By PETE THAMEL
Published: April 22, 2009
NYTimes

SAN DIEGO — Jeremy Tyler, a 6-foot-11 high school junior whom some consider the best American big man since Greg Oden, says he will be taking a new path to the N.B.A. He has left San Diego High School and said this week that he would skip his senior year to play professionally in Japan.

Tyler, 17, would become the first United States-born player to leave high school early to play professionally overseas. He is expected to return in two years, when he is projected to be a top pick, if not the No. 1 pick, in the 2011 N.B.A. draft.

Tyler, who had orally committed to play for Rick Pitino at Louisville, has yet to sign with an agent or a professional team. His likely destination is Spain, though teams from other European leagues have shown interest. A spokesman for Louisville said the university could not comment about Tyler.

“Nowadays people look to college for more off-the-court stuff versus being in the gym and getting better,” Tyler said. “If you’re really focused on getting better, you go play pro somewhere. Pro guys will get you way better than playing against college guys.”

His decision is perhaps the most important one since Kevin Garnett jumped straight to the N.B.A. from high school in 1995. Garnett was the No. 5 pick in the N.B.A. draft and ushered in a generation of preps-to-pros stars like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Dwight Howard. A minimum-age rule passed for the 2006 draft cut off that route, essentially forcing players to spend at least one year in college.

But Brandon Jennings, a point guard from Los Angeles, became the first player to graduate from high school, skip college and play professionally in Europe. (Whether Jennings would have qualified academically to play at Arizona, where he had signed a letter of intent, is unknown.) He is in his first season with Lottomatica Virtus Roma in Italy and is projected as a high pick in the N.B.A. draft in June.

Tyler took Jennings’s path and added a compelling twist, perhaps opening the door for other elite high school basketball players to follow.

Sonny Vaccaro, a former sneaker company executive, orchestrated Jennings’s move and has guided Tyler and his family through the process.

“It’s significant because it shows the curiosity for the American player just refusing to accept what he’s told he has to do,” Vaccaro said. “We’re getting closer to the European reality of a professional at a young age. Basically, Jeremy Tyler is saying, ‘Why do I have to go to high school?’ ”

Vaccaro said he was unsure how much money Tyler would make, though it will most likely be less than the $1.2 million Jennings made in a combination of salary and endorsements this season. Vaccaro said Tyler would make a six-figure salary, noting that the economic crisis in Europe could hurt his earnings.

Vaccaro made his name by signing Michael Jordan to Nike in the mid-1980s and has advised numerous elite players over the years. “I believe he’ll be a 10-time All-Star with his ability,” Vaccaro said of Tyler.

For now, Tyler said he was working out eight to nine hours a day at local gyms and schools and spending two and a half hours a day to get his high school diploma online. He said he had his “ups and downs” in the classroom but was on track to qualify academically to play in college.

Tyler said his game stagnated by playing high school basketball here and he was frustrated by the rules of the California Interscholastic Federation and the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

He averaged 28.7 points during a tumultuous junior season in which his team went 15-11. Two of his coaches were fired in part because of their roles in trying to recruit three star players to complement Tyler. Kenny Roy, the former head coach, denied any wrongdoing.

But the three transfers were ruled ineligible, leaving Tyler the centerpiece of a team whose next biggest player was 6-2.

“It was boring and I wasn’t getting better,” Tyler said. “Each game was the same thing. I was getting triple-teamed and getting hacked. After each game I’d have scratches and bruises up and down my arms from getting triple-teamed. It just wasn’t for me.”

Spain is the most likely option for him because of the structure of its basketball league. Vaccaro said Tyler could shuttle between his professional team and its development squad for 18-year-olds. So if Tyler, who turns 18 in June, struggles early against professional men, he will be able to play and practice with the younger team.

Tyler, who was raised primarily by his father, James, and his uncle, Maurice, will move to Europe with his older brother, James. A rotation of relatives plans to visit. Tyler’s father said he had reservations at first about sending his son overseas, knowing there would be a strong reaction in the community.

“You know what? It’s just a job,” the elder James Tyler said. “He gets a chance to work the job of his dreams and have fun doing it. There’s kids leaving to go to Iraq at age 18. They took a job to serve their country. He’s going to play ball.”

Along the way, Tyler may just become a trailblazer for other high school basketball prodigies.

“This is what I want to do,” he said. “It will help me get better and grow up.”

“The question is whether he’ll take responsibility of his career,” Haifa Coach Avi Ashkenazi said. “If he thinks he’s going to be in the N.B.A. because his name is Jeremy Tyler and he was a very good high school player, he will not be.”

