USA – Hot prospect to leave for Europe before finishing high school

SAN DIEGO (California Interscholastic Federation) - Brandon Jennings graduated from high school and travelled to Italy to launch his professional career with Lottomatica Roma.

Now Jeremy Tyler, a 6ft 11in center from San Diego, is about to follow Jennings to Europe - only he’s passing up his senior year and crossing the Atlantic from high school before he graduates.

The 17-year-old Tyler, who is being projected as a lottery pick in the 2011 NBA draft, said to the New York Times: "If you're really focused on getting better, you go play pro somewhere.”

Tyler is hopeful of getting his high school diploma online.

He’s decided to go because in high school, opposing coaches are making his life a misery.

“It was boring and I wasn’t getting better,” Tyler said.

“Each game was the same thing. I was getting triple-teamed and getting hacked. After each game I’d have scratches and bruises up and down my arms from getting triple-teamed. It just wasn’t for me.”

Sonny Vaccaro, the former sneaker company executive who famously signed Michael Jordan to Nike in the 1980s, advised Jennings on his move to Europe and he’s been consulting Tyler and his family through his process as well

His father, James Tyler, believes going to Europe is a good idea.

“He gets a chance to work the job of his dreams and have fun doing it,” the father said.

“There are kids leaving to go to Iraq at age 18. They took a job to serve their country. He’s going to play ball.”

FIBA