Roma’s Jennings shows he has a big heart

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LONDON (The Friday Eurovision) - Never has it been more gratifying to be involved in the sport of basketball than now.

It has emerged that teenager Brandon Jennings, the highly-touted American who passed up NCAA stardom to launch his professional career in Italy this year at Lottomatica Roma, is donating $50,000 to the relief effort for victims of the recent earthquake in the Abruzzo region.

Helping those affected by tragedy shows how Jennings, his mother and young brother feel about their first year away from the United States.

"Having lived in Rome this year I can say that I and my family have found a second home in Italy," he said.

"When I heard of the devastation caused by the earthquake, I felt I needed to do something, also because I grew up in southern California (Compton) and earthquakes are not something new to me.

"I’ve seen on TV and also on the internet how many people have died and how many families have lost everything and I said to myself that I needed to give a hand."

A dazzling, lightning-quick point guard from California, 19-year-old Jennings will play in the NBA one day and could even be a lottery pick in the draft.

His mom and brother are always courtside when Virtus Roma play home games in the Euroleague or Lega A.

Jennings works hard in training and despite the hype that surrounded him in the United States last year when he was being recruited by leading college basketball teams, he hasn’t shown a hint of arrogance.

Instead, he’s shown maturity while living abroad, and humility by accepting his role with Roma as just one of the players.

I’ve interviewed him and seen him play a couple of times, including last December when Roma travelled to Badalona, Spain, and faced DKV Joventut.

It was easy to see why Jennings has created such a buzz of excitement as he scored 12 points – most on daring drives to the basket.

USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo, who rebuilt the reputation of the United States national team the past few years and made sure that America’s basketball players in international competition are people of good character, was told of Jennings’ action.

"It's extraordinary to see a young man that only arrived in Italy a short time ago respond so quickly by making a generous donation that would help the families hit by the devastating earthquake," Colangelo said.

Basketball overall is reaching out to the victims in Italy, just as players and teams did in China when a similar tragedy struck in that country.

Lega A clubs, including Jennings’ Lottomatica Roma, are donating money to the relief effort.

Jeff TAYLOR