And now for the flip side of the smiley Brandon Jennings narrative. Jeremy Tyler, a stand-out big man from San Diego, followed Jennings's European plan with a twist: Tyler decided to not just spend one post-high school season overseas before entering the NBA draft, but to spend his senior season of high school there as well. Tyler signed on with Israeli club Haifa.Experts agreed that Tyler lacked the maturity or social structure to make it work in a foreign land. And lo! Pete Thamel of the New York Times, after a visit to Tyler's team, writes that the worst fears are being realized.
This is a pretty tidy summary:
His coach calls him lazy and out of shape. The team captain says he is soft. His teammates say he needs to learn to shut up and show up on time. He has no friends on the team. In extensive interviews with Tyler, his teammates, coaches, his father and advisers, the consensus is that he is so naïve and immature that he has no idea how naïve and immature he is.Tyler has played little, has been fined for team violations, has fought with the coach and teammates ... all in a couple months. Thamel ends his long piece by quoting Tyler as telling the reporter that he wishes he were returning to the United States with him. Not a great sign ... especially considering Tyler has the better part of two years to go.
But of course, the Jennings experiment didn't go just as planned. The difference was that Jennings had family in tow, and less choice in the matter. (There were rumors -- never refuted -- that Jennings would not meet NCAA academic eligibility requirements. There have been no such concerns with Tyler.) Jennings had to make it work for a year. Tyler, a pioneer in his own rite, one who would instead be dominating 6'5 opponents and doing advanced geometry (or something), has the burden of regret.
Jennings has been a success so far -- an early leader in the Rookie of the Year race, a player Knicks boss Donnie Walsh has already cited as a player he missed on. But right now, Tyler is proving there's another way things can go. As with all things, there is no magic solution.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
I was able to catch Jeremy Tyler’s (HS stud who left early to go pro) debut on the web-
The kid is big – 6-11 250+ ….he had a tough game but you can tell he has the makings of a great Player.
Where did you see 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.
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. With all this drama surrounding him I can’t wait to see both shows.
Yeah there's a video that promotes the show. you can see it @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XGKTE4hPGs Its pretty cool actually. did not expect Israel basketball to be so popular.
Yeah 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!!
hahaha lol. i posted something very similar to you jim. its funny you saw the same video.
Apparently Tyler said he wanted to go to Europe to get exposed. He's gotten exposed so far that's for sure. See how he handles it from here on out.