High School B-Ball Phenom is Moving to Europe for Hoops

Brandon Jennings is a sick prospect coming out of high school, he played at Oak Hill Academy, a minor league for NBA’ers. Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, and Steve Blake came out of this school, and each of them went “one and done” after playing a freshman year in college and then jumped to the pros.

Brandon had some issues with passing the SAT, and at one point his score was challenged. He’s not playing college ball anymore. He’s going straight to Europe to make a quick $100,000 – $200,000 for a year, and then hopes to go number 1 in the draft next year.

If Jennings goes to Europe, gets paid and becomes the number 1 pick, this would be groundbreaking. David Stern would be forced to change the unrealistic “one year out of high school” rule. Jennings agent:

Valle said Jennings will not even wait for his third standardized test result to see if he got a qualifying score after his second test was questioned by the NCAA. The results from the third test are due later this week.

“That’s a moot point now,” Valle said. “He’s not going to the University of Arizona. Brandon plans on going to Europe.”

True Hoop

We were going to post a video of O.J. Mayo hitting a 69 footer on this slowest sports day of the year, but changed our mind. Brandon won’t be walking into Lute Olsen’s office, telling him, he won’t give out his cell phone number.

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Email me a link at baron (at) socialbaron.com if you’ve got a tip.

From Stomper – Stephon Marbury showed up for summer league practice with the number -3- tattooed on his dome. There’s rumors that he’ll soon be heading to Boston if the Knicks release him. NY Post Deadspin found this photo.

From D.C. Justice – Ed Hochali is the greatest ref ever and is the guy with the large guns. No surprise the NFL coaches are scared of him and voted him the best ref. I swear, if Hochali was sent to Iraq that war would be over in one day. Link

NBA Free Agent Roulette

The free agent world is starting to take shape and it’s going something like this:

Sports by Brooks says that Baron Davis is leaving Da Warriors for the the Clippers for a 5 year $65 million dollar deal.

Antwan Jamison re-signed, last week, with the Wizards for 4 years at $50 million.

Gilbert Arenas is waiting for the Wizards to offer him his deal which is rumored at $126 million for six years. Mister Irrelevant thinks that’s a huge sum of money, but maybe worth it for the love of the fans.

And Lebron James, who is working towards his goal of becoming a global icon would be best suited for his favorite burrough, Brooklyn or in New York City. He’s due for free agency in 2010, so Cavs fans should be worried. Jay-Z is a minority owner of the soon to be Brooklyn Nets and they’re already boys. ESPN

Lakers 2002 vs. the Internets in 2008

Think to 6 years ago…We’re sitting at home, watching the Lakers win their 3rd title of 3, this time against Jason Kidd and the New Jersey Nets. Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal are celebrating as victorious teammates and in a technology world where, youtube is still Chad Hurley’s pet project, cell phones work mostly for long distance calls, and Kobe and Shaq are three-time champions. Fastforward to 2008 in the new media era where, Shaq drops a verse at an NYC club where he disses Kobe, a fan films this show on his cell phone where TMZ picks up the video, and now some kid in middle America makes his own reponse video.

The Sporting Blog

Stephen A. Smith Heckled at 2008 NBA Draft

We all know that Stephen A. Smith is like Lamar Odom, all dressed up but with nowhere to go.  Our boy Stephen is a knowledgable fellow on paper, but doesn’t play well in the big games, like Odom.  He was demoted from a draft analysis, to a draftee interviewer at the NBA Draft.  This heckler smells bad, and fits in a a size 9 shoe.

Anyway, Fastforward to the 1:50 mark and this heckling video gets good.  The Cheetos ads are busch league, but alas.

 

With the 15th The Phoenix Suns Select – SideShow Bob

NBA Draft Coverage in a nutshell…Derrick Rose, the point guard from Memphis went to Chicago at the 1st pick, Michael Beaseley from Kansas State went to Miami at the 2nd pick, and…Brook Lopez from Stanford put together his best Sideshow Bob inpersonation when the 15th picks came around.

The site: Next Round put together a photo montage of all of the NBA Commish’s All-Time Most Awkward Handshakes. Click for more photos after the jump.

Update: Shan Foster was taken with the 51st pick in the draft by the Dallas Mavericks. Marc Cuban is excited and congrats to Shan, he’s going to be a legit NBA player. Marc Cuban from the Dallas Morning News:

“All you have to do is look at his YouTube tape where he had nine 3s against Mississippi State. It’s incredible the range he has. [ESPN analyst] Jay Bilas said Shan couldn’t hit the NBA 3, but he never even takes a college 3. I think we got a steal, but we’ll see. Everybody’s a hero on draft day.”

Shan Foster…He’s Pumped for the NBA

Our buddy Shan Foster wrote a NBA Draft song. This guy made some clutch baskets this past season, see Ole Miss, Tennessee and he wants us to check out his keyboard playing skills. He’s got skills, but can he freestyle like Shaq?

Follow the jump for his 42 point effort vs. Ole Miss in March.