Here's something you might be interested in.
It seems every year there is debate about a high school basketball player that is jumping straight from prep sports into the pros.
Some people bring up players like LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Kevin Garnett. They were able to make millions and the decision worked for them.
I remember as a kid, hearing about Darryl Dawkins doing that. He was a player I loved. Not because he was so great. He really wasn't. But, he broke two glass backboards when he slam dunked. He also had about 10 different nicknames. I thought that was the epitome of cool.
He made the leap in the mid-70s. And the previous year, Moses Malone did the same. It took him a few years before he became the Hall of Fame center for the Sixers.
In the debate about how it will affect a teenager to jump right into the NBA, people often bring up Spencer Haywood. It was 1971 when he wanted to jumped to the pros. There was a four-year rule that was overturned by the Supreme Court and it allowed him to play.
His skills would've carried him a lot farther in the pros, had he not gotten so involved in drugs, which derailed his career. And many people say that had he grown up a bit more, spent some time in college, maybe he wouldn't have gone down that path.
I don't know if I buy that. Many athletes get into trouble, even the ones that went to a university for four years.
And are these athletes really studying and getting an education in college? Or is the school just making money off their talent and using them? That's a whole different debate.
This current player, the 6'11" Jeremy Tyler, played at San Diego High. And what makes his case so unusual is not the fact that he's going to skip college and play pro ball. It's the fact that he's going to be the first ever to skip his senior year of high school.
Do I think that's a good idea? No. And we can all list about five reasons as to why.
But I don't think people that freak out over this decision realize it's not as bad as they think. He's going to be making in the high six-figures. And, isn't the main point of getting a good education to enable you to get a good job? It sounds to me like he's cutting out the middle-man and jumping right into a good job.
For some reason, basketball is the only sport that this is ever debated. Nobody complains when these 15-year-old tennis or golf sensations go on the pro tours.
Nobody complains when some actress like Dakota Fanning makes two movies a year at age 8. (Of course, they are required to have schooling on the set, but still)
Scott Ostler of the San Frarncisco Chronicle said, "When I was a lad, had someone offered me the chance to skip my high school senior year to play pro basketball in Europe for two years for about $1 million, I know what I would have said. 'No thank you, sir. That would hinder my educational and emotional development. Besides, I already have a manual-labor job at which I earn one dollar per hour.' I would pause for comedic timing before adding 'Just kidding! Where do I sign?' Hey, I was young and foolish. Now I know the value of education. If I had a son in that position, I'd be packing his bags. And mine."
Now, as funny as that is, it does make you think of a few points. What's wrong with cashing in now, before you play your senior year in high school and possibly injury yourself and can no longer make that kind of money?
Or, what's wrong with a parent telling the child that it's important to at least finish high school, and improve your game a bit more. That money and offer will still be available.
Either way, he won't be available for the NBA draft until 2011.
Depending on how he does in Europe, he's looking at becoming a very rich man.
It seems every year there is debate about a high school basketball player that is jumping straight from prep sports into the pros.
Some people bring up players like LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Kevin Garnett. They were able to make millions and the decision worked for them.
I remember as a kid, hearing about Darryl Dawkins doing that. He was a player I loved. Not because he was so great. He really wasn't. But, he broke two glass backboards when he slam dunked. He also had about 10 different nicknames. I thought that was the epitome of cool.
He made the leap in the mid-70s. And the previous year, Moses Malone did the same. It took him a few years before he became the Hall of Fame center for the Sixers.
In the debate about how it will affect a teenager to jump right into the NBA, people often bring up Spencer Haywood. It was 1971 when he wanted to jumped to the pros. There was a four-year rule that was overturned by the Supreme Court and it allowed him to play.
His skills would've carried him a lot farther in the pros, had he not gotten so involved in drugs, which derailed his career. And many people say that had he grown up a bit more, spent some time in college, maybe he wouldn't have gone down that path.
I don't know if I buy that. Many athletes get into trouble, even the ones that went to a university for four years.
And are these athletes really studying and getting an education in college? Or is the school just making money off their talent and using them? That's a whole different debate.
This current player, the 6'11" Jeremy Tyler, played at San Diego High. And what makes his case so unusual is not the fact that he's going to skip college and play pro ball. It's the fact that he's going to be the first ever to skip his senior year of high school.
Do I think that's a good idea? No. And we can all list about five reasons as to why.
But I don't think people that freak out over this decision realize it's not as bad as they think. He's going to be making in the high six-figures. And, isn't the main point of getting a good education to enable you to get a good job? It sounds to me like he's cutting out the middle-man and jumping right into a good job.
For some reason, basketball is the only sport that this is ever debated. Nobody complains when these 15-year-old tennis or golf sensations go on the pro tours.
Nobody complains when some actress like Dakota Fanning makes two movies a year at age 8. (Of course, they are required to have schooling on the set, but still)
Scott Ostler of the San Frarncisco Chronicle said, "When I was a lad, had someone offered me the chance to skip my high school senior year to play pro basketball in Europe for two years for about $1 million, I know what I would have said. 'No thank you, sir. That would hinder my educational and emotional development. Besides, I already have a manual-labor job at which I earn one dollar per hour.' I would pause for comedic timing before adding 'Just kidding! Where do I sign?' Hey, I was young and foolish. Now I know the value of education. If I had a son in that position, I'd be packing his bags. And mine."
Now, as funny as that is, it does make you think of a few points. What's wrong with cashing in now, before you play your senior year in high school and possibly injury yourself and can no longer make that kind of money?
Or, what's wrong with a parent telling the child that it's important to at least finish high school, and improve your game a bit more. That money and offer will still be available.
Either way, he won't be available for the NBA draft until 2011.
Depending on how he does in Europe, he's looking at becoming a very rich man.