By KEVIN TURBEVILLE - The Jonesboro Sun 

RUSSELL, Ark.  While cheers rang throughout the house, Jason Jennings was quiet when his name was called in the second round of the NBA draft.

I was just tired. I guess when they finally called my name, it was just nice to hear it, Jennings said a few minutes later. Then again, it was just like a sigh of relief. I think everybody else was really excited and I was just happy it was over. I know where Im going.

Jennings is going to the Pacific Northwest for the next phase of his basketball career. The Portland Trail Blazers selected Arkansas States two-time All-Sun Belt Conference center with the drafts 43rd selection Wednesday night in New York.

Some analysts projected Jennings as a late first-round choice in the two-round draft, but he was still available when the first round ended around 9 p.m. He was surprised when the Memphis Grizzlies used the 32nd pick on Illinois big man Robert Archibald, a player Jennings saw in several workouts.

But just before 9:45, NBA deputy commissioner Russ Granik announced the Trail Blazers selection of Jennings on cable network TNT.

Im very happy I went at all, dont get me wrong. But there was so much anticipation of not knowing where and when, said Jennings, who watched the draft in his bedroom with friends and a few reporters. Then finally it got to the point where it was like, All right, just get me drafted where I can go do something else, not sit here in bed and wait. Im very happy to have this opportunity and hopefully I can make the best of it.

Portland was one of 12 teams to brings the 7-foot, 250-pound Jennings in for a workout. While the Trail Blazers hadnt said much to him, he felt the workout went well.

That was one of those workouts where they had me stepping out to see how I played outside, Jennings said. I was actually kind of surprised to see them take me, but Im certainly excited for the chance to go up there and see what I can do.

Jennings was the sixth of seven centers selected in the draft. He was the second selection for the Trail Blazers, who took Northeast Mississippi Community College small forward Qyntel Woods with the 21st pick and made power forward Federico Kammerichs of Argentina the 51st selection.

The last ASU player selected before Jennings was Jeff Bolding, who was an eighth-round selection of the Houston Rockets in 1983. John Dickson was a second-round pick by the Chicago Bulls in 1967 and the San Antonio Spurs took Dan Henderson in the third round of the 1977 draft.

This is a terrific, terrific day for Arkansas State basketball. Arkansas State University was talked about all over the country tonight, ASU head coach Dickey Nutt said. Highlights and clips of Arkansas State went out all over the nation. The NBA draft is one of the most popular events in the world and Arkansas State had a guy drafted.

Were very, very happy and Im going to tell you, its more significant than it was in the past. Today there are only two rounds. In the past, there were 10 rounds.

Nutt had to leave Jennings draft party early. Before leaving, he cautioned Jennings not to get too disappointed if things didnt work out as hoped.
On NBA draft day, after talking with a lot of my coaching friends, I know the worst can happen. I told Jason, I want you to prepare for the worst, Nutt said. I said, Youve got a lot of people over here tonight and theyre all expecting a big thing to happen and Jason, youve got to prepare for the worst. If it does, you have to be ready to handle that.

Jennings spent two seasons at Arkansas before transferring to ASU. He averaged 14.3 points and 6.6 rebounds over two seasons with the Indians, earning Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year honors as a senior after blocking 101 shots.

NBA scouts also took notice of Jennings soft touch. He shot 54.7 percent from the field at ASU and made 75.6 percent of his free-throw attempts.
In phone conversations over the past month, Nutt could tell Jennings confidence was growing.

Were very proud of Jason. Hes worked very hard and we were hoping he would go a little higher, but you never know what will happen and what goes through the minds of NBA teams, Nutt said. Everybody has their own thinking. Jason certainly has some motivation to prove some people wrong. We really felt like he was a first rounder.

So did Jennings, who had hoped for the guaranteed contract that comes with first-round selection. After finding out where he was going, he started to look forward to doing what is necessary to earn a place in the NBA.
Right now is when the work begins. Its a second-round pick, so nothing is guaranteed right now, Jennings said. I get to go in, hopefully have a good summer and first half of the season and see how things go.