If Mike Woodson and his coaching staff can coax any amount of discipline and professionalism from Tyler, they should have portraits installed on Mount Rushmore.

CrushAlot wrote:Tyler went from being projected as a possible 1st overall pick to being taken 39th. He has not done much. The size and athleticism are there. His hype and fall so far remind me a bit of Felipe Lopez.

Not Felipe Lopez....Felipe Lopez was a rock star in high school and College. I think he peaked too fast and never got better. The nba game swallowed him up. In that way he is on that path....but no way is Jeremy Tyler on that rock star status Felipe was on. Felipe is still living off high school hype to this day.

GustavBahler wrote:

EnySpree wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:Tyler went from being projected as a possible 1st overall pick to being taken 39th. He has not done much. The size and athleticism are there. His hype and fall so far remind me a bit of Felipe Lopez.

Not Felipe Lopez....Felipe Lopez was a rock star in high school and College. I think he peaked too fast and never got better. The nba game swallowed him up. In that way he is on that path....but no way is Jeremy Tyler on that rock star status Felipe was on. Felipe is still living off high school hype to this day.

Remember when Lopez made the cover of the Village Voice, calling him the next Jordan? LOL

He was on every publication.....he was on Lebron level hype. People forget about that....I mean I know I did, lol....I remember that time cuz Felipe came up when I was coming up. That was cool period in nyc basketball. A lot of guys were coming up in the streets back then. Marbury was a part of that too. Skip to my Lou...Booger Smith....crazy

GustavBahler wrote:

EnySpree wrote:

GustavBahler wrote:

EnySpree wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:Tyler went from being projected as a possible 1st overall pick to being taken 39th. He has not done much. The size and athleticism are there. His hype and fall so far remind me a bit of Felipe Lopez.

Not Felipe Lopez....Felipe Lopez was a rock star in high school and College. I think he peaked too fast and never got better. The nba game swallowed him up. In that way he is on that path....but no way is Jeremy Tyler on that rock star status Felipe was on. Felipe is still living off high school hype to this day.

Remember when Lopez made the cover of the Village Voice, calling him the next Jordan? LOL

He was on every publication.....he was on Lebron level hype. People forget about that....I mean I know I did, lol....I remember that time cuz Felipe came up when I was coming up. That was cool period in nyc basketball. A lot of guys were coming up in the streets back then. Marbury was a part of that too. Skip to my Lou...Booger Smith....crazy

That's about the time I left the city, miss the old days. Not the same city I left from what I hear. I'm pretty sure the VV article was the first cover Lopez made, but I could be wrong. Its the one people usually cite over the ridiculous amount of hype he got.

Yeah I think it was....shame man cuz the dude never actually got better at ST. Johns...in the pros he found out that he wasn't that special. He had no fundementals...no jumpshot....no left hand. His defense was mediocre. He thought he already made it and he basically did at that point.

Wow man good times.

Back then I was able to play against Erick Barkley of Christ the king, then st johns in a tournament. I also played against Jaamal Tinsley in the park when we were in high school. Tinsley was going to Tilden at the time. He never actually played for them though. Erick Barkley embarrassed me two straight plays at the top of the key. He had this go to move that he used to do....well he did it to me at least 4 times and caught me really bad twice with it. I scored a few baskets on him so I'll take it, lol...as far as Tinsley, he was a street cat, lol. He also had a sick sick sick handle...he also embarrassed me and basically whoever tried to guard him. A lot of tricks with the ball going through my legs behind my back and over my head...and he was the one handling, and he could dunk back then.

BigSm00th wrote:thats some great stuff ENY. Erick Barkley man, talk about a guy who left school too early.

you know Omar Cook carved out quite a nice career for himself over in Europe. been in Spain last few years.

i saw STARBURY driving around the West Village in a nice range rover last night. i was hoping he'd stop off at West 4th and play but he just kept cruising.

who is the "next big thing" in NYC these days? a few years ago it was Omar Calhoun, but he's at UCONN now.

There really isn't a lot of buzz coming out of NYC on the basketball scene. Then again I'm not as in tune with it nowadays.

EnySpree wrote:

GustavBahler wrote:

EnySpree wrote:

GustavBahler wrote:

EnySpree wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:Tyler went from being projected as a possible 1st overall pick to being taken 39th. He has not done much. The size and athleticism are there. His hype and fall so far remind me a bit of Felipe Lopez.

