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INDIANAPOLIS -
Most likely, this will be the only time that he dons a Pacers uniform, takes a shot in the practice court of Conseco Fieldhouse, or aim to impress Larry Bird or Jim O'Brien.
This guard is projected to be picked in the middle of the top ten.
"You never know," said Brandon Jennings of why he wanted to workout for the Pacers, who pick 13th.
That doesn't mean the Los Angeles' natives' presence during Thursday's draft workout is insignificant. Its more of a case study for Pacers upper management on a unique decision that Jennings made a year ago.
"Its been a long process," said the guard of his year in Italy, playing for the Italian League club Lottomatica Roma.
Yes, that's professional basketball league, and yes, he was paid.
"At first I was a little mad because I did average 33 points my last senior year in high school," said Jennings who wasn't able to be drafted due to the NBA's requirement that a player be at lease 19 years old. "I was kinda upset but I found another way."
A path that no other high school player had taken until last year, until Jennings made the decision play overseas after originally deciding on Arizona to play college ball. He signed with Lottomatica Roma, and averaged 5.5 points per game while dishing out 17 assists in 17 minutes per game.
"I've been playing against grown men. I played in the second best league, the Euro League, for a year," said Jennings of the greatest advantage playing overseas. "That was great. I played against a lot of guys that should be in the league thats over there. I'm playing against guys that fight for minutes and their job is on the line."
But now that's hes made the jump how many could follow in his path. As the first high school player from America believed to have taken gone from high school to overseas, Jennings was reasonably successful, didn't lose draft stock, and was paid in the process.
It could be a popular option for players could have been drafted in the non-limited draft, or simply don't want to go to school.
"I could be a trendsetter," admitted Jennings about others following his route to Europe, instead of the traditional year in college. "I think if I go top five in the draft, I think you'll see more kids go."
Some aren't so patient. Louisville commit Jeremy Tyler has forgone his senior year of high school to play basketball in Europe.
"He's doing it way better than I did," said Jennings of Tyler.
But he's following a concept that is uniquely Jennings, at least, for now it is.
This guard is projected to be picked in the middle of the top ten.
"You never know," said Brandon Jennings of why he wanted to workout for the Pacers, who pick 13th.
That doesn't mean the Los Angeles' natives' presence during Thursday's draft workout is insignificant. Its more of a case study for Pacers upper management on a unique decision that Jennings made a year ago.
"Its been a long process," said the guard of his year in Italy, playing for the Italian League club Lottomatica Roma.
Yes, that's professional basketball league, and yes, he was paid.
"At first I was a little mad because I did average 33 points my last senior year in high school," said Jennings who wasn't able to be drafted due to the NBA's requirement that a player be at lease 19 years old. "I was kinda upset but I found another way."
A path that no other high school player had taken until last year, until Jennings made the decision play overseas after originally deciding on Arizona to play college ball. He signed with Lottomatica Roma, and averaged 5.5 points per game while dishing out 17 assists in 17 minutes per game.
"I've been playing against grown men. I played in the second best league, the Euro League, for a year," said Jennings of the greatest advantage playing overseas. "That was great. I played against a lot of guys that should be in the league thats over there. I'm playing against guys that fight for minutes and their job is on the line."
But now that's hes made the jump how many could follow in his path. As the first high school player from America believed to have taken gone from high school to overseas, Jennings was reasonably successful, didn't lose draft stock, and was paid in the process.
It could be a popular option for players could have been drafted in the non-limited draft, or simply don't want to go to school.
"I could be a trendsetter," admitted Jennings about others following his route to Europe, instead of the traditional year in college. "I think if I go top five in the draft, I think you'll see more kids go."
Some aren't so patient. Louisville commit Jeremy Tyler has forgone his senior year of high school to play basketball in Europe.
"He's doing it way better than I did," said Jennings of Tyler.
But he's following a concept that is uniquely Jennings, at least, for now it is.
