Jennings sets standard for lead guards at Philly camp

	Brandon Jennings led Oak Hill to a 40-1 record and No. 2 national ranking last year. Charles LeClaire/WireImage.com

PHILADELPHIA -- Enjoying his newfound status as unofficial player of the night at the Reebok U camp here on Sunday, UCLA recruit Malcolm Lee made his way across the court to a seat in the stands. Just rows from where Division I college coaches were still talking about his seamless spin moves, demonstrative dunks and smooth three-pointers, Lee took a moment to put his night in perspective.

"My game was good tonight, but I think it really caught people's eyes because it was against Brandon [Jennings]," said Lee, who scored 20 points to Jennings' game-high 21. "I played against him in 12-and-under tourneys growing up in California and recently at the Cactus Classic AAU tourney, but Brandon has been on another level for a while."

A rising senior at Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) who was named MVP of last year's ABCD camp All-Star Game, the 6-foot-2 Jennings is considered the top player in camp. Already a veteran of the summer camp setting, the lithe lefty with the graceful gait was outplayed by Lee in Sunday's one-on-one pairing.

"I'm used to getting a guy's best efforts," said Jennings, who switched his commitment from USC to Arizona in the spring. "The court is my stage to perform, and I just step up when pushed."

It's not Jennings' ability to effect change with a subtle, no-look pass that draws the ire of purists and the eye rolls of Division I coaches seated in the front rows, though. Rather, it's the less than 100 percent effort that seems to infiltrate his game at times, as well as the demonstrative demeanor that surfaces when things go wrong. Able to drive at will against most guards, Jennings occasionally employs a conscienceless shot selection, firing quickly from three-point land without checking other options in an offensive set.

"I hear the criticism and I know I have things to improve," Jennings said. "I need to get a better right-handed dribble and stay in the weight room more, but I am working on those things.

And about giving a better effort?

"I see what they say, I do need to get more consistent with that, and playing at Oak Hill really helped me because I am going up against guys like [Duke incoming freshman] Nolan Smith, who make you go 150 percent in the practice gym each day," Jennings said.