Talon Jenkins has led the Meridian boys basketball team to its best regular season record (14-6) since the 2019–20 season. The 6-foot-7 senior also helped the Trojans reach the 1A state basketball tournament the past two seasons.
“On this team, I do whatever is asked of me,” Jenkins said. “A lot of dudes try to focus on themselves but being team-first is how you win games.”
Jenkins has been around the sport since birth because his father was an athletic trainer at the University of Washington.
“I grew up in the gym around the college guys,” Jenkins said. “I always loved the sound of the game, the swish of the net and the squeak of the shoes.”
Jenkins is also adding to his family’s legacy in Whatcom County. His mother, Courtney Jenkins, was a member of the first Bellingham High girls basketball team to reach state. However, Courtney and the rest of the family focused on soccer instead of basketball.
“It’s weird because everyone in my family was a soccer player,” Jenkins said. “I was the first one to focus on basketball and it’s cool.”
Jenkins’ hard work, effort and dedication over the years have led him to be one of the most prolific scorers in the county this season, averaging nearly 20 points per game as of Feb. 25. He is also ranked third in free throw percentage with 81.7% and rebounds per game with 8.1.
“Coach [Shane] Stacy has put a lot of trust in me since freshman year after he saw I can shoot the ball,” Jenkins said. “All credit goes to him, the coaching staff and teammates for believing in me and trusting me to hit shots.”
With Jenkins’ high school career coming to an end, he has a couple goals left. First, he wants to lead the Trojans to a state title, then earn a spot on a college basketball team after graduation.
“I am always looking back and trying to make that motivated kid proud,” Jenkins said about his younger self. “I don’t want to let him down and I know he would be proud of the work I have put in.”
Nick Zeller-Singh is CDN's sports reporter; reach him at nickzellersingh@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 104.
