First Team
Why Jeremy Tyler is Making the Right Decision
4/25/09 - 12:29 AM
When I read the story of Jeremy Tyler skipping his senior year in High School and going overseas to play in Europe for big bucks at age 17, I really didn’t know what to think.
Instead, I went to my old job and asked my friend, Freddy, an older black male in his 70’s, what he thought about the "young boy’s" decision, as he called him.
"When will our black men learn that there’s more to life than just dribbling a ball? You need an education and these kids don’t seem to realize that."
He proceeded to ring off names like Korleone Young and Lenny Cooke, to name a few high schoolers who made the huge leap to the NBA and came crashing down in the same fashion.
But the names my friend Ricardo Bernard mentioned, like Martina Hingis, Andy Roddick, Serena Williams and Pele, were all examples of individuals who began their professional careers at young ages, didn’t go to school, and flourished.
Two opinions from two different generations. One insistent on the importance of an education and one that appreciates it, but understands it's not for everybody.
When you look at college basketball these days, most of these kids are one-and-done players. The only reason top recruits like Tyreke Evans (Memphis) and Derrick Rose (Memphis) went to school is because they had to.
Tyler may want to go to school—but he’s only 17. He has years ahead of him to complete a degree like Vince Carter and Shaq did.
Two years ago, the NBA implemented a rule where any player entering the NBA had to play college ball for one year to be eligible. They essentially eliminated what Reggie Harding created.
At the same time, the Euro was vastly outpacing the American dollar, and this gave European basketball teams a shot at going after American athletes. Players like Josh Childress and Jannero Pargo, who were solid ballplayers by our standards, were getting star money to play for Greek and Middle Eastern crowds.
But the one jump from America to Europe that stood out was that of Brandon Jennings.
Jennings, who initially committed to Arizona, withdrew his name and went to Europe for guaranteed money. Now, he’s playing a more advanced brand of basketball and looks more viable to NBA scouts, who may have thought less of him if he was battling in the Big East.
Jennings’ decision sent shockwaves through basketball and the media felt it was the beginning of a terrible precedent—but was it really? The same way Ricky Rubio, Tony Parker and Jennings followed their dreams at young ages, so has Tyler.
So why do we criticize Tyler for following the same dream?
In the coming months, many questions will be asked about an athlete who is 7" tall and over 250 pounds, but is still a kid at the tender age of 17.
Will he be able to handle the culture shock? Will he be able to adapt to a new language? What about the racism many black athletes like Lewis Hamilton, Theirry Henry, and Samuel Eto face in Europe? Won’t he get home sick?
