European basketball is becoming more competitive and illustrious for the players who now live the life of fame and fortune.
Lately, the Euroleague has been offering NBA players the opportunity to travel overseas to play basketball. European teams have gone as far as to promise Villas on the Mediterranean Sea, yachts, and offering to pay the taxes of some players' salary. Such a glamorous offer was proposed to Kobe Bryant and accepted by former Atlanta Hawks forward, Josh Childress.
NBA players aren't the only ones headed over seas though.
In 2006, the NBA set an age deadline which stated that a player must be at least 19 years old before the beginning of the draft to be considered. So as players outplay their college peers and rise above competition with ease waiting for their eligibility, Brandon Jennings made a bold decision.
Brandon Jennings played his first two years of high school at Dominguez High School in Compton, California. He transferred to the basketball famous school, Oak Hill Academy in Virgina, who's alumni consists of Carmelo Anthony, Rajon Rondo, Stephen Jackson, Jerry Stackhouse, Josh Smith, and Kevin Durant among others.
Jennings averaged 35.5 points, 7.5 assists, five rebounds, and four steals per game in his senior year. Such statistics helped him earn the prestigious 2008 Naismith High School Basketball Player award.
Jennings made a verbal commitment to the USC Trojans before changing his mind to play for the Arizona Wildcats. But Jennings eventually bowed out of that decision as well, as the Wildcats saw shooting guard Jerryd Bayless join the NBA, and head coach Lute Olson retire.
Brandon Jennings made the decision to be the first American to skip college in exchange for playing in Europe.
Jennings decided that making a little money and gaining more experience would be good to help him excel and prepare him for the NBA. Jennings joined Pallacanestro Virtus Roma in Rome, Italy and has mentioned that he is learning how to run a team with more flow and ease than he did in high school.
Jennings looks to be the top point guard in the upcoming NBA draft.
He has speed, athleticism, vision, and truly knows the point guard position. Brandon Jennings will create offense for everyone, and is a true competitor that will never back down.
But has he created a trend for future high school graduates? Only time will tell.
8 comments Last one added 7 months ago — Leave a Comment
John Lorge 7 months ago
I'm pretty sure Jennings could not get into college, I don't think he had the grades or test scores. I am curious if he even graduated HS (or if they even take real classes at Oak Hill). Had this been 5 years ago he might have been a JC candidate, or he woulda went pro and bounced around the league for 3-5 years before making an impact. The results of Jennings going to Eruope will be very interesting to watch, but I'm pretty sure a 4-year wasn't an option, especially not at a state school.
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John Lorge 7 months ago
Also heres the teams Wiki page (allen ray is on the squad) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pallacanestro_Virtus_Roma
teams home page http://www.virtusroma.it/
Jennings Bio http://www.virtusroma.it/internal.asp?art_id=2393&cat_id=2&category_name=Roster&art_titolo=Brandon%20Jennings
The team is also refered to as lottomanatica heres a page with his stats its from the best euroleague site around http://www.euroleague.net/competition/players/showplayer?gamenumber=2&clubcode=rom&phasetypecode=rs&pcode=001219
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Hoops4life 7 months ago
I think Jennings could have got into college, maybe not legitmately but there we are
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Joel Creager 7 months ago
I don't think Jennings is the first to play international ball instead of go to college. I am not some data crunching info nut, but with all the players out there I seriously doubt he is the first. Especially since international teams can use child labor (ricky rubio played pro since he was 14). Jennings probably just has the more notoriety than other players ot go abroad. He is just one of the first.
Going international might help him mature more quickly coming right out of high school. College can build the ego and expectation that goes with "knowing" they will be pro, but having to wait.
Being international will keep young players more honest with their goals, and make them more cultured in the end.
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Shane Yeo 7 months ago
"First American"
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Joel Creager 7 months ago
That is what I am saying. If it is commonplace around the world, then I seriously doubt he is the first American. If I didn't have a paper to write tonight then I'd do the research. If he is.... Then wow! You are either a thorough researcher or a lucky one.
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Chendaddy 7 months ago
Jerryd Bayless leaving and Lute Olsen retiring had nothing to do with Jennings not going to Arizona. If anything, the former would motivate him to go even more, as he wouldn't have to share minutes and the spotlight with another ball-dominating PG. He didn't go because he couldn't get a legitimately high enough SAT score. That's hardly news. KG started the entire high-school-to-pro trend back in 1995 because he couldn't get an SAT score high enough for any university to accept him either.
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Shane Yeo 7 months ago
When he wanted to go to Arizona, one of the biggest reason was he desire to play with Jerryd Bayless.
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