Last year, Jeremy Tyler made headlines worldwide when he and his family decided that he would skip his senior year of high school to play pro basketball overseas. Tyler was one of the top high school prospects in the United States, but the 6’11” power forward grew impatient and went overseas and joined the Israeli basketball team, Maccabi Haifa, making a nice $140,000 his first season. Last year, New York Times sports writer Pete Thamel flew to Israel to hang out with Tyler and reported that things weren’t going to well. According to those around him, Tyler was immature, distracted and couldn’t get acclimated to the way of life in Israel, which all affected his on-court play.
Now comes word that Tyler has left the team, with five weeks still left in the season, and returned to San Diego.
“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. “We wish Jeremy all the best.”
Tyler only played in 10 games, averaging 2.1 points and 1.9 rebounds in 7.6 minutes a game. And according to ESPN, not even Tyler’s agent knew what was going on.
“I’m as surprised as you are. We had no idea he was coming home,” Makhtar Ndiaye of the Wasserman Media Group, told ESPN’s Willie Weinbaum. “I’m speechless at this point and look forward to speaking with Jeremy. A contract, a learning process — things weren’t great — but it was part of growing up. I’m disappointed and frustrated. The kid decided on his own. We did everything humanly possible to make it a success story for him and his family.”
This seems like a good lesson in patience. Just finish high school, play a year of college, then go to the pros.
Via: BlackVoices.com
If you have a teen on the fast track to stardom, please make sure he or she has a back up plan.
