ITA/USA – Hackett is the Azzurri's "Italian Stallion"

LOS ANGELES (EuroBasket 2009) - If Daniel Hackett plays for Italy next summer in the Additional Qualifying Round for EuroBasket 2009 and steps up to the free throw line, you might notice a certain tattoo on his shoulder.

It reads “Italian Stallion” and his Azzurri teammates, the guard says, “love it”.

“It's a nickname that even they use sometimes,” Hackett said in an interview on cnnsi.com.

“I carried that nickname from my high school; they'd do an "Italian Stallion" chant when I was at the free-throw line.”

Hackett, who was born in Pesaro and grew up in Italy before moving to the United States and playing high school and college basketball in America, admits the tattoo does lead to some good-natured ribbing.

“I mean, I do get a lot of people making fun of me about it,” he said, “especially the older guys in the pros.

“But (New York Knicks rookie) Danilo (Gallinari) has a tattoo of a rooster. So you might want to go and ask him about that. He's nicknamed "The Rooster" and he has a rooster on his back.”

On a more serious note, Hackett says Brandon Jennings should not be second-guessing himself over his much-publicized decision to play in Italy’s Lega A straight out of high school in America.

Jennings is on the books of Euroleague outfit Lottomatica Roma and is playing for one of the best coaches in Europe in Jasmin Repesa.

Hackett, who is a star guard at the University of Southern California, said: “I think he made the right choice, for him.

“For a kid who maybe had problems getting into college with his grades, going overseas and playing in a top league, that's a great move, and I'm not surprised that other kids are looking into it too.”

Jennings, a guard, played 21 minutes in his first Lega A game on Sunday and had seven points and two assists.

Hackett says Jennings has probably discovered the Italian league to be very physical.

“Those guys don't play around over there,” he said.

“It's tough basketball. You get a sense of what life as a pro is like - it's very different from college, you start getting your paychecks, you've gotta take care of your money, and learn how to be a man on your own.

“But college teaches you too, in different ways.”

FIBA