their retiring captain with a solid gold basketball as a token of their esteem.

Away from athletics, Jenkins belonged to Alpha Tau Omega, worked on the Kernel’s sports staff, and received recognition from Omicron Delta Kappa; he was also listed among incoming Sigma Delta Chi journalism fraternity initiates. After graduating in 1928, he built a distinguished coaching career, becoming the first person to win Kentucky’s boys’ state basketball championship as both a player and a coach. He directed Ashland to championships in 1933 and 1934 and Louisville Male to the 1945 title. His career later took him to Florida, where he coached football at St. Petersburg High School before serving as Northeast High School’s athletic director from its opening in 1954 until his retirement in 1972. He also taught journalism and advised the school newspaper and yearbook. Jenkins died at his home in St. Petersburg on February 27, 1985, at age 79, leaving a legacy that stretched from Kentucky’s early basketball teams to generations of high school athletes.