Wednesday, August 12, 2009

High schooler leaves early to turn pro

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Jeremy Tyler completed his jump from high school underclassman to pro basketball player on Wednesday when he signed a one-year, $140,000 contract with Maccabi Haifa of the Israeli Premier League.
Tyler, 18, is the first American-born player to leave high school early to play basketball professionally overseas. The 6-foot-11, 260-pound Tyler announced in the spring that he was skipping his senior season at San Diego High because prep basketball had become boring.
“I think it’s a very good deal for Jeremy because it’s a good team, he’ll play, they speak English and he’ll learn there,” said Sonny Vaccaro, the former shoe company executive who is advising Tyler and his family. “The reason we did one year was because it will give Jeremy time to understand how hard it is to be a professional, then he’ll do whatever he wants to do next year.”
Vaccaro said Tyler had five other offers, including one from a team for more money, “but Jeremy, his family and I decided it was more important to have a chance of playing than making a couple extra dollars. If Jeremy is who he’s supposed to be, he’ll earn a lot of money in his lifetime.”
Tyler averaged 28.7 points during his junior season.
In early May, Tyler told The Associated Press that he was tired of facing triple-teams, being hacked and being limited to playing the middle when he felt he had much more to his game.
“I was the best player in San Diego this year and it was boring. Next year, it would be extremely boring,” Tyler said then. “I’d go into the game with no enthusiasm.”
Tyler is expected to return to the United States when he becomes eligible for the 2011 NBA draft.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

how is this legal?

Anonymous said...

Good for him, there will be some that feel he should stay in school to "get an education". If his goal is to become a pro basketball player, I think he is wise to do this. One third of American high school students drops out of school- fact. Most do so for much less than the pursuit of a career that will eventually pay seven figures....think about it.

Anonymous said...

...but we're not talking about the kid dropping out of college to go and play pro bball...we are talking about highschool. Think about the precedent that is going to set. Thats ridiculous.

Anonymous said...

"good for him" ? Good for him? This kid left highschool early, not college.

Anonymous said...

Again if you two could read, a third of all HIGH SCHOOL students drop out of HIGH SCHOOL in this country. He is going to make $140,000 in one year. Lets say he graduated from high school, never played basketball beyond high school, and worked a $10 and hour job with his coveted high school diploma. It would take him nearly 7 years to make what he will make in one year by leaving high school. But then again, he won't have that valuable high school diploma like you two.

Anonymous said...

You wouldnt make 140,000 with a Doctorate.

Anonymous said...

he should leave if he loves the game and will be paid for it.Unless he plays for CM then he would be a fool because all the collages would be looking at him today is about money he can always get a GED health care is coming.

Anonymous said...

with the grammar that anon above has used, one would beleive he, himself, has a GED

Anonymous said...

its all about the money y do something you dont like when you can get paid doing what you like you should be able to turn pro when ever you can make it if all you know is hoops then thats your GED he`s earned it now let him get paid for it

Anonymous said...

so whats next, huh? A 16 year old leaving early? What about a 15 year old? Is some kid going to be sitting in a gym after just having graduated from Middle School with 4 hats in front of him of pro basketball teams electing to skip high school? This sets a TERRIBLE precedent, TERRIBLE. Dont give me "oh the kid should do what he wants, he might as well go make some money" because he is a kid, not an adult. Where are his parents? The kid had 1 more year of high school left. Are you telling me he couldnt wait one more year, get his high school diploma and then go play bball? Would that have ruined his career? He would still only be 18 for goodness sake. Listen, i could care less what this drop out loser did...i just hate the precedent that it sets. Its ridiculous.

Anonymous said...

"Get his diploma" Why????

Anonymous said...

“so whats next, huh? A 16 year old leaving early? What about a 15 year old?”. You have to be a certain age to drop out of school. In Pennsylvania children are required to attend school until the age of 17. One exception to this is if a student has reached age 16 and is employed during the time the public schools are in session. In that case, he/she is not required to attend school. The student must hold "an employment certificate" which is usually issued by the school district. Why so concern about athletes? Are you aware of all the child actors? It’s very doubtful that a 15-year old could turn professional in any sport, but if they did I’m sure they would be require to continue their education in the same manner as child actor has to. $140,000 good for him, I hope it works out well for him. Even if it doesn’t he can always go back and get his G.E.D. and go to college. He’s 18, why can’t he sip his senior year of high school or college? Why not show some concern for the 18-year old that’s sipping out on college to go to Afghanistan?