Nation's top recruit still not cleared by NCAA
Brandon Jennings, the 6-foot-1 point guard who recently moved to the top of Scout.com's Class of 2008 rankings, has achieved the necessary qualifying score on his standardized test to meet NCAA requirements, but has not been cleared to play. Jennings is committed to Arizona.
"He hasn't qualified yet," Jennings' Oak Hill Academy coach Steve Smith told FOXSports.com.
According to sources close to the situation, Jennings originally took the standardized test back when he was at Compton Dominguez (Calif.) and scored poorly on it. Since his arrival at Oak Hill, there has been a dramatic jump in his test score.
The NCAA is requiring Jennings to take the test again as a way to legitimize his score. It is unclear exactly how well Jennings will have to do on his retake to satisfy the NCAA. Sources maintain that Jennings will have two more opportunities to prove his score was legitimate.
When reached by FOXSports.com, Arizona coach Lute Olson said he is unable to comment on academic issues related to recruits.
Ironically, the last player who didn't qualify out of Oak Hill was Stephen Jackson, who signed with Arizona and wound up having to spend one year in the junior college ranks before going to the NBA.
advertisement
