By Robert Wilson

Jackson Academy’s Deuce Jenkins is rated as the 28th best prospect in the country in the Class of 2027 by Baseball America.

Jenkins, a junior outfielder-pitcher and Mississippi State commitment, showed why last week when he had a .529 batting average (9 for 17) with 8 runs scored, 12 runs batted in, 3 home runs, 1 double and 3 stolen bases and earned a pitching victory and helped JA to five wins in six games.

For his outstanding performance, Jenkins has been named the first Box Sports Academy/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Baseball Player of the Week this season.

Jenkins had 2 hits, scored 2 runs and had 2 stolen bases in a 10-7 victory over Simpson Academy, two hits and two RBIs in 10-2 and 3-1 victories over Jackson Prep, a home run and two RBIs in a 8-7 victory over Bob Jones, Ala.., 2 hits (a home run and a double), 3 runs and 5 RBIs and the pitching victory in a 13-3 win over Hartselle, Ala., and 2 hits, including a home run, 2 runs scored and 2 RBIs in a 15-12 loss to nationally ranked Magnolia Heights School in the championship game of the Madison City Baseball Classic.

Jenkins has a .537 batting average, .596 on-base percentage, and 1.073 slugging percentage, with 16 runs scored, 21 RBIs, 6 doubles, 2 triples, 4 home runs and 6 stolen bases and a 1-0 pitching record for JA, which has 10-3 record and a No. 2 ranking in Mississippi by MaxPreps entering this week. 

“I have seen a lot of high school players play over the last 12 years and Duece is really special,” said first-year JA head coach Justin Reed, who played at Callaway, Hillcrest Christian School (where he was the Mississippi Gatorade Player of the Year as as senior in 2006), Ole Miss and was a fourth round Major League draft pick by the Cincinnati Reds, played five seasons in the minor leagues and has the head coach at Hillcrest for three seasons, and assistant at Callaway for six seasons and Madison St. Joseph for seven seasons. “He’s a true five tool guy that plays the game the right way. What’s more impressive about Deuce is how great of a kid he is. Humble, passionate, and very detail about his craft. He can hit the ball to all sides of the field, plays the small game when need be and has become our No. 2 starter on the mound. He’s really fun to watch play and it’s a true blessing to be his coach.”

Jenkins, an outfielder-pitcher, hit. 298 with 34 runs, 26 runs batted in, 5 doubles, 1 triple, 5 home runs and 19 stolen bases and had a 3-1 pitching record with a 1.77 earned run average in 23 2/3 innings and helped JA to a 21-15 record and the MAIS Class 6A state semifinals finish last year as a sophomore. Jenkins tied for third in home runs, and was fifth in stolen bases and eighth in RBIs among MAIS Class 6A players. The Raiders ended Jackson Prep’s seven year state championship run and defeated Prep in the playoffs for the first time since 2011 when JA last won a state title.

Jenkins became the first freshman to start for the Northwest Rankin baseball team since 1990 two years ago when coach KK Aldridge called him up from the junior varsity about a third of the way into the season. He had a .389 batting average with 12 runs scored, 15 runs batted in, 5 doubles, 1 triple, 3 home runs and led the Cougars with a .685 on base percentage in 20 games.

Jenkins announced his commitment to MSU last fall and chose MSU over Alabama, Tennessee, LSU, Vanderbilt, and Wake Forest. 

Jenkins is the son of Justin and Anita Jenkins.  Justin played football at Pearl High and and Mississippi State. He caught 139 passes for 1,974 yards and 17 touchdowns in his four-year MSU career. He caught 62 passes for 880 yards and nine TDs as a senior in 2003. Jenkins set a then career school receiving TDs record with 17 and had the then third best school marks in several receiving categories. Anita played basketball and ran track at Harrison Central. Jenkins’ sister, Jade, is a freshman starting centerfielder for the softball team at Northwest Rankin High. Jenkins’ aunt, Auriel Jenkins-Evans, played softball at Southern Miss was the Conference USA Most Valuable Player in 2004. She played professionally from 2005-2008.

Mississippi Scoreboard selects a baseball player from Hinds, Madison, or Rankin counties each week. Coaches can nominate a player by sending a text to Robert Wilson at 601.506.2276.