Doc Posted November 9, 2009 Report Share Posted November 9, 2009 HAIFA, Israel — Jeremy Tyler came to this scenic city overlooking the Mediterranean as a trailblazer. As the first American basketball player to skip his senior year of high school to play professionally overseas, Tyler signed a $140,000 deal to play for Maccabi Haifa this year. The grand plan revolves around his being a top pick, if not the top pick, in the 2011 N.B.A. draft. But after nearly three months of professional basketball in Israel’s top division, Tyler is at a crossroads. Caught in a clash of cultures, distractions and agendas, he appears to be worlds away from a draft-night handshake with Stern, the N.B.A. commissioner. 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. So enamored with his vast potential, Tyler has not developed the work ethic necessary to tap it. “The question is whether he’ll take responsibility of his career,” Haifa Coach Avi Ashkenazi said. “If he thinks he’s going to be in the N.B.A. because his name is Jeremy Tyler and he was a very good high school player, he will not be.” http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/08/sports/basketball/08tyler.html?_r=3&ref=sports Good read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChosenOne Posted November 9, 2009 Report Share Posted November 9, 2009 We need more people like him to fail going overseas early, so that young kind stop doing or even thinking about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramiel Posted November 9, 2009 Report Share Posted November 9, 2009 I find that very funny. He's so naïve and immature he can't see that he is. I hate players like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owner Real Deal Posted November 9, 2009 Owner Report Share Posted November 9, 2009 His mistake. I can't feel sorry for him. But in the same sentence, what does anyone overseas know about NBA talent? I think I heard all of this stuff before about Brandon Jennings and the limited minutes he was playing last year (and the reasons why), yet he's a strong play for rookie of the year right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Feelgood Posted November 9, 2009 Report Share Posted November 9, 2009 Honestly, he should of finished high school and went to college instead of going with the money and now could possibly be wasted talent. Kids these days need to just go to school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BasX Posted November 9, 2009 Report Share Posted November 9, 2009 Because of Jennings, and the way he has been so far. I will, wait and see. But i do not wish to see anyone "fail". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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