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Bruce Pascoe on UA Basketball

Jennings' talent unmistakable

05/18/2007 10:27 PM
Bruce Pascoe

As I was sitting in the upper section of McKale Center tonight, trying to make deadline while the Arizona Cactus Classic continued its frenetic pace, a distraction kept popping out of the corner of my eye.

Brandon Jennings raced the ball downcourt, cut past guys, went up, went under, went everywhere and shot accurately. One of UA’s top remaining targets in 2008, Jennings scored 28 points, with 10 rebounds, two assists, a block and only one turnover in Belmont Shore’s 98-91 win over the talented Pump-N-Run Elite.

UA still appears more likely to land Pump-N-Run Elite’s Larry Drew, but Jennings is simply too good not to pull out all the stops. And UA is. Salim Stoudamire conveniently showed up for the game, chatting with Jennings briefly afterward, and Jennings has agreed to stay for an unofficial visit on Monday.

“I want to see the fans, and the campus for the first time,” Jennings said. “I want to see how the players live and all that.”

Jennings has long been recruited by UA and actually played in last spring’s Cactus Classic, but committed to USC. He has since de-committed to the Trojans, and now says UConn, Kentucky and Arizona are finalists with a decision to come in July.

While UConn appears to be a leader, the fact that Jennings will stay for the visit can only help UA (he can’t be escorted during the AAU event by any UA coaches). It also helps the Wildcats that they still have a strong guard tradition—at least among their NBA players.

“It’s a point guard school,” Jennings said. “The top three point guards in the league went here—Gilbert Arenas, Mike Bibby and Jason Terry. They like to play my style of basketball, too, up and down.”

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  1. We’ve needed a guy like this for the longest time. We’ve been playing with a non-pointguard for the past four years. It’s killed us.
    — Don    05/19/2007 12:57 AM    #
  2. We need the other Jennings just as badly. Be great to get both but I still think the inside presence is most important.
    — RJ Rants    05/19/2007 07:11 AM    #
  3. The other Jennings, Terrance is a big man, a work in project, doesn’t play too much defense but reminds me of Channing, great shot blocker, but a little soft, definitely alot of potential there. Got to see him against Ohio State bound Luke Babbit, great rebounder. Some great games out there. Man, if I didn’t have a couple of family get togethers….I’d be there all day today and tomorrow. Great tournament….Go out and see these Jenning boys.
    I think Brandon Jennings is a long shot, very unselfish player, great ball handling skills and speedy. I’d be worried about USC next year. Demar Derozan, USC bound, is a freak athlete. Along with Jrue Holiday deciding between UCLA and Washington. I got to get back to those games.
    — Omar    05/19/2007 12:12 PM    #
  4. i think this kid is kentucky bound, billy gillispie is a GREAT coach and a GREAT recruiter! uk has some good guards and now that patrick patterson and a j stewart are there, uk may have a shot of landing some more TOP pg’s next couple of years. i believe uk will be winning some banners with billy g. SOON TOO!

    go wildcats~
    — john    05/19/2007 02:11 PM    #
  5. I think he goes to UConn but i hope he goes to UK
    — UKCats    05/19/2007 03:57 PM    #
  6. Yeah, I would watch out for kentucky. I think they may just swoop in and get this kid. Just hope he doesn’t visit lexington or it’s over.
    — titan_town    05/19/2007 06:39 PM    #
  7. Should be at UK next year. Not getting Lucas helped UK’s chances. He will be a high target for UK
    — Birddog    05/19/2007 09:01 PM    #
  8. yeah agreed, UK will be a factory soon for guys like this. After what Coach Gillispie did for Acie Law, any guard would be foolish not to consider UK. UK has more National coverage than any of those he is considering.

    Not to bag UConn, but Calhoun is a leach. He has been pubicly called out for his ethics. He would schedule particular games and then try to steal the other teams’ best players. Not forget to mention, when Syracuse attempted to leave the Big East for the ACC, Calhoun set the HUskies on a path to sue Syracuse for loss of revenue.

    I cant see why this kid would consider UConn. However that being said, Arizona and Kentucky should certainly be favorites to enlist his services.
    — Richard    05/19/2007 09:24 PM    #
  9. Richard why do you write things that are not true? Calhoun is not or was ever called out publicly for his ethics and never atttempted to sue Syracuse. Not to bag you but you are as leach!! Write about a subject that you know you jerk.
    — Nell    05/20/2007 10:37 AM    #
  10. Can someone tell me what’s so great about Gillespie? What has he accomplished?
    — C.C.    05/20/2007 03:34 PM    #
  11. Billy Gillespie is a buzz coach right now…he built a Texas A&M program from the ground up, so obviously he has some credentials, but time will tell if he can withstand the pressure to win at UK. Brandon Jennings would be wise to keep in mind that Arizona is Point Guard U.
    — darren    05/20/2007 05:58 PM    #
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