Jenkins, Pickney Named Ivy League Basketball Legends

Princeton, New Jersey — The Ivy League announced the 16-member 2023 Class of Legends for Ivy League Basketball on Thursday. Representing Columbia are the Shawnee Pickney ’01CC and the Leonard “Buck” Jenkins ’93CC.

Each Ivy League institution is represented by one male and one female winner selected by the university’s athletic department. These Legends have contributed greatly to life on the court, in the classroom, in their respective basketball programs, colleges and professions of choice.

Each Legend will be officially recognized at the 2023 Ivy League Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments March 10-12 at Jadwin Gymnasium in Princeton, New Jersey. IvyMadness.com.

Shawnee Pickney ’01CC | Women’s Basketball
A name that has stood the test of time throughout the history of women’s basketball in Colombia is Shawnee Pickney.

Raised in a suburb south of Los Angeles, Pickney came to Columbia as the valedictorian of Washington Preparatory High School. At Columbia, she quickly made an impact on the court, becoming both the team’s leading scorer and rebounder in her first year.

To this day, Pickney’s name is sprinkled in Columbia’s record books. In her four years, she was named to her All-Ivy Rookie Team, All-Ivy Honorable Mention, All-Ivy Second Team, and in 2001 as a senior she was named to the All-Ivy First Team. She is still the only lion. There are unique distinctions in all four honors in the program’s history.

Pickney is one of 12 players to reach 1,000 points in the program’s 39-year history. She graduated with 1,180 points and 786 rebounds, currently ranking seventh in points and fourth in rebounds. 4th all-time in steel.

As a senior, Pickney scored 424 points. This was, at the time, the fourth-most points in a season in program history. Her totals for that season still rank in the top 10, with 63 steals and her 963 minutes playing time putting Ivy on her way to her league’s first team her selection.

After graduating from Columbia University with a bachelor’s degree in urban studies and sociology, Pickney received a master’s degree in public education policy from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs in 2002. Currently, she is Macias Gini & O’s Advisory Senior Manager. ‘Connell LLP of Los Angeles.

Buck Jenkins ’93CC | Men’s Basketball
No man in the history of Colombian men’s basketball has scored more points than Leonard “Buck” Jenkins. His 1,767 points in his career with Colombia is a record that is still held today.

An influential player from the moment he arrived at Morningside Heights, Jenkins was part of the revitalization of Columbia basketball in the early 1990s.

In his sophomore season, Jenkins captured the attention of the Ivy League with his innovative style of play. He averaged 18 points per game and was named All-Ivy on his team first in the league.

That year, on February 15, 1991, Jenkins scored 47 points in the Harvard Crimson. This is today’s school record. What was even more impressive was that he didn’t attempt a single goal on his three-point field. As such, Jenkins was able to pair Shaquille with O’Neal, and in that season he became the only two college students to score 40 or more points in a single game. three pointer.

Jenkins was the Lions’ top scorer in each of his last three seasons, earning first-team All-Ivy League honors each time.

In his senior year, Jenkins led the Lions to a 16-10 record, finished second in the Ivy League, averaged 22.2 points per game, and was named Ivy League Player of the Year and First Team All-Metropolitan. rice field. .

After two years playing in Europe and being an assistant coach at his alma mater, Jenkins now lives in Georgia. He spent years with Inner Strength, Inc., a youth development program that uses basketball as a tool to mentor and shape young men’s lives.

He currently coaches varsity basketball at Riverwood High School in Atlanta, has more than 200 wins, and will be inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame in 2022.