Sports
Wildcat Notebook: MORE HELP IS ON THE WAY
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| Nick Prevenas | Green Valley News Brandon Jennings drives in for a lay-up during the first half of Oak Hill’s 102-91 victory over Dudley High School on Dec. 22 at McKale Center. Jennings was named MVP of the GOAZCATS.com showdown and will be one of the main attractions during tonight’s McDonald’s All-American game, which tips off at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN. |
By Nick Prevenas, Green Valley News
Future Wildcat Jennings on display at tonight’s McDonald’s All-American game
Arizona basketball is at a crossroads.
Local basketball fans are still up in arms after the Wildcats’ season came to an abrupt end in Washington, D.C.
The 75-65 loss at the hands of the West Virginia Mountaineers not only kept the Wildcats beneath the 20-win barrier for the first time in 21 years, it forced thousands of Southern Arizona basketball fans to send their brackets through the shredder.
However, all is not bleak in the Old Pueblo.
Lute Olson returned to work on Monday, hoping to establish a sense of normalcy through what has easily been the most chaotic year of his 25-year Tucson tenure.
While Olson spends the week trying to reconcile his Hall-of-Fame past with a tumultuous present, Wildcat fans will get a look at the future tonight.
Oak Hill phenom and Arizona recruit Brandon Jennings will be the main attraction during tonight’s McDonald’s All-American game in Milwaukee.
By now, every Wildcat fan has heard the name, but few have seen the electrifying 6-foot-1 point guard in action.
He gave local hoop fans a glimpse of his abilites on Dec. 22, when he scored a then-career-high 49 points in a 102-91 win over Dudley High School at the GOAZCATS.com Showdown.
Jennings is rated as the No. 1 overall prospect by ESPN, and has lived up to that lofty standard during what has been a remarkable senior season.
Oak Hill coach Steve Smith said Jennings is among the most talented players he has ever coached — a list that includes Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, Michael Beasley and dozens of other stars.
“Brandon has really matured as a player,” Smith said after Jennings was named the Showdown’s Most Valuable Player. “He was the distributor on a team that went 40-1 last year, and now he has developed into our go-to scorer.”
Jennings de-committed from USC last April in order to add his name to the illustrious list of guards that has resulted in Arizona’s unofficial title of “Point Guard U.”
Aran Smith, president and founder of NBADraft.net, said Jennings will likely have the biggest impact of any incoming freshman next season.
“Jennings is special because of his amazing combination of athleticism, scoring ability, and pure point guard skills,” Smith said. “He’s a fighter, and his will to win will take him far.”
Jennings, a Southern California native who had been recruited by the Wildcats as far back as his freshman year, said he is close with current Arizona stars Jerryd Bayless and Chase Budinger.
In fact, Jennings frequently stole the show as a member of the SoCal All Stars, an AAU team that also featured Kevin Love and, yes, Budinger.
“I’m really close with Jerryd and Chase,” Jennings said in the locker room after his 49-points-in-32-minutes outburst on Dec. 22. “The three of us together? We could bring the national championship back to Tucson, where it belongs.”
Jennings will lead a West roster that also features fellow Pac-10 commits Demar DeRozan (USC), Jrue Holiday (UCLA), Michael Dunigan (Oregon) and Malcolm Lee (UCLA).
If Bayless decides to forego the NBA draft and return for his sophomore season, he will likely play shooting guard alongside Jennings, with Nic Wise seeing significant minutes in what is sure to be a blazing-fast three-guard lineup.
“Wow, what a talented backcourt,” Smith said.
Scouts frequently compare Jennings, a crafty southpaw with a wide array of offensive skills, to Kenny Anderson and Allen Iverson, except with a point guard’s mentality.
“If anything limits Jennings from living up to his potential, it would probably be leaving too early when it’s apparent he isn’t ready to leave for the NBA,” Smith said. “Point guards are at the greatest risk of limiting their long term potential by leaving too early. I think Kenny Anderson’s NBA career was stunted for the very same reason.”
The 18-year-old Jennings will be expected to step in right away and help lead the Wildcats back toward national prominence and out of the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
It is a lot of pressure to put on a teenager, but if Jennings can live up to this avalanche of hype, there is no telling what he could accomplish next season.
However, Smith is quick to warn Wildcat fans that it takes more than raw talent to win basketball games.
