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Brandon Jennings

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Brandon Jennings
No. 3 – Milwaukee Bucks
PositionPoint Guard
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (1989-09-23) September 23, 1989 (age 35)
Los Angeles, California
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Listed weight170 lb (77 kg)
Career information
High schoolDominguez High School
(Compton, California)
Oak Hill Academy
(Mouth of Wilson, Virginia)
CollegeNone
NBA draft2009: 1st round, 10th overall
Selected by the Milwaukee Bucks
Playing career2008–present
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Brandon Jennings (born September 23, 1989) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA) at point guard. Jennings is also the first pro basketball player to be sponsored by Under Armour.

Jennings was a highly acclaimed high school player, averaging 32.7 points and 7.5 assists in four years and won all major player of the year awards in his senior year. After graduating from Oak Hill Academy, he decided to play professional basketball the Italian club Lottomatica Roma instead of playing collegiately for the University of Arizona Wildcats, leading to controversy and debate on the NBA's "prep-to-pro" policy adopted in 2006. After a year in Italy, Jennings declared for the draft and was selected by the Bucks tenth overall.

Early life

Brandon Jennings was born to Alice Knox and Byran Jennings. He has a half-brother named Terrence Phillips.[1]

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.

In his senior year of high school, Jennings averaged 32.7 points, 7.5 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 3.7 steals per game and set the school record for points in a season. This performance earned him some of high school basketball’s most prestigious awards: 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.

He led his 2006-2007 team to a 41-1 record and the top ranking in the USA Today Super 25 list of high school teams.[2]

In 2006, Jennings teamed with Kevin Love (UCLA, Minnesota Timberwolves), Taylor King (Duke, Villanova), Malik Story (Indiana Hoosiers), Daniel Hackett (USC) and Renardo Sidney (Mississippi State University) to form what many believe to be the greatest team in high school AAU history. Their Southern California All-Star's squad went 65-0, winning five major AAU tournaments. In the finals of the Las Vegas Bigtime, they defeated a Chicago team that featured the backcourt of Derrick Rose (Memphis, Chicago Bulls) and Eric Gordon (Indiana, Los Angeles Clippers).

College plans

In August 2006, he chose to attend USC.

On April 24, 2007, he decided instead to join the Arizona Wildcats, citing Arizona's quality academic faculty and his desire to play with Jerryd Bayless. (Bayless left after one season to enter the 2008 NBA Draft.) [3]

In November 2007, SLAM Magazine’s third edition of PUNKS featured Jennings on the cover along with three other top-rated high school guards (Jrue Holiday, Tyreke Evans and Lance Stephenson). [4][5]

In June of 2009, Jennings attended the premiere of Beastie Boys Adam Yauch's basketball movie, Gunnin' For That #1 Spot" at the Magic Johnson Theater in Harlem. Also attending were Kevin Love, Lance Stephenson, Brook Lopez, Robin Lopez, DJ Augustin, and Adam Yauch. The film follows eight top high school players--including Jennings--from their hometowns to NYC, for the 2006 Elite 24 at Rucker Park.

In June 2008, Jennings was unable to pass the entrance exam to attend college at Arizona, even after multiple attempts. Jennings announced that he was 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. [6].

At the time, Jennings was ranked as the No. 1 prospective college freshman by Scout.com [7], No. 1 by ESPN.com[8] and No. 4 by Rivals.com [9].

Lottomatica Roma

On July 16, 2008, Jennings signed with Lottomatica Roma of the Italian Lega A. [10] The contract he signed with Roma was for $1.65 million net income guaranteed [11] and after earning the contract with Lottomatica, Under Armour gave Jennings a $2 million contract[12] to showcase their products in the Euroleague. Jennings was the first player to play for a European team rather than play for a college basketball team since the NBA's age restriction rule was implemented.

