2009 Draft Prospect Q&ABRANDON JENNINGS
HOOP: If you could choose the team you were going to be drafted to, who would you choose, and why? JORDAN HILL
HOOP: If you could choose your dream team to be part of, which one would you choose to be drafted to? TYLER HANSBROUGH BLAKE GRIFFIN
HOOP: The media’s been saying that this year’s draft is pretty weak compared to other drafts like the one in 2003. What do you think about this?
Brandon Jennings: I mean, it’s just a blessing to see your picture in the NBA, so whatever the team, I’m going to be happy.
HOOP: Well, who have you worked out with?
BJ: I worked out almost with everybody. Pacers, Phoenix…
HOOP: Who’d you get the best vibe with?
BJ: The Knicks, the Bucks and Golden State.
HOOP: When did you realize that you could finally go to for the NBA? Especially since you have international experience, when did you figure, “OK, I’m going to leave this international scene”?
BJ: Like two months before. The season was over. I felt like I was ready, and I learned a whole lot. So, I was ready to bring all my skills back to the United States.
HOOP: Speaking of your international experience, how do you think that gives you an advantage over your competition?
BJ: I’ve been playing against grown men my whole year; everybody’s like 29 and up. So, with that whole training field—the physical and mental part.
HOOP: If you could choose your top 5 draft picks, not counting yourself, who would you choose?
BJ: Blake Griffin, Jordan Hill, Thabeet, James Harden and Tyreke Evans. Harden and Evans are good guards. They’re big guards; they’re good scoring guards. They’re real talented.
HOOP: What’s your favorite memory overseas?
BJ: The first time we got there, I found out we didn’t have a dryer. We had no hot water, so it was funny—a good experience.
Jordan Hill: Just any…hmm…well, do I have to say the name?
HOOP: If you want to.
JH: I mean, I just want to be on a team that’s good to me, so we can go out there and play a lot and be good players. I’ll tip it to them.
HOOP: You worked out with a bunch of teams, right?
JH: Yup, five.
HOOP: Which ones did you have the best vibe with?
JH: I would probably say the New York Knicks was a good one, Memphis was a good one, and Golden State was good.
HOOP: What made you feel them?
JH: I just go out there and work hard. They talked to me and sat down with me. They were nice guys—really helpful.
HOOP: If you could choose your own top 5 draft picks, not including yourself, who would you choose?
JH: In the draft now?
HOOP: Yup.
JH: Blake Griffin would be number one. Number two, I’d have to go with probably James Harden. Number three, Hasheem. Number four, Brandon Jennings, and number five, I’d have to go with hmm…Ricky Rubio.
HOOP: What’s your favorite college basketball memory?
JH: Just being in Arizona period. Just being able to play in Arizona was really great.
HOOP: What did you learn about the NBA that you didn’t know before? Any new aspects that your eyes have been opened to?
JH: No, I got everything. Everybody told me already. I mean, I talked to a lot of NBA guys that already let me know what lies ahead of me. They said, “Try to keep your head—always—because there will be a lot of distractions out there, so be ready for it.”
HOOP: If you could choose the team you were drafted to, who would you want to join?
Tyler Hansbrough: I have no idea.
HOOP: Well, who was the team you had the best vibe with when you were working out with them?
TH: I can’t really say! I liked every team I worked out with, so we’ll see what happens. I worked out with about eight or nine teams.
HOOP: What do you think separates you from the other draft picks?
TH: Well, I think I’ve proven…I mean, a lot of players in here have a lot of potential. I have potential too, but also, I’m there right now. I’ll provide the team with someone who can step in right away and help.
HOOP: If you could create your own top 5, not including yourself, who would you choose?
TH: Ty Lawson, Danny Green, Wayne Ellington and…I don’t know who the others are.
HOOP: What’s your favorite college basketball memory?
TH: It’d have to be winning that national championship!
Blake Griffin: It’s kind of a slap in the face. [laughs] Naw, I’m just kidding. I don’t mind it. What they say right now doesn’t matter; it’s what we do in the future. I’m confident that these guys are going to do well. To me, we have a pretty strong class; it has a lot of up sides.
HOOP: If you could choose the team you got drafted to, who would you choose?
BG: Umm…I want to go to any time that wants me. Let’s put it that way. I mean, I only worked out with one team, so I hope it’s that team. [laughs]
HOOP: When did you realize you’re ready for the NBA?
BG: I thought about it after my freshman year. Then, after this year, it was a whole different feeling. I felt like I was really ready this time. I felt like if I was going to go, this would be the time to do it.
HOOP: If you could pick your own top 5, not including yourself, who would you choose, and why?
BG: I’d say that I’d have Hasheem, Jordan Hill, James Harden…hmm…I got two bigs and a guard…I’d say let’s go with Brandon Jennings and Jrue Holiday—why not?
HOOP: What’ s your favorite college basketball memory?
BG: Getting the Elite Eight title last year and being able to do that with my brother. We had a strong team, and we were all really close. To be able to do that together and kind of turn things around was a lot of fun.
HOOP: What are you looking forward to most in the NBA?
BG: Just being able to play. I keep saying this, but it’s a dream come true. To be able to finally do it is going to be exciting.
