From highschool to Europe:

[bajaden]

This could become the next wave of the future. Think how many highschool players have no desire to go to college. All they want to do is play in the NBA, and without college as a proving ground their chances diminish. Here's an interesting article about a young player going to Europe that makes some good points, and ultimitely, could cause others to follow, if he's sucessful.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/23/sports/ncaabasketball/23prospect.html?em

 

[bigbadred00]

This could become the next wave of the future. Think how many highschool players have no desire to go to college. All they want to do is play in the NBA, and without college as a proving ground their chances diminish. Here's an interesting article about a young player going to Europe that makes some good points, and ultimitely, could cause others to follow, if he's sucessful.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/23/sports/ncaabasketball/23prospect.html?em

If this also became successful the NBA would just get rid of their rule to have players go to college.

 

[Bricklayer]

Sonny Vaccaro, a former sneaker company executive, orchestrated Jennings’s move and has guided Tyler and his family through the process.

“It’s significant because it shows the curiosity for the American player just refusing to accept what he’s told he has to do,” Vaccaro said. “We’re getting closer to the European reality of a professional at a young age. Basically, Jeremy Tyler is saying, ‘Why do I have to go to high school?’ ”

Well I'm glad that Sonny Vaccaro has his priorities in the right place and all. What a scum.

Easiest response by the league would make having a high school diploma (or overseas equivalent) a requirement.

 

[Capt. Factorial]

An interesting path. It's also odd that Tyler is quite old - the article said he's turning 18 this June but he's only now in his junior year, whereas your typical June baby will graduate high school at 17 (or having just turned 18). So Tyler is a year behind schedule already for whatever reason.

We already know the NBA is going to be revising the language due to the spectre of John Wall...who knows what the eligibility will be for a kid in Tyler's situation.

 

[Capt. Factorial]

Easiest response by the league would make having a high school diploma (or overseas equivalent) a requirement.

The article said Tyler was working on his GED already, so skipping out on his senior year wouldn't stop him on that front.

 

[Bricklayer]

An interesting path. It's also odd that Tyler is quite old - the article said he's turning 18 this June but he's only now in his junior year, whereas your typical June baby will graduate high school at 17 (or having just turned 18). So Tyler is a year behind schedule already for whatever reason.

Normally when most of this stuff goes on its basically self serving. Obviously for the scumlord who's been advising him, but almost always for the kid as well. Often he's grown up in an environment actively discouraging him from learning anything other than how to bounce a ball, he has an I.Q. that could be added up on his toes if he could count that high, and all the barf about not "wanting" to go to school is basically a cover for being too dumb to meet even the lowest standards.

 

[Vlade4GM]

If this also became successful the NBA would just get rid of their rule to have players go to college.

There is no rule that forces players to go to college.

 

[bajaden]

Normally when most of this stuff goes on its basically self serving. Obviously for the scumlord who's been advising him, but almost always for the kid as well. Often he's grown up in an environment actively discouraging him from learning anything other than how to bounce a ball, he has an I.Q. that could be added up on his toes if he could count that high, and all the barf about not "wanting" to go to school is basically a cover for being too dumb to meet even the lowest standards.

I think there's an element of truth to what you say, but I don't think you can paint everyone into that picture. There's no doubt, that in this case the kid is being advised by someone whose putting his own self interest first.
There are a lot of kids that never go to college for whatever reason, and its not always that they don't have the smarts to go. I do think obtaining a highschool diploma is certainly a good idea in this day and age. But if the league were to impose that as a manditory requirement, how do you think that would stand up in a court of law? I'm sure, being an attorney you must have some ideas on the subject.

 

[Vlade4GM]

Normally when most of this stuff goes on its basically self serving. Obviously for the scumlord who's been advising him, but almost always for the kid as well. Often he's grown up in an environment actively discouraging him from learning anything other than how to bounce a ball, he has an I.Q. that could be added up on his toes if he could count that high, and all the barf about not "wanting" to go to school is basically a cover for being too dumb to meet even the lowest standards.

So?

 

[bigbadred00]

There is no rule that forces players to go to college.

Whatever get rid of the 1 year after their graduating class from HS graduates. If the kids are basically becoming pros anyway, might as well put them straight back in the NBA anyways--that's where they will be going to.

 

[Bricklayer]

I think there's an element of truth to what you say, but I don't think you can paint everyone into that picture. There's no doubt, that in this case the kid is being advised by someone whose putting his own self interest first.
There are a lot of kids that never go to college for whatever reason, and its not always that they don't have the smarts to go. I do think obtaining a highschool diploma is certainly a good idea in this day and age. But if the league were to impose that as a manditory requirement, how do you think that would stand up in a court of law? I'm sure, being an attorney you must have some ideas on the subject.

