Brandon Jennings: On and off the court

Bersabeh Kemaw, Staff Writer

Richmond native Brandon Jennings is a first-year point guard whose journey to playing at a Division I school started at a young age, according to Jennings.

“Growing up, I’ve always had the basketball in my hand,” Jennings said.

His father incorporated a routine for him and his brother when they were young that revolved around basketball, according to Jennings.

“My dad always pushed me,” Jennings said. “He would come pick us up, he would have our little lunch box and we’ll eat that on the way to the gym.”

Jennings also said he had his brothers around him who played basketball as well.

He not only watched his older brother play basketball, but played basketball with his middle brother, which furthered his interest in basketball, Jennings said.

“We pushed each other,” Jennings said. “It just helped us fall in love with the game and I just took on with it.”

Though Jennings chose the path of hoops, he also played other sports throughout his childhood, according to Jennings.

“I played football, track, baseball and soccer,” Jennings said. “I was just a little better at basketball than my other sports so I had a little more fun playing out there and doing what I did.”

During Jennings’ sophomore year of high school, he transferred to St. Christopher’s School in Richmond where he had to adjust to the atmosphere of his new school, Jennings said.

“It was different for me, a new environment and new people,” Jennings said. “But high school basketball was fun.”

Jennings finished his last season there averaging 20.3 points, seven rebounds and four assists while scoring in double figures every game, according to St. Christopher’s. 

In addition to playing at St. Christopher’s, Jennings also played in the Amateur Athletic Union for Team Loaded, according to Jennings.

He played with Team Loaded in third and fourth grade and later returned after his ninth grade year, according to Jennings.

Jennings said that community was really important to him throughout his basketball journey.

“Wherever I played, it’s definitely been brotherhood,” Jennings said. “It’s really amazing to have that behind you and know people are pushing with you and striving to reach the same goals as you.”

Jennings said he’s been able to take a lot from all the experiences he’s gained, which all play a role in where he’s at now.

“All those championship games, those environments, you know you’ve been there,” Jennings said. “It just might be at a bigger scale now. So just being able to stay level-headed and just be on the court.”

As a three-star player going into the recruitment process, he settled on VCU for many reasons — the biggest one being its coaching staff, Jennings said.

“We all connected from the jump, and they’ve been following me,” Jennings said. “They’ve followed me through Team Loaded, and they got to see my playing styles. They seen everything I can provide and really voiced it to me and created that connection with me.”

Jennings has many skills as a player that makes him multidimensional, according to VCU head coach Ryan Odom.

“He’s got good size, good athleticism, very high IQ when he plays the game,” Odom said. “He’s very unselfish and he does a lot of things on the court. He’s somebody that really does whatever his team needs to win.”

VCU had an entirely new coaching staff in April 2023 but Jennings was someone that was on their radar pretty quickly, according to Odom.

“We were able to watch him play over the course of the summer and then early in the fall,” Odom said. “We then offered him a scholarship. It was evident that he was a good fit for our style and for VCU.”

Not only is Jennings a good athlete, but he’s also a good person off the court, Odom said.

“He’s a great guy,” Odom said. “He comes in ready to work, has fun as well and laughs.”

Fellow VCU first-year guard Terrence Hill Jr. echoed Odom’s sentiments.

“He’s smart, he’s funny, he’s kind of quiet when you first meet him,” Hill said. “But once you get to know him, he starts to open up, he’s a cool guy.”