Not Felipe Lopez....Felipe Lopez was a rock star in high school and College. I think he peaked too fast and never got better. The nba game swallowed him up. In that way he is on that path....but no way is Jeremy Tyler on that rock star status Felipe was on. Felipe is still living off high school hype to this day.

Remember when Lopez made the cover of the Village Voice, calling him the next Jordan? LOL

He was on every publication.....he was on Lebron level hype. People forget about that....I mean I know I did, lol....I remember that time cuz Felipe came up when I was coming up. That was cool period in nyc basketball. A lot of guys were coming up in the streets back then. Marbury was a part of that too. Skip to my Lou...Booger Smith....crazy

That's about the time I left the city, miss the old days. Not the same city I left from what I hear. I'm pretty sure the VV article was the first cover Lopez made, but I could be wrong. Its the one people usually cite over the ridiculous amount of hype he got.

Yeah I think it was....shame man cuz the dude never actually got better at ST. Johns...in the pros he found out that he wasn't that special. He had no fundementals...no jumpshot....no left hand. His defense was mediocre. He thought he already made it and he basically did at that point.

Wow man good times.

Back then I was able to play against Erick Barkley of Christ the king, then st johns in a tournament. I also played against Jaamal Tinsley in the park when we were in high school. Tinsley was going to Tilden at the time. He never actually played for them though. Erick Barkley embarrassed me two straight plays at the top of the key. He had this go to move that he used to do....well he did it to me at least 4 times and caught me really bad twice with it. I scored a few baskets on him so I'll take it, lol...as far as Tinsley, he was a street cat, lol. He also had a sick sick sick handle...he also embarrassed me and basically whoever tried to guard him. A lot of tricks with the ball going through my legs behind my back and over my head...and he was the one handling, and he could dunk back then.

I'm seriously jealous you got to play against those guys Eny. Not that I would have done anything worth writing home about against them, but it still would have been fun to try.

Still hope we can all get together and play ball down the road, but this old man has a lot of work to do to get into shape, lol.

BigDaddyG wrote:

EnySpree wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:Tyler went from being projected as a possible 1st overall pick to being taken 39th. He has not done much. The size and athleticism are there. His hype and fall so far remind me a bit of Felipe Lopez.

Not Felipe Lopez....Felipe Lopez was a rock star in high school and College. I think he peaked too fast and never got better. The nba game swallowed him up. In that way he is on that path....but no way is Jeremy Tyler on that rock star status Felipe was on. Felipe is still living off high school hype to this day.

Felipe by all accounts was a hard worker. He was establishing himself as a rotation player on the Spurs before his career was derailed by a knee injury. Never heard a coach say a bad thing about Felipe either. Tyler's career reminds more of a guy like Leon Smith: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leon_Smith

never played for the Spurs....Minnesota was his last stop

CrushAlot wrote:

BigDaddyG wrote:

EnySpree wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:Tyler went from being projected as a possible 1st overall pick to being taken 39th. He has not done much. The size and athleticism are there. His hype and fall so far remind me a bit of Felipe Lopez.

Not Felipe Lopez....Felipe Lopez was a rock star in high school and College. I think he peaked too fast and never got better. The nba game swallowed him up. In that way he is on that path....but no way is Jeremy Tyler on that rock star status Felipe was on. Felipe is still living off high school hype to this day.

Felipe by all accounts was a hard worker. He was establishing himself as a rotation player on the Spurs before his career was derailed by a knee injury. Never heard a coach say a bad thing about Felipe either. Tyler's career reminds more of a guy like Leon Smith: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leon_Smith

I agree. Better comparison

Damn son....You guys think Tyler is going to bug out with psychological problems and overdose on asprin?

EnySpree wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

BigDaddyG wrote:

EnySpree wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:Tyler went from being projected as a possible 1st overall pick to being taken 39th. He has not done much. The size and athleticism are there. His hype and fall so far remind me a bit of Felipe Lopez.

Not Felipe Lopez....Felipe Lopez was a rock star in high school and College. I think he peaked too fast and never got better. The nba game swallowed him up. In that way he is on that path....but no way is Jeremy Tyler on that rock star status Felipe was on. Felipe is still living off high school hype to this day.

Felipe by all accounts was a hard worker. He was establishing himself as a rotation player on the Spurs before his career was derailed by a knee injury. Never heard a coach say a bad thing about Felipe either. Tyler's career reminds more of a guy like Leon Smith: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leon_Smith

I agree. Better comparison

Damn son....You guys think Tyler is going to bug out with psychological problems and overdose on asprin?