Tierney Jenkins to Play Professionally in Israel
10/3/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Oct. 3, 2011
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - This time last year, Tierney Jenkins was working out with the rest of Alabama's women's basketball team in preparation for their upcoming season. Today, she eagerly awaits the chance to begin practice again, only this time, it won't be in Tuscaloosa. Jenkins has signed on to play for the Israeli women's basketball team, Elitzur Holon for the 2011-2012 season.
Jenkins, a native of Mount Juliet, Tenn., graduated from UA in August, but was approached by the Elitzur Holon team once regular season games ended in earlier in the year.
"It's kind of understood that once you become eligible to play professionally that you will either enter the WNBA or try to play overseas," says Jenkins. "I began talking with this team once our season ended."
Jenkins, who leaves this Saturday, says she's both nervous and excited about playing in Israel.
"I've never visited Israel before," says Jenkins. "I know I'll have a house and a car set up when I get there but that's all I know. Our roster isn't even finalized so I won't even know for sure who's on the team until I get there either."
As for what she's looking forward to the most, Jenkins says she's very excited to just start playing basketball again.
"I'm so used to having preseason basketball practices already started so its felt weird not playing. It's different to not be getting ready with my teammates from last year. I'm ready to start practicing and playing again," says Jenkins.
Jenkins says that she's most nervous about leaving behind her family, friends and the familiarity of the United States.
Jenkins season will start shortly after she arrives in Israel and will continue into the spring of 2012. She also explains that the Elitzur Hulon team will scrimmage teams from other countries, but that their regular season games will be against other teams from Israel.
"Our first preseason game is on October 17 against Hapoel Tel Aviv," says Jenkins. "There are four or five other teams in Tel Aviv besides my own so we will play them as well as other teams from around the country during the season."
Jenkins credits associate head coach Ty Evans as being her motivating force during her basketball career at UA and a mentor during her transition to professional basketball.
"Coach Evans sat me down when I first started playing and went over with me the steps I would need to take to reach my goals," says Jenkins. "He's been there throughout the entire process and even sometimes when I didn't like it or when I didn't like him, he never gave up on me, and I really appreciate that."
As she's preparing for the next step in her basketball career, Jenkins reflects on her senior year at UA and says that last season has been her most memorable sports moment.
"I was closer to those girls than I have been to any team in my whole life. I feel like they're my real sisters," says Jenkins.
Jenkins hopes that her time in Israel will lead to other opportunities, whether they be basketball related or not.
"I love basketball and until I don't feel like it's fun for me anymore, then I'll keep playing. Basketball isn't my life anymore though, I see it as just another step I'm taking to help me do other things," says Jenkins.
Besides basketball, Jenkins hopes to one day pursue a career in the broadcasting field.
"I want to be good and I want to be relevant," says Jenkins. "I want to be too legit to quit!"
