Jeremy Tyler Returns To San Diego

San Diego high school phenom Jeremy Tyler thought that going pro before his senior high school year was a good idea, so he could enter the NBA draft- much like Brandon Jennings the year before.

Only Maccabi Haifa rarely played Tyler and his 2 point-2 rebound-per game numbers weren't getting Tyler all hyped up about his time overseas.

So, he left...

Two months before the end of the regular season...

"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 Jeffrey Rosen said in a statement. "We wish Jeremy all the best."

Tyler was making a reported $140,000 for Haifa, but had not seen a uniform in the last few games and had walked out of a game at halftime because of a frustration coming form a lack of playing time...

Adviser Sonny Vaccaro says that it's disappointing, but not a failure when talking about Tyler's time overseas...

Here's a story from San Diego's CW6 on the decision at the time to go pro...

Oy, Vey! Knicks Host Maccabi Tel Aviv

And the coach won't go...
A rabbi intervened and everything...

Seems like the head coach for Maccabi has about as much respect for the replacement officials as Larry Brown did the other night...

Here's your highlights, thanks to our friends at NBA TV...
FOSG Beau Estes has your voiceover...

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...