In 27 games in the Italian Lega A 2008-09 season, Jennings averaged 5.5 points, 1.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.5 steals in 17.0 minutes per game. He shot 35.1 percent from the field and 20.7 percent from 3 point range in Lega A play.[13] In 16 Euroleague games, Jennings averaged 7.6 points, 1.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.2 steals in 19.6 minutes per game. In the Euroleague he shot 38.7 percent from the field and 26.8 percent from 3 point range.[14]

National Basketball Association

2009–10 season

Jennings was selected tenth overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2009 NBA Draft. He became the first player who skipped college to play professional basketball in Europe to be drafted by an NBA team. Jennings also made a notable appearance at the draft. He had initially decided not to attend the draft and preferred to be at a family function during the draft. After he was drafted by the Bucks, he left the family function and headed to the Madison Square Garden. He later came out on the stage after the 14th pick was announced to have his picture taken with the NBA commissioner David Stern, just like all drafted players who attend the draft.[15]

During Jennings' NBA regular season debut on October 30, 2009 against the Philadelphia 76ers, Jennings recorded 17 pts, 9 rebounds and 9 assist and hit 2 three-point shots, just shy of a triple-double and played 34 minutes. In the second game on October 31, 2009 against the Detroit Pistons, also the debut in Bradley Center, Brandon Jennings scored 16 points during the third quarter and a team-high 24 points for the game to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to their first victory of the 2009-10 regular season. On November 14, 2009, Jennings scored 29 points in the 3rd quarter against Golden State and went on to score 55 total points to break the team record for most points by a rookie, previously set by Lew Alcindor in 1970.

Off the court

Brandon Jennings is admired not only for his sports ability; while playing in Italy, he donated $50,000 for the reconstruction of the city of L'Aquila affected by the earthquake. He declared that, coming from California, he could not be insensitive to that kind of tragedy.

Jennings is the first Under Armour basketball athlete, headlining the company's "When In Rome" campaign in 2008. The digital campaign connected fans to Brandon while he was playing in Italy. Brandon is also involved in the development and wear-test process for Under Armour's basketball apparel line and the up-and-coming footwear line. Brandon will be sporting the company's prototype basketball footwear monogrammed "Young Money" specifically for him in the upcoming NBA season.

Brandon Jennings is one of eight stars of Gunnin' For That #1 Spot, produced and directed by the Beastie Boys' Adam Yauch.

Awards and accomplishments

  • 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
  • 2008 McDonald's All-American
  • 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
  • Most Points Scored by a Rookie in an NBA Game (55) (2009)

References

  1. ^ Pete Thamel. "Family Keeps Teenage Pro Grounded". New York Times. October 4, 2008. Retrieved on November 11, 2009.
  2. ^ Halley, Jim. "Super 25: Oak Hill Academy starts season on top". USA Today. Retrieved 2007-12-05. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  3. ^ Pascoe, Bruce (2007-04-24). "Jennings took long route to Arizona". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved 2007-12-05. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  4. ^ Zagoria, Adam (2007-11-09). "The best high school guards in America". SLAM Magazine. Retrieved 2007-12-05. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  5. ^ Brandon Jennings Signs With Under Armour
  6. ^ Rhoden, William (2008-06-23). "Old World Lesson for the New N.B.A." The New York Times.
  7. ^ "Scout.com: Men's Basketball Recruiting". Retrieved 2007-12-05.
  8. ^ Watson, Jason. "ESPN - No. 1 prospect Jennings won't rest after successful summer". Retrieved 2007-12-06.
  9. ^ "Rivals.com Prospect Rankings". Retrieved 2007-12-05.
  10. ^ Jennings goes pro, signs with Pallacanestro Virtus Roma.
  11. ^ ESPN article $1.65 million.
  12. ^ Jennings signed a $2 million contract with Under Armour.
  13. ^ Brandon Jennings Italian League profile and stats.
  14. ^ Euroleague.net Brandon Jennings Official Player Profile.
  15. ^ "Jennings Reverses Course and Shows at NBA Draft". ABC News. ABC News Internet Ventures. June 25, 2008. Retrieved August 2, 2009.



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