Following in Brandon Jennings footsteps, top high school prospect 6-11 Jeremy Tyler, has decided to go to Europe to play professionally instead of going to college (discuss).

The difference between Jennings and Tyler’s situation?

Tyler is not forgoing college – he can’t because Tyler isn’t in the position to forgo college yet, that’s because he hasn’t even graduated from high school.

Jeremy Tyler is a high school Junior, and he has plans on skipping his final year at San Diego High School to play professionally in Europe.  In part, his decision is because of the lack of competition in the high school ranks.

“It was boring and I wasn’t getting better,” Tyler said of his high school basketball experience the last couple of years. “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.”

“Nowadays people look to college for more off-the-court stuff versus being in the gym and getting better,” Tyler continued. “If you’re really focused on getting better, you go play pro somewhere. Pro guys will get you way better than playing against college guys.”

Sonny Vaccaro, the man that helped orchestrate Jennings’s European move, has helped to guide 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?’ ”

What Vaccaro says is true, when players in Europe are ready to play professionally, they are gobbled up by domestic clubs. Case in point is 18-year old and top NBA prospect Ricky Rubio, whom has been playing professionally since the age of 15.

Likely heading over to one of the top leagues in Europe,  Tyler is athletic center with both good footwork and a strong base (6-11, 260lbs).

Even with all his skill and size, Tyler reportedly has problems with his attitude; which if true, he won’t be successful in Europe. Something I noticed when reading about Tyler was that his high school team went 15-11 in his Junior year, that’s alarming to read and could possibly be a red flag?

That’s all speculation and rumors at this point, the fact is Jeremy Tyler is arguably the top high school player in the 2010 class, but at 17 years old, Jeremy Tyler would have to play two years overseas before becoming age-eligible for the NBA Draft.

Tyler is also the subject of a independent documentary tentatively titled “My Life: with Jeremy Tyler” and had plans on attending the University of Louisville, the college whom he had verbally committed to.

Links and Resources: Jeremy Tyler follows Brandon Jennings footsteps (Interbasket Fourm), Basketball Prospect Leaving High School to Play in Europe (New York Times), Ricky Rubio declares for 2009 NBA Draft (Interbasket), Ricky Rubio Profile | 2008 Olympic Breakouts (Interbasket), Ricky Rubio, Brandon Jennings on Slam Magazine Cover (Interbasket), NBA Draft 2009: Blake Griffin or Ricky Rubio? (Interbasket), Brandon Jennings’ skips college, goes to Europe (Interbasket)