Examiner Mock Draft: Brandon Jennings to Phoenix

June 19, 3:23 PMPhoenix Suns ExaminerJosh Shelton

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(AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

All of the NBA Examiners here at Examiner.com got together this past week to hold our very own, and very first, Mock NBA Draft.  We were all responsible for the team we cover, thus I picked for the Valley.

As the headline suggests, with the 14th overall pick in this year's Examiner Mock Draft, the Phoenix Suns selected Brandon Jennings.

Jennings, a 6-2 point guard originally from Los Angeles, CA, is just 19 years of age and played professionally in Italy this past season with Lottomatica Roma.

Bypassing his freshman year of college (which he was committed to the University of Arizona), Jennings caused a mighty stir in the basketball world, initiating concern that he was beginning a new trend for players that saw themselves NBA-ready out of high school.

Now, some of you might be scratching your heads on why I took Jennings here with Earl Clark still on the board.  I agree with you, the Suns do need another long small forward, another Shawn Marion if you will.  The 6-10 Clark achieves that, but picking Jennings is more than just going with the "most talented player left on the board."

Jennings can be the next long-tenured point guard for the Phoenix Suns.  Let's face it, Goran Dragic won't fit that bill, and, against all of our hopes and dreams, Steve Nash won't be our point guard forever. 

Jennings is extremely quick, a freak of talent, and has an NBA quality three-point shot right now.  Sure he's not huge, but neither is Nash, Deron Williams, Chris Paul, or many of the other great point guards.  He's also been squashed for his decision-making abilities and being a defensive gambler, but let me reiterate, he's 19 years old.  Those characteristics can be taught.  You know who else was criticized for not making good decisions early in his career and not knowing how to create a play?  Chauncey Billups.  And we all have witnessed how he's panned out, all with a little guidance.

On Jennings' draft prospect page on ESPN.com, the latest update quotes an unnamed veteran scout as saying this:  "In every area he's gotten better.  You can't say the same thing about Jrue Holiday or Jonny Flynn or whoever you want to put up there.  This kid's learning curve has been dramatic.  The numbers are just a part of the story."

There is a reason that such a big deal was made about a player of his caliber opting to play in Europe rather than a year of college ball.  It's not because people are worried other youngsters will follow suit now.  It's because they know how successful he's going to be in the NBA, and the effect it will have once that's seen.

So yeah, Earl Clark, Austin Daye (a personal favorite), and James Johnson are all still on the board here, but you can't pass up a Brandon Jennings if he falls to this point.  Not here, not now.