Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.
You might remember Jeremy Tyler, the first high schooler in the history of the sport to skip his senior year of high school to play as a pro overseas. This decision, it is now safe to say, has backfired.
The New York Times's Pete Thamel documents Tyler's first 100 days as a pro in Israel, and the results are not kind: Tyler seems like an immature boor surrounded by distractions and ego-inflating hangers-on; Tyler's Israeli coach, used to coaching young men after their mandatory three years of Israeli army service, has no idea how to reach him; and Tyler's teammates don't believe he is serious about his commitment to his team. (After one veteran teammate scores on Tyler in a drill, the teammate tells Thamel "if I let someone score that easy, I would stab myself." Israelis are so laid back!)
Taken alone, it's an indictment of Tyler's individual decision. Taken as a larger measure of high school players' overseas options, it's an indictment of the idea in general. Some 18-year-olds could make the Europe thing work; it appears Jeremy Tyler is not one of them.
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Hah, was going to write about this tomorrow. Two quick reactions:
1. Makes you appreciate what Brandon Jennings did, not as some mythic trail blazer, but as a pretty impressive, mature individual. (obligatory self-promotion)
2. I don’t think it’s fair to say this is a failure. Had you done the same the same informal survey of Jennings’ experience last year, you’d have come away with a similar impression. Oh wait, the New York Times did!
Jeremy Tyler strikes me as kind of a moron, so who knows if he’ll evolve over there, but from a development perspective as a player and a person, I still think that he can learn a lot more in Israel than he would back home in San Diego. There will be hard times, sure, but when he returns to the U.S., I suspect he’ll be more mature than someone like Renardo Sidney, for instance. Then again, he does strike as a moron…
by Andrew Sharp on Nov 8, 2009 7:44 PM EST reply actions
I Saw Him Play Overseas
I saw that Maccabi Haifa Israeli basketball game with that kid Jeremy Tyler who is a 6’11 260lb beast who left high school early to play pro basketball…? The Guy is going to be good….. I was watching the game on www.triangleinternet.tv and Jeremy Tyler didn’t do that well, he only had 1 point but you can tell he’s got a lot of talent.
by Jimmybball on Nov 9, 2009 2:13 PM EST reply actions
Theres a Reality Show about him and his Team called "Inside Israeli Basketball"
I heard their doing an ESPN Outside The Lines show on him that will be televised mid November!! and a reality show called Inside Israeli Basketball that will be on National TV. I can’t wait. you can see a promo video of the show @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XGKTE4hPGs . Its pretty cool. I did not think Israeli Basketball was so popular!! I’m going to that site and watching his games. Thanks Jim!
by chrisballin on Nov 9, 2009 2:29 PM EST reply actions
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