OPPONENT SPOTLIGHT: Jennings has traveled long road to Yale

It would not be an understatement to say the Yale basketball program has seen some adversity this year. A number of injuries to veteran players have left the Elis in the hands of a number of rookies and a few seniors, led by captain Josh Jennings. For the senior from Chestnut Hill Prep, these problems are hardly a bump on the long road he has traveled to get to New Haven. Initially headed to Yale to play football, the 5-foot-11 point guard worked his way to the top of the basketball squad, with stops on junior varsity and the Bell Atlantic team in Philadelphia's Sonny Hill summer league -- where he played with La Salle guard Paul Burke and Ivy opponent Jerome Allen. "It's been an up-and-down experience," Jennings said. "The first couple years, playing behind great guys like [former all-Ivy selection] Ed Petersen and [current backcourt mate] Damon Franklin, were pretty tough. But by playing against them, I really improved." His coach, Dick Kuchen, saw in Jennings the makings of a solid ballplayer. "He wasn't a highly-recruited player, but Josh is a real coachable ballplayer," Kuchen said. "He has a great work ethic, and the ability to work and get better. He spent a lot of time on his game this summer and he really improved." The summer was spent with Penn's Allen, who has a long history of competition with Jennings. The two, though, throw the familiarity away when they step on the court. "I played against him in high school and we were on the same team in summer league," Allen said. "But we're just going to go out there and play hard, and put all the personal stuff aside." In addition to improving his skills, over the summer Jennings acquired a more in-depth knowledge about Allen's game than most Ivy players possess, knowledge as a captain he passes along to his teammates. "Playing with guys like Jerome and Paul Burke really helped me improve a lot," Jennings said. "Jerome's a great player and we had a good time playing together. I won't really be on him this weekend, but I've been telling guys a little about his moves. He's so hard to defend because you have to defend against his shot and the penetration at the same time." Like Allen, Jennings' shot makes him difficult to defend. Always a good shooter, his increased playing time has made him look for his shot even more. As a result, his scoring average is up from 4.9 points per game last year to 10.7 this season. "I've always been looking for my shot, but I'm looking for it more now," Jennings said. "Now, coming off screens, I'm shooting when maybe I used to hesitate." In addition to his offensive duties, Jennings bears great responsibility as a captain, a burden for which Kuchen feels Jennings is especially well suited. "He's got terrific leadership skills," Kuchen said. "His enthusiasm and teamwork both lead by example. He's a tremendous role model for the younger kids as well." Jennings' leadership has been severely tested this season, a campaign filled with setbacks for what was supposed to be a veteran Eli squad. At various times, forwards Sean Fitzgerald and Andy Karazim have been out, forcing younger players like Dan Okonkwo, Boe Lintz and Bernie Colson to step into the spotlight. "It's been tough, but the guys have responded well," Jennings said. "I just try to make it easier for the new kids. I hope I've eased it for them." The best way for Jennings to ease that transition would be to make his outside shot. His shooting will be key for Yale as it tries to duplicate perhaps its best half of last season -- the second half of a 51-50 loss to Penn in New Haven. Down 20 at the half, the Elis roared back to tie the game late. "I missed a three and then David Bialski got the rebound and was fouled," Jennings said. "We traded free throws and they got ahead of us. We had a couple chances to do it, and I really thought we could do it." That near-upset, combined with Penn's lackluster performance against Harvard, gives Jennings hope Yale can upset the Quakers this weekend. "When we play hard and with confidence, we can beat much better teams," Jennings said. "We came out strong against UConn and only lost by 12 right after they beat Virginia by 40." And if the Elis are going to pull off an upset, there's no place Jennings would rather do it than back home in Philadelphia. "It's really fun for me to come back to Philly and play," Jennings said. "Playing in front of my family really gives me some extra adrenaline."