Jeremy Tyler Leaves Maccabi, Next Stop NBA D-League?

High school standout Jeremy Tyler made waves when he elected to skip his senior year in high school in order to play pro ball in Israel for Maccabi Haifa. Turns out that experiment didn't work out so well, when after a series of personal "issues," Tyler left Maccabi this week, leaving the team bewildered, according to the Associated Press.

Tyler won't be eligible for the draft for another season. So where does he go now? His agent says he prefers Europe, though he stressed it isn't about the money. If you believe that I've got some tickets to see Ricky Rubio in Minnesota next year to sell you. So what are the pros and cons of each option?

Europe gives him a certain amount of credibility. After all, a half dozen or so guys are drafted from Europe each year, and go on to have great careers, usually back in Europe, laughing at David Kahn. But that's for those actually from Europe. The model to look for of course, is Brandon Jennings, who spent a year overseas, refined his game, then came back over and crushed it. So there's a legitimate case for Tyler staying in Europe, if he can find a team (which Givony at least doesn't think will happen). Throw in the money and that's kind of the ideal situation from a selfish perspective.

The NBA D-League option is much less glamorous. Where would you rather play, a high-profile foreign city or Bismark? But there is a precedent for young players coming to the D-League to advance their game, and it's going to be a better option, especially after this season. The precedent is Latavious Williams who came out of high school directly into the D-League, and plays for Tulsa. Williams' numbers are less than stellar, but consider he's doing his damage with only 20 minutes of playing time on a fairly stacked team. His mechanics and natural ability are striking, and he's made legitimate improvement in the D-League this year (DraftExpress agrees with me). Plus, having watched the kid, I can tell you he's got tremendous potential. It would not surprise me at all to see Williams in the league as early as next year, even if he's reassigned.

Tyler following Williams' path would be a great thing for the D-League, as he could redefine what a star means for the league. But is it what's best for Tyler? Tyler would likely not receive the hype he feels he deserves, which would impact where he was drafted. As talented as he is, he now has a significant attitude issue on his record by ditching Maccabi suddenly, is young and inexperienced, and would be away from the spotlight for two years. In Europe he could use the mythical hype that being in Europe seems to create, while the D-League still seems like a step down, unfortunately. But if he's smart, he'll realize the legitimate NBA talent he'll be playing against in the D-League and how many scouts will be seeing him on a daily basis.

It's a hard decision for someone so young to make, but if Tyler does elect to join the D-League, it could work out well for all parties. Especially if he lands with a D-League team owned by an NBA squad, like the D-Fenders or 66ers. Having a pick who already knows your system makes him a lot more valuable.