Its a common requirement in many jobs.

 

[Vlade4GM]

Whatever get rid of the 1 year after their graduating class from HS graduates. If the kids are basically becoming pros anyway, might as well put them straight back in the NBA anyways--that's where they will be going to.

The rule still gets many players to go to college for at least one year, which is something Stern prefers than them coming straight out of HS. I doubt a whole mess of prospects are going to flood over to Europe because of this.

 

[Vlade4GM]

Its a common requirement in many jobs.

They won't accept GED's?

 

[Bricklayer]

So?

So in 20 years time 7 out 10 of those guys are going to be living on the street.

 

[rainmaker]

So in 20 years time 7 out 10 of those guys are going to be living on the street.

I think your exagerating to make a point. Yes, there is truth to what you are saying, but I think everyone has to evaluate their own situation and decide what is best. All over the world teenagers turn pro in tennis, euro- basketball, gymnastics, soccer, etc.. It is not always the right decision, but is their decision to make. At age 17 you can enlist and go to Iraq with your parents support, and without a G.E.D., so why should sports be any different?

 

[kennadog]

So in 20 years time 7 out 10 of those guys are going to be living on the street.

Sadly, too true. Sooner if they have a career-ending injury at an early age, or are too uneducated/trusting to tell if someone is stealing their money or they don't know how to take care of that much money.

We know why the agent's doing this. He has dollar bill signs instead of a real brain or heart. But what's up with the family? Maybe they are blinded by the big bucks, too. Its treating these young men as if there is nothing else to life that matters.

I understand that some young players come from grinding poverty or have real financial need in their family, so it's tricky. But there is certainly an issue with maturity and trying to prevent these kids from being exploited and put under enormous pressure by family, friends, agents, scouts, etc.

I just think it's a shame that education is being seen as of no value.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

I hope they go the other way: I hope they increase the minimum age to twenty. Let some kid go overseas or to the D-League if he doesn't want to go to college; either way, it's better for the NBA.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

... At age 17 you can enlist and go to Iraq with your parents support, and without a G.E.D...

They must have changed things since I was on active duty.

 

[kennadog]

I think your exagerating to make a point. Yes, there is truth to what you are saying, but I think everyone has to evaluate their own situation and decide what is best. All over the world teenagers turn pro in tennis, euro- basketball, gymnastics, soccer, etc.. It is not always the right decision, but is their decision to make. At age 17 you can enlist and go to Iraq with your parents support, and without a G.E.D., so why should sports be any different?

The problem is, they have no life experience or maturity to really know what is best for them. I think in a lot of cases, it's what they are being told is the best, by poeple around them who don't really have their best interests at heart at all. Not too mention the intense pressure they may be under, that many older/more mature people would find difficult.

Maybe we should let 15 year-olds get married and have babies, too, if that's what they think is best for them. Maybe they should be allowed to quit school with no high school and go to work if they want. There a lot of life-altering decisions that we don't usually let kids make.

In America, kids that are under-age in those sports cannot turn pro without a parent giving legal permission and sigining the contracts. (Unless they are emancipated, which is not usually the case.) And believe me, I've questioned the motivation of some of those parents. Hard to tell where what's best for the child leaves off and parent's wants and desires start.

 

[kennadog]

I hope they go the other way: I hope they increase the minimum age to twenty. Let some kid go overseas or to the D-League if he doesn't want to go to college; either way, it's better for the NBA.

The NBA is afriad of getting sued, but that was exactly what I was thinking. If they can go play somewhere else for money, the NBA could not be accused of preventing them from earning a living with their skills.

 

[Vlade4GM]

So in 20 years time 7 out 10 of those guys are going to be living on the street.

So a puny high school diploma is going to make all the difference? Something that can easily be made up with a GED? They're going to leave after their first year in college even if they did go, so what's the big deal? For so many of them this is their profession, this is the way they're going to make their living, if it doesn't work out in the long run then at least they made more money off of it then if they had not gone overseas at all, because they likely wouldn't have finished college anyways.

There are plenty of sports where kids go pro before 18 or straight out of HS, but it seems the sports with huge college fanbases are the only ones that complain about it. Coincidence? I think not. So many of those complaining about how the athletes who drop out of education "early" are stupid and immature are the ones who have something selfishly invested in them going to college, and making money off their backs while the players make nothing and earn college educations that they will likely not use (disclaimer: I'm referring to the top amateur talents. Obviously the majority of players in college basketball are using their talents to get an education and know a pro career is probably unrealistic.) Ever wonder why it's not taboo even in the slightest for baseball players to come out straight from HS? Because no one cares about college baseball! That's the only reason why there is a public backlash over stuff like this, so many people depend upon the cash cow of college basketball. No one really cares about these kids getting an education and having something to fall back on if they don't make enough money in pro sports. They're not worried about them being too dumb or immature to handle the rigors of the pro's. They're worried about their bank accounts.

