Oct 6, 2008 | 7:15 AM | Brandon Jennings Update

by: Paul Miles

If only I had waited a couple hours...
Le Basketbawl has an article about David Stern's reaction to Brandon Jennings.

Stern thinks it's "cool" that Jennings is going to Italy to do what he can't do in the United States. And to bring you up to speed, Brandon's deal with Virtus Roma is for 3 years estimated $3.6 million in contract and endorsements. An NBA team would have to buy-out his Roma contract for him to come into the Association in '09 or '10.

The endorsement portion of the contract includes a new deal with Under Armor, a brand trying to stretch into the hoops market and chase names like And 1 and Nike. Good luck with that.

Jennings, in an interview with the New York Times at a little cafe near the Pantheon said he regretted not announcing his decision to play in Europe during high school. Not because he tied up a scholarship offer from Arizona, but because his contract and shoe deal would have been better due to the spectacle of an 18 year old signing a contract with a Euroleague team in the gym down at Oak Hill Academy.


Oak Hill, by the way, has turned boys' basketball into a bit of a cottage industry. Their alumni game could boast 11 first round NBA picks, including two first rounders in the '06 draft.

Back to Jennings, who's living with his mother and half brother in a Roman apartment about as far away from Compton as a small family can get. Roma's management, including Croatian NT coach Jasmin Repesa are happy with his development. He's listed on some sites as the team's starting point guard, and came off a five game exhibition schedule averaging 20 points.

Roma's 65 game schedule (not counting Lega Basket or Euroleague playoffs) will push the teenager's body physically and mentally. But being allowed to develop overseas, away from big dollar NCAA programs. Being paid to do nothing but workout, play basketball and hit on Italian girls could prove to be the path paved with gold to the NBA.

Brandon Jennings was the first. But his agent, Sonny Vaccaro has hinted that he may have as many as a dozen more prep school players ready to stamp their passports.

Labels: brandon jennings, david stern, globalization, oak hill academy, sonny vaccaro, under armor, virtus roma

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