Top High School Junior Skips Senior HS year and Goes to Play in Europe

[tornado]

Maccabi Haifa has now begun talks and will try to sign Tyler

[Braves4Life]

It's official! He's signed..... And will only be paid $140,000

http://www.cbssports.com/general/story/12057702

That's one helluva pittance for taking such a large gamble and potentially exposing his weaknesses to the NBA. Now, this kid can never play in college and the $140K after expenses, etc. won't even pay for a full college degree. I hope this kid is good.

[tornado]

Tyler's season in Europe turned out a bit more disappointing that he'd have liked...
but at least he made $140,000

"Former U.S. high school basketball star Jeremy Tyler quit Israeli team
Maccabi Haifa and returned home Friday, cutting short a disappointing first
pro season.
However, his time in Israel was fraught with problems, and he left two
months before the end of the season
"Due to personal matters, Jeremy chose to leave the team on his own will on
March 18 and return home to San Diego," Maccabi Haifa owner Jeffery Rosen
said in a statement.
In the 10 games Tyler played for Haifa, the 6-11 (2.11-meter) power forward
averaged only 2.1 points and 1.9 rebounds in 7.6 minutes per game. Tyler,
who reportedly earned a $140,000 salary, found it hard to adapt to the pro
game and couldn't find a place in Maccabi Haifa's starting lineup.
His frustration began to show. Last month he walked out on the team at
halftime to protest not getting more minutes. For the last three games he sat
on the bench not wearing a uniform after being left off the Haifa squad
entirely."

http://www.csmonitor.com/From-the-news-wires/2010/0320/Experiment-implodes-Jeremy-Tyler-quits-Israeli-basketball-team

[SFP]

2 HS players in a row who have not panned out in Europe. I wonder what impact this will have on any other talent in heading over. It seems that the over pampering of these guys has created an entitlement attitude from these guys.

[d dub]

2 HS players in a row who have not panned out in Europe. I wonder what impact this will have on any other talent in heading over. It seems that the over pampering of these guys has created an entitlement attitude from these guys.

it's hard to say that jennings didn't pan out. He didn't get tons of minutes, but he put his head down and did the work in Italy. Came back and is having a really good rookie season in the NBA (Helping Bucks to playoffs). Just because he went for a year and didn't explode, doesn't mean he didn't pan out, Tyler on the other hand, has much growing up to do.

Jennings will be the probably wind up being the positive example of a kid who doesn't want to go to college but wants to hone his craft for a year in Europe. He went over, got better at basketball and will probably have a pretty good NBA career.

If Nic Calathes comes back to the states he'll be an interesting case too. One year of college ball and then to Greece.

[SFP]

I agree with your analysis of Jennings but I wonder how the Italian club feels about the investment? From Jennings perspective it was great no doubt.

[real fan]

Sonny Vaccaro should have been banned from the AAU circuit a long time ago because of the bad influence he is on all these young players.

[amckillip]

I agree with your analysis of Jennings but I wonder how the Italian club feels about the investment? From Jennings perspective it was great no doubt.

I know about them now, I wouldn't have otherwise... Not to mention good American players can really help European teams(there's a limit to how many they can have, so those with the best usually do well). So I'd say it worked.

[SFP]

I know about them now, I wouldn't have otherwise... Not to mention good American players can really help European teams(there's a limit to how many they can have, so those with the best usually do well). So I'd say it worked.

Jennings did not start for them. There was probably an uptick in tickets at first that may have paid for his stay but a real difference maker?

[amckillip]

Jennings did not start for them. There was probably an uptick in tickets at first that may have paid for his stay but a real difference maker?

Freddy Adu didn't start(for any length of time) went he went and played overseas, made tons more, and EASILY paid for himself... Remember, sports is a business

[SFP]

Freddy Adu didn't start(for any length of time) went he went and played overseas, made tons more, and EASILY paid for himself... Remember, sports is a business

I'm not talking about the player but the club. It's the clubs that will make the decision to bring over the young inexperience players or not! I bet the Israeli club probably wish they did not spend the time and effort on Tyler. I could be wrong but I just do not see how the math worked out for the club.

[Braves4Life]

I bet the Israeli club probably wish they did not spend the time and effort on Tyler. I could be wrong but I just do not see how the math worked out for the club.

I don't know SFP. Is $140,000 really a lot of money to these teams? I would think that's a drop in the bucket for these teams.

[amckillip]

I'm not talking about the player but the club. It's the clubs that will make the decision to bring over the young inexperience players or not! I bet the Israeli club probably wish they did not spend the time and effort on Tyler. I could be wrong but I just do not see how the math worked out for the club.

No, I'm talking about the club too. Adu got EUFA games televised here in the states when that was unheard of except at 3 AM. He was definitely a financial boon to his club for a while. And I think you're overestimating the investment needed to bring a Brandon Jennings overseas.

[SFP]

I don't know SFP. Is $140,000 really a lot of money to these teams? I would think that's a drop in the bucket for these teams.

Time spent on him plus other benefits were greater then the $140 plus the whole team chemistry. Adu is a who different equation then these young HS basketball players IMO. Adu went to Europe to play the best.