Jennings passes up college basketball, signs with Italy team

Jul 16, 2008 - 8:31 PM ROME (Ticker) -- Former Arizona recruit Brandon Jennings followed through on his claim to skip college and play internationally in preparation for the 2009 NBA draft, signing with Italian squad Pallacanestro Virtus Roma on Wednesday.

The 6-1 Jennings made the decision due to the NBA's rule that a player will only be eligible for the draft if he is at least 19 years old and one year removed from high school.

Expected to be a one-and-done player for Arizona, Jennings announced his decision to spur the Wildcats and play internationally on July 9. The 18-year-old made the choice despite still awaiting the results of a standardized test that would determine his eligibility.

According to a report on ESPN's web site, Jennings is expected to sign a two- or three-year contract with Pallacanestro Virtus Roma that would probably include a provision to allow him to be released from the contract to head to the NBA.

Playing for Oak Hill Academy for the last two seasons, Jennings had been rated as the nation's top point guard by ESPN.com.

Like most other teams in Italy's top league, Pallacanestro Virtus Roma has connections to numerous American players. This past season, former Villanova star Allan Ray and Temple's David Hawkins were both on the team.

In an interesting twist, Pallacanestro Virtus Roma is the same Italy squad that Danny Ferry signed with in 1989 to avoid playing for the Los Angeles Clippers, who selected him second overall out of Duke.