Felicia was an All-Conference player twice in college and went on to be the head coach at Benedict College and an assistant at Division I Jackson State.
Former Villanova basketball star Kris Jenkins is forever etched into NCAA Tournament history for his buzzer-beating three-pointer that won the 2016 national championship.
According to The Athletic’s Ralph Busso, Kris has filed a lawsuit against the NCAA and six major athletic conferences for damages resulting from the restriction on athlete compensation.
The complaint, filed in the Southern District of New York, targets the NCAA, Big East, ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, and SEC.
However, Jenkins has opted out of the House suit and seeks compensation.
He argues that he has significant lost earnings tied to his role in one of college basketball’s most iconic moments, which he played continuously in many highlight reels for March Madness.
According to the complaint, Jenkins believes he missed out on between $400k and $500k in potential earnings due to the restrictions placed on him as a college athlete.
His suit is similar to the one filed in 2023 by former Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson and other ex-Wolverines, seeking over $50 million in damages from the Big Ten and the NCAA.
Former NCAA Star Kris Jenkins’s Parents Separated Shortly After His Birth
Kris Jenkins, 31, was born on November 20, 1993, in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, to his father, Kelvin Jenkins, and his mother, Felicia Jenkins.
Although Kris and his family live in the United States, their ancestors had deep connections with African heritage. Therefore, Kris and his family are of American-African ethnicity and American nationality.
Felicia Jenkins is a former Army veteran and basketball coach who taught Kris the fundamentals of basketball at a young age.
After separating from Kelvin, Felicia moved Kris and his sisters, Kaiya and Kelci, to Baltimore, Maryland, and later to South Carolina, for her coaching career.
When Kris started struggling in school and spending time with the wrong crowd, Felicia sent Kris away to live with UNC’s Nate Britt’s parents.
On the other hand, Kris’s father, Kelvin Jenkins, played a significant role in his difficult time.
After Kris’s baby sister Kori passed away, Kelvin also contacted a trusted friend, Nate Britt Sr., whose son, Nate Britt II, had played AAU basketball with Kris.
Kelvin asked Britt Sr. if Kris could spend more time with their family. In 2007, Nate Britt and Melody Britt became Kris’s legal parents, giving him a second home in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.
Felicia regularly visited Kris and always pushed him to stay focused and committed.
Kelvin and Felicia’s sacrifices paid off in 2016 when Kris hit the legendary buzzer-beater to win Villanova’s national title.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Kris Jenkins attended Gonzaga College High School. As a junior in 2011-12, he averaged 20.6 points and 10.4 rebounds per game; as a senior, he had 18.3 points and 10.3 rebounds.
- After going undrafted in the 2017 NBA Draft, Jenkins joined the Washington Wizards for the NBA Summer League. Later, he was selected by the Sioux Falls Skyforce with the 14th pick in the 2017 NBA G League Draft.
- In February 2020, Jenkins was hired by Villanova University, his alma mater, as an assistant in student-athlete development.