“I think Jennings can help to turn things around for Arizona. Although as they have seen this year, star players only go so far,” Smith said. “You have to play as a team and have the right role players and coaching to reach greatness.”
The McDonald’s All-American game will tip off at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN.
nprevenas@gvnews.com | 547-9747
Arizona basketball is at a crossroads.
Local basketball fans are still up in arms after the Wildcats’ season came to an abrupt end in Washington, D.C.
The 75-65 loss at the hands of the West Virginia Mountaineers not only kept the Wildcats beneath the 20-win barrier for the first time in 21 years, it forced thousands of Southern Arizona basketball fans to send their brackets through the shredder.
However, all is not bleak in the Old Pueblo.
Lute Olson returned to work on Monday, hoping to establish a sense of normalcy through what has easily been the most chaotic year of his 25-year Tucson tenure.
While Olson spends the week trying to reconcile his Hall-of-Fame past with a tumultuous present, Wildcat fans will get a look at the future tonight.
Oak Hill phenom and Arizona recruit Brandon Jennings will be the main attraction during tonight’s McDonald’s All-American game in Milwaukee.
By now, every Wildcat fan has heard the name, but few have seen the electrifying 6-foot-1 point guard in action.
He gave local hoop fans a glimpse of his abilites on Dec. 22, when he scored a then-career-high 49 points in a 102-91 win over Dudley High School at the GOAZCATS.com Showdown.
Jennings is rated as the No. 1 overall prospect by ESPN, and has lived up to that lofty standard during what has been a remarkable senior season.
Oak Hill coach Steve Smith said Jennings is among the most talented players he has ever coached — a list that includes Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, Michael Beasley and dozens of other stars.
“Brandon has really matured as a player,” Smith said after Jennings was named the Showdown’s Most Valuable Player. “He was the distributor on a team that went 40-1 last year, and now he has developed into our go-to scorer.”
Jennings de-committed from USC last April in order to add his name to the illustrious list of guards that has resulted in Arizona’s unofficial title of “Point Guard U.”
Aran Smith, president and founder of NBADraft.net, said Jennings will likely have the biggest impact of any incoming freshman next season.
“Jennings is special because of his amazing combination of athleticism, scoring ability, and pure point guard skills,” Smith said. “He’s a fighter, and his will to win will take him far.”
Jennings, a Southern California native who had been recruited by the Wildcats as far back as his freshman year, said he is close with current Arizona stars Jerryd Bayless and Chase Budinger.
In fact, Jennings frequently stole the show as a member of the SoCal All Stars, an AAU team that also featured Kevin Love and, yes, Budinger.
“I’m really close with Jerryd and Chase,” Jennings said in the locker room after his 49-points-in-32-minutes outburst on Dec. 22. “The three of us together? We could bring the national championship back to Tucson, where it belongs.”
Jennings will lead a West roster that also features fellow Pac-10 commits Demar DeRozan (USC), Jrue Holiday (UCLA), Michael Dunigan (Oregon) and Malcolm Lee (UCLA).
If Bayless decides to forego the NBA draft and return for his sophomore season, he will likely play shooting guard alongside Jennings, with Nic Wise seeing significant minutes in what is sure to be a blazing-fast three-guard lineup.
“Wow, what a talented backcourt,” Smith said.
Scouts frequently compare Jennings, a crafty southpaw with a wide array of offensive skills, to Kenny Anderson and Allen Iverson, except with a point guard’s mentality.
“If anything limits Jennings from living up to his potential, it would probably be leaving too early when it’s apparent he isn’t ready to leave for the NBA,” Smith said. “Point guards are at the greatest risk of limiting their long term potential by leaving too early. I think Kenny Anderson’s NBA career was stunted for the very same reason.”
The 18-year-old Jennings will be expected to step in right away and help lead the Wildcats back toward national prominence and out of the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
It is a lot of pressure to put on a teenager, but if Jennings can live up to this avalanche of hype, there is no telling what he could accomplish next season.
However, Smith is quick to warn Wildcat fans that it takes more than raw talent to win basketball games.
“I think Jennings can help to turn things around for Arizona. Although as they have seen this year, star players only go so far,” Smith said. “You have to play as a team and have the right role players and coaching to reach greatness.”
The McDonald’s All-American game will tip off at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN.
nprevenas@gvnews.com | 547-9747
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