Why should these kids forego the money they can get from advertising and salary from Euro clubs so that they can get a partial education they don't even want that much? And they'll learn more real life lessons living in a different country and playing in a professional league then they'll learn in college.

Europe is a great alternative for them and it's an opportunity to force the NBA and the NCAA to re-evaluate the way things are run. It's a great way to keep them honest and challenge the monopoly that they've built.

And then with all this going on, people only complain about the "greedy" sports agent.

 

[hrdboild]

The way I understand it, the NBA is a professional sports league. If you're good enough to play on that level, why should you be barred from being a part of the league? Because you didn't go to college? Because you didn't finish high school? What does that have to do with playing basketball? I don't think people understand how predatory the college recruiting process is. The recruitment scandals that come up in the news every other year are just the tip of the iceberg. Everyone understands that these players are big money, agents and college coaches alike, and they want to use them to improve their reputation or their bank account. If a 17 year old can spend a year overseas earning money for their family and working on their game, which plays a lot bigger role in determining their future career than studying for some pointless US history exam or whatever, why should we discourage them? If you're already an elite prospect, why shouldn't you focus on cultivating your career? Going to college isn't always the best way to do that.

Yes the NBA owners want to increase the age limit. Forcing players to go to college for one or two years helps to mitigate the risk of drafting unproven talent and stashing them on your bench for four years. Is it in the best interest of the players? I really don't think so.

 

[Kingster]

Apparently the parents are ok with it (the kid is 17). It's their choice. Not everyone is made for college. In a way, it's nice to know that there are people out there pursuing their own path in their own way rather than following the lemmings.

 

[beb0p]

You can go to college at any age. In his case, all Jeremy Tyler gives up is a scholarship. With the money he'll be earning as a pro, he can pay for his own college education anyway, if he wants to go to college at all.

The NBA however, operates on a limited time frame. If going overseas is the best way for this kid to attain his dream, by all means go for it.

And if he makes the NBA without going through college, so what? Is that so different from a college player who flunks all his classes, declares after one college year, and gets drafted?

 

[Vlade4GM]

You can go to college at any age. In his case, all Jeremy Tyler gives up is a scholarship. With the money he'll be earning as a pro, he can pay for his own college education anyway, if he wants to go to college at all.

The NBA however, operates on a limited time frame. If going overseas is the best way for this kid to attain his dream, by all means go for it.

And if he makes the NBA without going through college, so what? Is that so different from a college player who flunks all his classes, declares after one college year, and gets drafted?

Truth.

 

[Vlade4GM]

The more you read about this kid the more you realize that he's not some dumb drop out kid. He's got his head on straight and challenging a system that is set up to screw kids over. He can easily get his GED, he can easily get a college education later on (and he'll have the money to do it), and he'll be foregoing a pointless senior year in HS (pointless academically and athletically) and a pointless freshman year in college (where he'll likely just take easy classes and learn nothing) to play in professional leagues to play against professionals. I think a lot of people are bent out of shape about this not only because it takes talent away from the NCAA, but because people in this country are so anal about conforming to the path most taken. Maybe some are jealous that he's bucking social norms.

This is him going into his work field at 17, getting a much greater head start than any of his peers. He'll be playing with and against skilled, experienced, tough, and fully developed professionals. He's going to learn so much more on and off the court than he would in his senior year in high school and freshman year in college. He's going to get paid to live in Europe and advance in his trade, how many people here can say that? Not to mention that his father owns multiple businesses, so he's capable of financially supporting his son for a little while if it doesn't work out.

Where do you think he'll learn more about life? Some sheltered freshman year in college listening to the educational beaurocrats who look at him and see dollar signs? Or living in another culture, experiencing a world outside the US, earning his own way and being around mature independent adults who have already been where he's at?

Face it, so many people get upset about this because he's getting paid to play a game, something that many people are jealous of. Why do you think college basketball is so popular in the first place? People like it because those guys don't get paid. I think that people think he should pay his dues as an unpaid amateur before going to the NBA to make millions. Some people just can't get over the fact that the game is changing, and the kids are starting to realize the NCAA for the monopoly that it is. Now, college basketball has plenty of good things about it, I don't want to completely tear it down. For some kids, most kids actually, it's the perfect situation, but for the top recruits that know their careers belong in basketball it's the best thing for some of them to play professionally. College is not for everyone so scholarships are not a justifiable return for some.

