Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings is working with John Jenkins, one of the best pure shooters in the country, to improve his defense.

“He’s moving his feet better,” Stallings said.

“He’s trying harder. He’s thinking about it more. “He was never mentally engaged with defense — ever. And he tries as hard on the defensive end now as he tries on the offensive end. That’s really saying something because that kid has to try really hard on the offensive end the way he gets covered. His effort defensively has just been phenomenal.”

Jeffrey Taylor is considered a perimeter stopper, but Jenkins has been a liability.

“It could have been better last year,” Jenkins said of his defense. “It was good at times. It was not good at times. People can say that I run around on offense a lot and it was tiring me out, but I can’t use that as an excuse. I’ve got to get down in a stance and guard somebody.”

Jenkins is currently a borderline first round pick in the 2012 NBA Draft.