View video interview with Brandon JENNINGS

ROME (Lega A) - American teenager Brandon Jennings has thanked Lottomatica Roma for a memorable year in Italy.

Jennings, 19, launched his professional career this season in Lega A straight out of high school but is now set for the NBA with the 1.85m playmaker expected to be a lottery pick in the upcoming draft.

"I cannot express how exciting and unique this season has been for me," Jennings said.

"The people of Rome and the people of the Lottomatica Roma organization - the personnel, my coaches and my teammates - welcomed me, along with my mother and brother, with open arms.

"Coming here has allowed me to mature both on and off the court and I greatly appreciate the help and support of everyone around me.

"This experience provided me with the right foundation for the next step."

Jennings helped Roma to a second-place finish in the Lega A regular season but the club's first-round play-off defeat to Angelico Biella brought a premature end to their campaign.

Looking back on his rookie professional year, Jennings said three men made a huge difference in his life.

"I am especially grateful for the guidance of my general manager, Dejan Bodiroga, my team president, Claudio Toti and of course, my head coach, Nando Gentile," Jennings said.

"I've decided to leave Rome, return to the United States and enter the NBA Draft.

"This is a very important decision for me and I am giving myself a chance to make my childhood dream come true. I would never have traded this experience for the world."

Jennings played an average of 17 minutes per game in Italy, averaging 5.5 points and 2.3 assists.

He made headlines recently by donating $50,000 to help the relief effort for victims off the earthquake in the Abruzzo region of the country.

FIBA