Brandon Jennings has decided to become the first standout prep basketball player to forgo the NCAA's "one and done" requirement in favor of being paid for a year as a pro in Europe.
Jennings, a point guard, announced Tuesday he will pursue a contract in one of Europe's professional basketball leagues, where he expects to earn "certainly, in the hundreds of thousands of dollars," in both a playing contract and shoe and other endorsement deals, Jennings' attorney, Jeffrey Valle of Los Angeles, said Tuesday night.
Jennings, 18, under NBA rules must be 19 and a year removed from high school to be eligible for the NBA draft. Instead, Valle said, "he has skills, and wants to be compensated for them now while being challenged."
Longtime former shoe representative Sonny Vaccaro will serve as an advisor to Jennings, Valle said, and Europe's "major leagues" have already expressed interest.
Jennings played at Compton Dominguez High before moving to Oak Hill Academy in Virginia during the last two seasons. A McDonald's All-American, he was ranked by many experts as the nation's top prep point guard.
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USC basketball recruit DeMar DeRozan of Compton has yet to be declared academically eligible to enroll in fall classes, but the high-scoring forward said he has every intention of playing for the Trojans later this year.
DeRozan said he completed the ACT college entrance exam June 28, and is expecting his score to arrive by the end of this week or next week, resulting in freshman season eligibility.
"As of now, I've done everything I can to be eligible," DeRozan said in a telephone interview. "I'm good. Everything will be fine on my end."
-- Lance Pugmire
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The death of DeShawn Newton, the Los Angeles Murphy freshman boys' basketball player who collapsed April 26 during an off-season tournament near Dallas, was classified as a status asthmaticus, a severe asthma attack that often causes respiratory failure, according to the Tarrant County medical examiner.
-- Dan Arritt
HOCKEY
Ducks sign Morrison to one-year contract
The Ducks are hoping their search for a center to anchor their second scoring line ended when they agreed to terms with Brendan Morrison on a one-year contract worth $2.75 million.
Morrison, who will be 33 next month, spent the last eight seasons with the Vancouver Canucks and had his most productive years there under current Ducks General Manager Brian Burke, including a 71-point season in 2002-03.
