Jeremy Tyler Heading Overseas

((HT: NBC San Diego/Page-Togerson))

Jeremy Tyler, the 18-year-old basketball phenom who is skipping his senior year at San Diego High, has signed a one-year contract with Maccabi Haifa of the Israeli Premier League.

Tyler ((pictured, thanks Getty Images file)) is the first American-born player to leave high school early to play basketball professionally overseas.

The contract is worth $140,000.

Tyler is expected to return to the United States when he becomes eligible for the 2011 NBA draft. Sonny Vaccaro, who has advised Tyler and his family, said it will be up to the player to decide where he wants to play next season.

Scouts say Tyler's the best amateur big man in the country. He averaged 27.8 points a game for the Cavers last season and was offered a full scholarship to play for Rick Pitino at Louisville.

Here's your standard man-on-the-street piece from NBC7/39


Those of us at OSG HQ commend Sonny Vaccaro for doing an end-run on the NBA system of leaving kids out of the draft pool. We know that David Stern and the member teams of the Association have a beef here, and have changed the rules to reflect that.

We just have two words to remind them of their decision- Spencer F'n Haywood...
Carry on...