 

[MassachusettsKingsFan]

There is so much corruption in college sports nowadays anyways ...

If I was a star high school basketball player I must admit I would most likely choose the Europe route.

If you love something that much I just dont see the importance of going to 'fake' college if you only plan on using it as a way to play pro ball. A good chunk of these guys take BS classes anyways ... There basically only there to make these corrupt college 'scouts' ( boosters ) more money. Go to Europe, grow up, make some cash, and get drafted ..

Im actually getting jelous talking about it.. Its a good chance to try something different, visit the world while you can.

 

[Showtime]

I'm glad he's skipping the money funnel the NCAA and NBA have created which is pointless for adults wanting to play pro sports. More power to the kid.

 

[Bricklayer]

I'm glad he's skipping the money funnel the NCAA and NBA have created which is pointless for adults wanting to play pro sports. More power to the kid.

He's not an adult. He's a kid with a variety of people around him with thier own interests in mind, not his. And this one may make it. He could be a special talent unless the karmic injury bug strikes him down. But the 20 guys who will follow will not be. They will be vagabounds at the mercy of the actual adults who set them on their way, and their agent's new boat will last long long after they are left sleeping on a friend's couch. Assukming they have any friends after their freinds and family deem them no longer useful as a money tree. That's before we even get to the 100 kids who aren't plyers who see it as another sign that they don't need no stinkin' high school and end up dealing dime bags on the corner.

And the ridiculous, compeltely ridiculous angle to this whole slop is the blatant greed which is being bought into here. This is not a choice, school OR basketball. For 50 years kids have been going to school AND playing basketball and turning out just fine thanks. The HOF is in fact nearly entirely composed of guys with 4 year college degrees, let alone who stayed in school long enough to learn how to spell. There have been many failures amongst them, but at least the ones who fell short of their basketball dreams had something to fall back on after their "friends" had moved on to mooch off the next fool.

 

[rainmaker]

The more you read about this kid the more you realize that he's not some dumb drop out kid. He's got his head on straight and challenging a system that is set up to screw kids over. He can easily get his GED, he can easily get a college education later on (and he'll have the money to do it), and he'll be foregoing a pointless senior year in HS (pointless academically and athletically) and a pointless freshman year in college (where he'll likely just take easy classes and learn nothing) to play in professional leagues to play against professionals. I think a lot of people are bent out of shape about this not only because it takes talent away from the NCAA, but because people in this country are so anal about conforming to the path most taken. Maybe some are jealous that he's bucking social norms.

This is him going into his work field at 17, getting a much greater head start than any of his peers. He'll be playing with and against skilled, experienced, tough, and fully developed professionals. He's going to learn so much more on and off the court than he would in his senior year in high school and freshman year in college. He's going to get paid to live in Europe and advance in his trade, how many people here can say that? Not to mention that his father owns multiple businesses, so he's capable of financially supporting his son for a little while if it doesn't work out.

Where do you think he'll learn more about life? Some sheltered freshman year in college listening to the educational beaurocrats who look at him and see dollar signs? Or living in another culture, experiencing a world outside the US, earning his own way and being around mature independent adults who have already been where he's at?

Face it, so many people get upset about this because he's getting paid to play a game, something that many people are jealous of. Why do you think college basketball is so popular in the first place? People like it because those guys don't get paid. I think that people think he should pay his dues as an unpaid amateur before going to the NBA to make millions. Some people just can't get over the fact that the game is changing, and the kids are starting to realize the NCAA for the monopoly that it is. Now, college basketball has plenty of good things about it, I don't want to completely tear it down. For some kids, most kids actually, it's the perfect situation, but for the top recruits that know their careers belong in basketball it's the best thing for some of them to play professionally. College is not for everyone so scholarships are not a justifiable return for some.

You said it perfectly. I couldn't agree more. We all know people who went to college and turned out to be complete failures. Hell, in this economy, a degree doesn't guarantee a job. A degree doesn't secure your future. I have many friends who slept and drank their way through college, and aren't any better for it. Their parents are just poorer than they were before.

I don't see the media attacking players from europe who come over here and have never step foot in a college class room. When Gasol, Dirk, T. Parker, and others came over there wasn't an outcry from the media for them to go to school first. All anyone cared about was are they good enough to succeed in the nba. It is a bottomline business. If you are good enough at something to earn a living doing it, then by all means go ahead and do it.

Vlade was the greatest humanitarian Sacramento ever saw, and he was playing pro ball at a very young age. Yet, we have seen countless players come through here with a checkered past that went to school. School doesn't make you a better person or guarantee success. But I applaud someone that wants to go against the norm, move to europe, and test his abilities against the best compitition he can find.