By Ben Rekosh
RICHMOND, Va. -- The two things that stand out about Brandon Jennings are his innate work ethic and team-first mentality, as by all accounts, he uses those to fuel his competitive fire.
The first-team, all-state player signed his National Letter of Intent to continue his academic and athletic career at Virginia Commonwealth University last November, according to the VCU athletics website.
Currently, Jennings is the only freshman on the projected 2024-25 VCU men’s basketball roster; he takes that as a source of honor, he said.
Jennings is already ingrained in the black and gold culture, as the incoming freshman has been working at the Basketball Development Center months before he even officially enrolls as a student-athlete at VCU, he said.
VCU is getting a pure athlete; Jennings stands at 6 foot, 4 inches tall and boasts a “7 foot, 2 inch wingspan”, according to the VCU athletics website.
Jennings averaged 20 points, eight rebounds and five assists per game on the basketball court in his senior season, but he also led the football team in touchdowns as a wide receiver for his junior season, he said.
Jennings attends St. Christopher’s School, which is only a 14 minute drive from the Stuart C. Siegel Center, according to Google Maps. The Saints were able to reach the state semifinals this past season for the second time in program history.
“I feel like I can guard the best player, and then I also feel like I can produce on offense at the same level,” according to Jennings, who said he is a “strong two-way player.”
One of the basketball characteristics that makes Jennings so special is his willingness to pass the ball and make the play that is in the best interest of the team, according to VCU men’s basketball assistant Coach, Matt Henry.
“He’s a smart young man, but he’s also a smart basketball player,” Henry said, while noting Jennings’ basketball intangibles and desire to win.
The one skill that Jennings still needs some improvement with is the quickness and range of his jumpshot, according to Michael Blackwell, head coach of Team Loaded AAU, Jennings’ travel team.
When he’s not playing basketball, Jennings loves to eat any type of chicken, he said. Although he hasn’t had muchfree time recently, when he does, he likes tovideo games as a way to relax and escape reality.
Demetria Jennings, Brandon’s mother, is a two-time graduate of VCU, and being able to stay close to home was an important part of the college decision for Jennings..
The amount of talent that is in the Richmond area is immense, and it’s great to see many players staying local, according to Jennings.
While currently undecided on what he will major in, the two areas of study that Jennings is interested in are engineering and business, he said. Notably, both of those subjects include mathematics, which he’s always been stronger with.
Jennings has learned from a veteran-led team and has grown in areas on and off the court, he said.
Jennings has always been a humble man, but one that is eager to learn and make his teammates better people. He’s always been a lead-by-example type of man, according to Donte Henderson, longtime coach and friend of his.
“I’m excited,” Jennings said
Jennings has been envisioning the day that he gets to suit up in uniform for the first time and play the game that he loves in front of thousands of fans in the Siegel Center.
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