The evolution of Brandon Jennings
Two former Oak Hill Academy teammates, one currently playing in college and one still dominating the prep scene for Oak Hill, managed to snag the headlines on the national recruiting scene this week for entirely different reasons. One of these highly-coveted looks forward to leading his Wildcats, while the other made known his intentions to leave his Wildcats.
While point guard Brandon Jennings, the top-rated prospect in the class of 2008, erupted for a 45 point performance earlier this week and his Arizona Wildcats anxiously await his arrival, his former running mate, shooting guard Alex Legion, will leave his Kentucky Wildcats and transfer after starting the season in Lexington, playing in all six games and starting two in his brief Kentucky career.
Jennings showed splendid play this summer with explosive scoring outburst on the AAU circuit, due in large part to the fact that the various AAU teams that he ran the point for this summer possessed less talent than his Oak Hill teams. Jennings would typically have to score in abundance to give his AAU teams a chance to win during the summer, and he certainly did not disappoint, providing the scoring punch that his team required in countless tournaments.
Though he does not need to do as much heavy lifting on the offensive end for Oak Hill, Jennings has the ability to go off at any time, as made evident by his scoring output on Wednesday. Jennings, a streak shooter with deep range, has the ability to put points on the board in a hurry, either from the perimeter or using his quickness and impressive ball-handling for penetration to the basket. Jennings, as he typically shows for his Oak Hill squad, has the ability to create for his teammates, using his vision and passing skills to easily set up hi teammates for scores. The challenge for the electrifying Jennings arises when he plays with more talented teammates and the team needs him to play more as a pass-first point guard as opposed to a shoot-first point.
As he continues to develop for the next level, Jennings will have to rely extensively on his point guard skills while playing with more talented scorers at Arizona. If standout freshman guard Jerryd Bayless decides to stick around Tucson after this season and not bolt for the NBA, Jerryd Bayless and Jennings could combine to form one of the most dynamic backcourts in recent history, but Jennings would have to distribute first and score second in this scenario. If gifted G/F Chase Budinger gives the Wildcats another season after this one, Jennings will have another effective offensive weapon that he has to get touches. Whether Jerryd Bayless and/or Budinger leave for the League or not, Jennings will have other talented teammates that he will have to keep happy and involved on the offensive end. Once he masters this element, his shot selection will dramatically improve (which would help alleviate some of his streakiness) and Jennings will made a significant step in realizing his vast potential.
Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie could did not have enough time to blink at Kentucky before one of his recruits, freshman SG Alex Legion decided that he would leave Lexington and look to transfer. Legion, a Michigan native who originally signed to play for the Wolverines, wanted out of his letter of intent when Michigan fired Tommy Amaker.
On the surface Kentucky resembled a great fit for the talented, yet sometimes uninspired Legion. Legion would get decent minutes at a top-notch program and Gillispie's intensity would rub off. After two of Kentucky's top perimeter performers went down due to injuries (Derrick Jasper and Jodie Meeks), Legion stood primed for even more playing time.
However, after scoring seven points in six minutes of play in a game versus top-ranked North Carolina, Legion informed the Kentucky staff that he wanted out. Rumors have it that Legion could ultimately wind up back where he started, at Michigan, this time playing for former West Virginia head honcho John Beilein. If Legion indeed does go back home, he could combine with two other highly regarded freshmen guards, Manny Harris and Kelvin Grady, to give Beilein an impressive young triumvirate on the perimeter that could cause opposing defenses nightmares due to their extensive offensive skills.
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