UCF Lands in 2027 4-Star Jeremy Jenkins Jr.’s Top 4 Schools

Coach Johnny Dawkins and his staff have positioned the UCF Knights to have a strong 2027 recruiting class with multiple four-star commits, and could add another soon.

Jeremy Jenkins Jr. will announce his college decision Friday night on League Ready's Instagram live. The TCU Horned Frogs, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Houston Cougars and UCF are in his top four.

Jenkins is a 6-foot-8 forward leading Riviera Preparatory High School in Miami, Florida. His in-state roots and proximity to family and friends could be one advantage for the Knights.

Recruiting elite talent, like the Kansas Jayhawks landing Darryn Peterson and Tyran Stokes in back-to-back seasons, is difficult. UCF must leave no stone unturned, finding in-state gems who match Dawkins' vision.

Adam Finkelstein, 247Sports director of scouting, said Jenkins has a developing inside-out game. He has positional size and length with a 6-foot-11 wingspan and can start the fast break off a rebound.

The four-star recruit's skills are unpolished. An inefficient performance during the recent EYBL season shows the steps he must take to thrive at the next level.

Jenkins averaged 12 points on 38/15/70 splits, 1.2 assists and 3.9 defensive rebounds for the Nightrydas.

Dawkins has developed NBA talent during his decade-long tenure in Orlando. Taylor Hendricks became UCF's highest draft pick in program history, going ninth to the Utah Jazz in 2022.

The 17-year-old would become the third four-star recruit to commit to the Knights. He'd join Deuce McDuffie, who committed on Thursday, and Jacoby Briscoe, who committed last Thursday.

McDuffie is a shooting guard and plays at Monarch Academy in Kansas City, Kansas. He praised the coaching staff's belief in him and their recognition of his potential during his official visit.

Briscoe is Virginia's No. 2-ranked player. He averaged 14 points per game last season for The St. James Academy and improved as a 3-point shooter.

Dawkins solidified his future backcourt with commitments from McDuffie and Briscoe. He could bolster his frontcourt with Jenkins' commitment.

The Knights have three frontcourt seniors: Churchill Abass, Elijah Hulsewe and Isaiah Malone. Their departures after the season ends will leave John Bol and Jason Asemota as the only experienced returners.

It's encouraging that UCF is in the running for a four-star like Jenkins and has landed commitments from McDuffie and Briscoe. Recruits saw Dawkins' success last season, leading the Knights to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019.

They may have flamed out early against the UCLA Bruins, but they proved they could compete with the best programs in the Big 12.