The end of Brandon Jennings' prep career came to an end in the very same building in which his NBA career will begin.

Of course, in the little more than a year between the 2008 McDonald's All-American game and the start of the 2009-10 season, Jennings logged some extensive miles.

Jennings, the Bucks' first-round draft pick, spent the last season playing professionally in Europe as opposed to the University of Arizona, to which he committed prior to the end of his senior season at Oak Hill Academy.

The 6-foot-1 point guard was already projected as a possible lottery pick after averaging 35.5 points per game at Oak Hill, but because of an NBA rule prohibiting high school players from joining the league until one year after their class graduated -- as well as some problems with his SAT scores -- he chose instead to become the first American prep player to make the plunge in Europe.

"It was the best decision I made so far in my life," Jennings said Friday at a press conference. "Even though it was an up-and-down situation, it was challenging. A lot of people said I couldn't do it or I'd be back in a couple months.

"I got to play in the Euroleague, which is the second-best league to the NBA. A lot of things I've seen, pick-and-roll game, how physical it is, playing with grown men, even though I'm quicker than them, they can do types of things to get you off-balance. I think it was a great thing overall."

It was a learning experience, to say the very least.

Jennings, accustomed to running the point and being the go-to guy on the floor at Oak Hill, saw sparse playing time. He appeared in just 27 games with Lottomatica Virtus Roma of Italy's Serie A. In those games, he averaged just 17 minutes of action.

Making things more difficult, Jennings wasn't playing his natural position. Instead of running the point, he was used more as a shooting guard or small forward. That played a factor in the dramatic drop in his scoring average (5.5 ppg).

His mother and brother joined him for the year in Italy, but it was still an adjustment process for the young man, who is a native of Compton, Calif.

To combat his frustrations, Jennings did the one thing he knew he could: he hit the gym and worked on his game. That dedication, as much as his ability to distribute the ball and create opportunities for himself and his teammates, wasn't lost on Bucks head coach Scott Skiles.

"By all accounts, his default mechanism was to work harder," Skiles said. "That kind of attitude is very appealing."

A point guard himself -- as well as somebody that also played and coached in Europe -- Skiles recognized Jennings' maturity, on and off the court. He's especially impressed by Jennings' ability to make decisions on the court, as well as his speed.

"The speed and quickness he has is unique," Skiles said. "It's explosive quickness. But that isn't any good if you can't make decisions.

"He can do that. In the NBA, you live-and-die by the split-second decisions players make. If your point guard is making those decisions, everybody benefits and I think he'll be able to do that."  Page 1 of 2 (view all on one page)

Next >>

4 comments about this article. Post a comment / write a review.

Recent Talkbacks ...

Posted by jk1522 on Aug. 17, 2009 at 4:06 p.m. (report)

No, he is exactly what the Bucks need! Redd is a tool Imagine Ricky Pierce...way overpaid...no talent!

Posted by sandstorm on July 6, 2009 at 2:08 p.m. (report)

the guy is a tool. imagine iverson with no talent.

Posted by damonsocool on July 6, 2009 at 4:01 a.m. (report)

I disagree with the first posted comment. The Milwaukee Bucks need a little attitude and emotion, thats what Jennings brings to this team. Thats the problem with the city of Milwaukee, we never want to take any chances we keep things neutral just to be safe.

Posted by trr on July 1, 2009 at 4:49 p.m. (report)

This guy jennings (or should I say boy?) is a real a-hole. I request that the Bucks trade him for anything they can get. As a Milwaukean, I don't need him and his attitude.