Congratulations to Rajon Rondo (OHA 2004 Grad), Boston Celtics, for being the NBA's Eastern Conference Champions and now playing the Lakers in the NBA Finals. "Rajon has done the Warrior program proud and we wish him tremendous luck in the Finals," Coach Steve Smith said. Rando holds Oak Hill records for more assists in one season (494) and in a single game (31) on the 2003-2004 squad which was named National Champs.

There are still some openings and bed space available at both our June and July day and boarding basketball camps with Coach Steve Smith. Call 276.579.3225 or email lsmith [at] oak-hill.net for more information.

The postseason honors for Brandon Jennings keep coming. Brandon was named the 2008 EA Sports Player of the Year. That announcement follows Brandon becoming Oak Hill's first Player of the Year in Parade Magazine. MaxPreps also named him as their Player of the Year.

ESPN The Magazine has a new feature on Jennings, including video.

Some Additional Jennings News Clips:

• HoopsWorld.com: Next Big Thing: Brandon Jennings
• Jennings Shines in McDonald's All-American Game

Brandon Jennings, of Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va., and Elena Delle Donne, of Ursuline Academy in Wilmington, Del. have been named the 2008 Naismith National High School Basketball Players of the Year, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced today. Bob Hurley (St. Anthony High School, Jersey City, NJ) and Brian Harrigan (Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory, San Francisco, Calif.) were selected as the first-ever recipients of the Naismith National High School Coach of the Year award.

Jennings, a 6-0 guard, posted 33 points, 10 steals and eight assists in the Warriors 59-48 season-ending victory over Montrose Christian (Md.), as Oak Hill finished the season 34-4. For the season, Jennings averaged 35.5 points per game and amassed 1,312 total points.

"Brandon is one of the quickest point guards to ever play for me," said Steve Smith, Oak Hill head basketball coach. "His presence and talent will truly be missed."

The Warriors completed the 2007-2008 campaign Saturday with a victory in Charlotte against Montrose Christian (Md.) 59-48. Brandon Jennings ended his Oak Hill season scoring 33 points, 10 steals and eight assists. For the season as Oak Hill's most prolific scoring, Jennings had 35.5 ppg and 1,312 total points scored. Tiny Gallon and Glenn Bryant each averaged 12 points. A complete recap of the season's individual stats can be downloaded here. (PDF).

Congrats to Brandon Jennings for being the 23rd Oak Hill Warrior to be named a McDonald's All American. Brandon will represent Oak Hill at the 31st McDonald's AA game on Wed., March 26th at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, WI. The game will be televised live at 9:30pm EST on ESPN. The same day as the formal announcement, Brandon hit for a Oak Hill single game record 63 points in a 123-58 victory over Bonner Academy (NC). He broke the existing record of 61 points set by Calvin Duncan 27 years ago. He has scored 1,265 is point total to date, besting Josh Smith's previous record of 980 (see item below). In the Bonner game, Jennings shot 25 of 40 from the field, making 13 of 21 three-pointers, and added seven assists and five steals. He was pulled from the game with just under five minutes to go. (Arizona Daily Star story)

With a handful of games still to go, Arizona-bound Brandon Jennings has achieved the highest single-season point total with 1,011, besting Josh Smith's 980 during the 2003-2004 campaign. Currently averaging 34.9 points per game, he'll also likely claim the highest season average, which is now held by Orlando Vega at 30.6. Brandon's high game was 49 points on Dec. 22nd in Tuscon, Ariz. vs. Dudley (NC), in front of his future Arizona fans. He scored 40 or more eight times.

The final game of the Warriors' 2007-2008 season takes place Saturday, March 1st at Noon verus Montrose Christian (Md) at the Bobcats Arena in Charlotte, N.C. Admission is free. There will be a Slam Dunk Contest and other events, and fans are encouraged to bring a pair of shoes to donate to Samaritan's Feet Ministry - accept new & used.

The 2007-2008 season comes to close in the coming weeks, with the Warriors currently holding the #7 National Ranking from ESPN. The home game against Nashville Christian Academy originally scheduled for Feb. 13th has been changed to Feb. 27th. The Warriors face Bonner (NC) Academy on the 19th and a weekend of games in the Champions Prep Classic in Johnson City, TN the 22nd and 23rd. A Feb. 25th game in Boone, NC at Appalachian State pits the Warriors against North Carolina Tech of Charlotte, NC. The season concludes March 1 against Montrose Christian (see item above).

Three of the Warriors' four losses this year are to teams currently ranked in ESPN and USA Today's Top 16: St. Benedict's and St. Patrick's (NJ) and Yates (Houston). The other loss is to regionally-ranked St. Benedictine (Va). The Warriors' handed #4 Duncanville their only loss of the season and have wins against nationally-ranked Norcross (Ga) and Baltimore, Md., Mount St. Joseph.

Oak Hill's showdown with St. Patrick's, NJ started slow for the Warriors, falling behind early 21-10 after the first quarter. Brandon Jennings/ three-pointer at the buzzer to end the half pulled us within 11, 32-23. Opening the third quarter, the Warriors stormed back behind Jennings' 12 points to open, cutting the lead to two and eventually within one in the fourth. But following several turnovers, St. Patrick's pulled away to come away with the 63-55 victory. Jennings hit for 27 points.

On Friday night, the Warriors scored a victory against Piscataway, NJ. The Warriors opened up both halves with big bursts, going up 12-3 to start the game and a 15-4 run to start the second half. Brandon Jennings finished with 29 points and nine assists, with Danny Jennings adding in 15 points and Byron Allen 12.

• Star Ledger: St. Patrick 63, Oak Hill 55
• Prime Time Shootout Saturday Games Recap
• Prime Time Shootout Friday Games Recap
• Score isn't Pretty, but Piscataway Enjoys the Experience

From USA Today: The Warriors won the Mountain State Coal Classic national division in Beckley, W.Va., defeating No. 13 Norcross (Ga.) 68-65. Brandon Jennings had 34 points, four rebounds and six assists for the 25-3 Warriors while Norcross (21-2) was paced by Al-Farouq Aminu with 35 points and 11 rebounds. In other news, a week before its matchup against the Warriors, USA Today No. 10 St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.) 62-61 lost to Fairfax (Los Angeles) in the Nike Extravaganza at Santa Ana, Calif.

Oak Hill Academy Head Coach Steve Smith notched his 700th victory Saturday night in a 72-53 vistory over William Fleming in the Member One/Time Technologies Classic at Franklin County, Va. High School.

The team had a scare enroute to the game as one of the vans carrying five players and a manager driven by an assistant coach crashed on Interstate 81. The manager suffered minor injuries and the van was a complete loss, but there were no other serious injuries and the team continued on to the game.

Smith has been coach of the Warriors since the 1984-85 season and led the team to seven rankings as national high school basketball champions, including last year. His career coaching record at Oak Hill is 700-44.

• Roanoke Times: Tough road trip, but easy win
• Roanoke Times on Brandon Jennings: Best Point Ever?