We've reached the point in American sports where a player leaving college early to turn pro is routine. But Jeremy Tyler, a 6-foot-11 basketball player from San Diego, is doing something unprecedented: He's leaving high school early to turn pro.
Tyler, considered the best high school big man in the country, had originally committed to enroll at Louisville. But he now tells the New York Times that he'll drop out of high school and play pro ball in Europe, most likely for a team in Spain. Tyler told the Times that he's making the move because he's too focused on getting better at basketball to spend time hitting the books, adding that "people look to college for more off-the-court stuff versus being in the gym and getting better."
Brandon Jennings finished high school last year and played professionally in Europe instead of going to college, but no American player has dropped out of high school to play pro ball in Europe.
Some will criticize Tyler for choosing sports over education, but I think he's doing the right thing: Thousands of athletes go through a charade of being college students when they're really just on campus to hone their athletic crafts, and it's refreshing that Tyler is honest enough to admit that he just wants to think about basketball.
The 17-year-old Tyler left San Diego High School before finishing his junior year, but he says he'll try to get his diploma by taking classes online. He also says he's ready to spend two years in Spain before returning in June of 2011 for the NBA draft.
Tyler told the Times of his European excursion, "It will help me get better and grow up."
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Davidson's Stephen Curry, right, and his coach Bob McKillop, left, take questions during a news conference at Davidson College in Davidson, N.C., Thursday, April 23, 2009. Curry announced he would enter the NBA draft. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
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Davidson's Stephen Curry, right, talks with his father Dell, left, and coach Bob McKillop, center, after a news conference at Davidson College in Davidson, N.C., Thursday, April 23, 2009. Curry announced he would enter the NBA draft. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
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Davidson's Stephen Curry, left, chats with his mother Sonya, center, as his father Dell, right, looks on after a news conference at Davidson College in Davidson, N.C., Thursday, April 23, 2009. Curry announced he would enter the NBA draft. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
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Comments (Page 1 of 3)
BIG DEAL ANOTHER DUMB JOCK
A rich jock.....lol...
They shouldnt be allowed to do this until they are 18 or older.
Tell that to Freddy Adu, or the next girl's gymnastics team that wins Olympic gold for the US, or the next tennis prodigy who breaks into the pro tour ...
this is sad. Our youth already thinks education is a joke and that the only way to succeed is to play sports or get famous for something else. I usually wouldn't take any joy in another's pain or suffering, but I hope this kid ends up turning tricks in the alley behind a sleazy spanish brothel.........
You are a very sad person....he is doing what he does best and will be paid for it
I'm not one to wish misfortunes on others, but really, a career ending injury would teaching this kid and his moronic parent(s) a lesson.
Couldn't he suffer that career-ending injury in college, too? Except this way he gets to bank a few hundred thousand in the process, certainly enough to stash some aside for tuition. If this was any profession aside from sports, no one would argue, so why the double standard?
absolutely no other profession has a 16-17 year old come in and make hundreds of thousands of dollars... double standard? haha
jlhluver212l,
Are you joking? What about actors, models, musicians, artists?
Hey, if the market exists for these dopes, by all means cash in on it. Just please stop torturing us with "interviews" of these idiots..
I don't see why this kid is getting killed by you guys. He is suppose to be a top 3 pick by 2011 and wants to develope faster whats wrong with that?
Here's what's wrong with encouraging this:
Baseball.
How many baseball players go to jail for assault? Go broke? Get caught up trying to stay street? Definitely not as many as in basketball or football.
Why? The minors. By the time most baseball players get to the bigs, they've had some college and some minor league ball to help them mature. This kid is not only skipping college, but is totally skipping out on getting an education period. Make no mistake: he's going to Europe to make money and get around the college eligibility issue. And by encouraging it we're encouraging another Michael Vick. This is a symptom of a very debilitating disease that has spread from the diamonds of the Dominican Republic to the streets of our cities. We can do better.
"Make no mistake: he's going to Europe to make money and get around the college eligibility issue. And by encouraging it we're encouraging another Michael Vick."
Michael Vick spent three years in college. Your argument makes no sense.
And your argument that MLB players are somehow more law-abiding than other athletes is flat-out wrong. See: Matt Bush, Jim Leyritz, Joba, Elijah Dukes, Brian Giles, Ambiorix Burgos, Ugueth Urbina -- even golden boy Cole Hamels broke his pitching hand in a bar fight a few years back. Young men with money make mistakes -- it's not limited to a particular sport or ethnicity.
I totally agree. Had he been my son ,he would understand no academics no sports
I'm sure he is mature enough to handle things as an adult. Lets see, illegal weapons charges, drugs, bigger than the game, his homies, sound familiar. I'm sure he will be fine.
Does anyone remember Latrell Spreewel? Yea, look where all his fame and money got him. Last I heard, his yacht was for sale and so was his second house that went up for forclosure. If these kids are not mature and take the easy way to make bucks, then go backwards and get their education? It'll never happen.
Known fact, the easier the money comes, the easier it goes. What does he think he will do after Basketball with no high school education?
A 7' basketball player with possible talent. Will he get as much exposure in Spain as he would if he was in the NCAA March Madness for a couple of years? Think about that!
"Couldn't he suffer that career-ending injury in college, too? Except this way he gets to bank a few hundred thousand in the process, certainly enough to stash some aside for tuition. If this was any profession aside from sports, no one would argue, so why the double standard?"
Hey Matt... the last time I checked, you need a high school education to get a job in any other profession. I can't believe that AOL would even allow MDS to post this, with him condoning the kid's decision.
I'm all for going overseas to play basketball, I'm even for him playing pro ball overseas if his parents were to relocate overseas. I'm against dropping out of high school and "trying to get his diploma online"... that's just stupid. What if he doesn't get his diploma?
This isn't a question about not going to college and the possibility of injuring himself in college... this is about dropping out of a united states high school, moving overseas to play basketball while most of his family stays home, and "trying to get a diploma online" and if the kid was quoted his statement would've likely been "I'll try to get my diploma online, or something" meaning that any form of education is likely backburnered.
ever heard the term live your life...u only get 1 chance most of the time so get off this kids back...who in the world do u people think u are to criticize this young man, or his parents...do u know his situation??just be thankful he's not out here doing a lot of other illegal activities that other kids his age are doing...how could u wish this kid has a career ending injury...ya'll are a bunch of ***ches!!!get over yourself
Must have to agree with "mcjesus666": it's really sad.
Kids read all of the sensationalism about pro athletes signing zillion dollar contracts to play sports and for endorsement deals and gear all of their energy to making it to the professional level. But many of them don't know that, according to recent SI article, 78 percent of NFL players file bankruptcy two years after their pro careers end and 60 percent of all NBA players wind up broke five years after their pro careers are over. This is because these athletes don't know how to read and comprehend contracts and can't calculate figures. Unscrupulous agents, accountants, attorneys and financial investors that they associate with know that they are unable to do this, and as a result the athletes get screwed.
A lot of kids--and adults for that matter--don't realize that you can be a billionaire, but if you don't know how to manage money you'll wind up broke.
Jeremy, show some discipline; do yourself a favor. Finish school and get as much education as you can. There are far more important things in life than b-ball.