Brandon Jennings

Infobox Euroleague Player
color = #f7ac0b
fontcolor = #660000
name = Brandon Jennings
league = Serie A
Euroleague
team = Lottomatica Roma
jersey = 3
position = Point guard
nickname =
career_start =
height_ft = 6
height_in = 2
weight_lb = 170
nationality = American
birth_date = birth date and age|1989|9|23
birth_place = Los Angeles, California
death_date =
death_place =
highschool = Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Virginia
former_school(s)= Dominguez, Compton, California
career_highlights = Oak Hill record for most points in a single game (63)
career_start = 2008
awards =
honors =
records =
championships = n
championship_list =
tournaments = n
tournament_list =

Brandon Jennings (born September 23, 1989 in Los Angeles, California) is an American professional basketball player. He is a 6'2" (1.89 m) [http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-jennings092408&prov=yhoo&type=lgns] tall point guard. He is currently with the Italian League club Lottomatica Roma.

Jennings had signed a letter of intent to play for the University of Arizona Wildcats beginning in 2008-2009, but he has publicly announced that he will play professional basketball in Europe instead of attending college [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/23/sports/basketball/23rhoden.html?em&ex=1214366400&en=a89b992b0e692eff&ei=5087%0A Old World Lesson for the New N.B.A.] ] . He is the cousin of Marcus Williams, point guard for the Golden State Warriors and formerly of the University of Connecticut.

Early life

High school

Jennings began playing at Dominguez High School in Compton, California. Before his junior year, Jennings transferred to basketball powerhouse Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia.

As the most prolific single-season scorer in the history of Oak Hill Academy, Jennings averaged 35.5 points, 7.5 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 steals per game in his senior year of high school. His on-court performance earned him a number of high school basketball’s most prestigious awards including the 2008 Naismith High School Basketball Player of the Year, 2007-08 Gatorade Player of the Year - Virginia, 2008 Parade Magazine Player of the Year and 2008 EA Sports Player of the Year. In addition, he led his 2006-2007 team to a 41-1 record and a No. 1 ranking in the USA Today Super 25 national rankings. [http://slamonline.com/online/2008/09/brandon-jennings-signs-with-under-armour]

College

In August 2006, Jennings made a verbal commitment to the USC Trojans. On April 24, 2007 he decided to de-commit from the Trojans and instead join the Arizona Wildcats. Jennings cited Arizona's quality academic faculty and his desire to play with Jerryd Bayless as his primary reasons for making the decision. (Although Bayless has since left the program to enter the NBA draft.) [cite news |first=Bruce |last=Pascoe |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Jennings took long route to Arizona. But, he hit a bump in the road when Jeff Betscher beat him 21-10 in 1 v 1. |url=http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/wildcats/184512 |work= |publisher=Arizona Daily Star |date=2007-04-24 |accessdate=2007-12-05 ] However, in June 2008, Jennings announced that he is considering becoming the first American to skip college to play professionally in Europe. The NBA requires players to be at least 19 years old and one year removed from high school before entering the league, meaning that Jennings could not enter the 2008 NBA draft. Jennings has declared that his goal is to play in the NBA and that playing overseas instead of at an American college may be his best route to gain experience and make money until he is eligible to join the NBA.

On July 9, after weighing his options, Jennings announced that he will play professionally overseas until he is eligible for the 2009 NBA draft. Jennings did not wait for the results of his third SAT exam to come out on July 11 to make his decision.

Pro

On July 16, 2008 Jennings signed with Pallacanestro Virtus Roma of Italian Serie A. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3491998 Jennings goes pro, signs with Pallacanestro Virtus Roma] ]

Jennings is the first player to play for a European team rather than play for a college team since the NBA's age restriction was implemented.

Media attention

At the time of his decision whether to attend college or turn professional, Jennings was ranked as the No. 1 prospective college freshman by Scout.com [ cite web |url=http://scouthoops.scout.com/a.z?s=75&p=9&c=4&cfg=bb&pid=88&yr=2008 |title=Scout.com: Men's Basketball Recruiting |accessdate=2007-12-05 |format= |work= ] , No. 1 by ESPN.com [ cite web |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/recruiting/basketball/mens/columns/story?columnist=lawlor_christopher&&id=2994855 |title=ESPN - No. 1 prospect Jennings won't rest after successful summer |accessdate=2007-12-06 |format= |work= |first=Jason |last=Watson ] and No. 4 by Rivals.com [ cite web |url=http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/viewrank.asp?ra_key=1617 |title=Rivals.com Prospect Rankings |accessdate=2007-12-05 |format= |work= ] .

USA Today published a national ranking of prominent boy's high school teams in which Jennings' Oak Hill Academy team was ranked at the top. [ cite news |first=Jim |last=Halley |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Super 25: Oak Hill Academy starts season on top |url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/preps/basketball/poll/2007-super25.htm |work= |publisher=USA Today |date= |accessdate=2007-12-05 ]

SLAM Magazine’s third edition of PUNKS featured Jennings on the cover along with three other top-rated guards (Jrue Holiday, Tyreke Evans and Lance Stephenson). [ cite news |first=Adam |last=Zagoria |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=The best high school guards in America |url=http://slamonline.com/online/2007/11/the-best-high-school-guards-in-america/ |work= |publisher=SLAM Magazine |date=2007-11-09 |accessdate=2007-12-05 ]

Sportswear manufacturer Under Armour announced in September 2008 that they had a multi-year partnership with basketball phenom, Brandon Jennings. [http://slamonline.com/online/2008/09/brandon-jennings-signs-with-under-armour]

Awards

*2005 Press Telegram Freshmen Player of the Year

*Named the Most Valuable Player of the 2006 Les Schwab Invitational Tournament

*Co-MVP of the 2006 Elite 24 Hoops Classic

*Co-MVP of the 2007 Elite 24 Hoops Classic (with Tyreke Evans)

*2007 Las Vegas Easter Classic Most Valuable Player

*2007 NBAPS Top 100 High School Camp Best Playmaker

*2007 The Goazcats.com Showdown Most Valuable Player

*2008 Naismith Male Player of the year

*2007-08 Gatorade Player of the year Virginia

*2008 Parade Magazine Player of the Year

*2008 EA SPORTS National Player of the Year

*2007-08 MaxPreps National Player of the Year

*2008 Jordan Brand Classic Most Valuable Player for the East

* No. 1 rated senior by ESPN (2008)
* No. 1 rated senior by Van Coleman Hoopmaster (2008)
* No. 1 rated senior by Clark Franics Hoopscoop (2007 and 2008)
* No. 1 rated senior by Dave Telep Scout.com 2008

References

External links

* [http://www.brandonjennings.net/ Brandon Jennings Fan Site]
* [http://www.takkle.com/people/7132510/-/profile TAKKLE.com profile]
* [http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=39071&Sport=2 Profile on Rivals.com]
* [http://scouthoops.scout.com/a.z?s=75&p=8&c=1&nid=1726647 Profile on Scout.com]
* [http://www.nbadraft.net/admincp/profiles/brandonjennings.html NBADraft.net Profile]
* [http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Brandon-Jennings-1114/ DraftExpress.com Profile]
* [http://www.mynbadraft.com/NBA-Draft-Profiles-2009/Brandon-Jennings MyNBADraft.com Profile]