Point guard Brandon Jennings has the potential to sell a ton of NBA tickets one day, but he’s taking a path he hasn’t traveled yet on his way to the NBA. Jennings signed with Pallacanestro Virtus Roma of the Italian professional league when questionable SAT scores threatened to prevent him from enrolling in Arizona. Jennings was committed to being a Wildcat for the upcoming college basketball season until eligibility issues led the 18-year-old to consider playing abroad. Jennings can’t make the jump directly to the NBA thanks to the league’s rule that a player must be one year out of high school and 19 by the end of the calendar year of his rookie season to play in the NBA. .
This kind of problem was bound to arise. A similar situation almost arose a few years ago, before the age minimum was set, with now Indiana Pacer Brandon Rush. Rush entered his name in the NBA draft after his senior year of high school, but withdrew when he did not receive a first-round promise. Rush considered forgoing college and working with a coach all year and re-entering his name in the following year’s draft. Rush eventually went to Kansas where he won a national championship. But there’s no chance Jennings will attend Arizona.
His new team features several American-born players, including former second-round pick Allan Ray, but the competition won’t be what it is at the elite level of college basketball. He has a good chance to start in Italy, especially if current point guard Roko Ukic signs with the Toronto Raptors. Jennings is a really talented player, but he has a bit of street ball in him. He doubts he’ll dare to pass behind his back without looking in Italy, although his flashy play could sell plenty of NBA tickets one day.
Jennings shares are likely to fall due to the lack of exposure and the inevitable adjustment period that comes with moving to a new country. He will have a chance to get his value back with pre-draft workouts for teams, but getting back to a top-five pick will be a challenge. This Jennings maiden voyage will serve as a model or cautionary tale for future prospects. Jennings will earn a nice salary this year and eventually sell NBA tickets, but this could pave the way for some less talented high school students to make the trip abroad never to play in their homeland again.