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"Maccabi Tel Aviv's big men should be scared"

14/8/09

Written by: Tal Miller, Yediot Haifa


"I'm coming for one purpose - to bring the championship to Haifa. The combination between me and Devon Jefferson will be something extraordinary, every team will be afraid of that combination, including Maccabi Tel Aviv's big men. It's going to be a huge season and I'm positive that anyone who will see me play will say 'wow, that kid is something special".

This quote of Jeremy Tyler, as pretentious as it may be, largely symbolizes this whole fascinating deal in which the high school superstar signed in Jeff Rosen's team. On one hand, this is a huge declaration of intent; this is a player that will be a tornado storm in the dry and greyish water glass named in which the team was last season, and there's no doubt
that professionally this is a huge potential. On the other hand, what seems very exciting from San Diego won't necessarily be the same way in Romema.

Tyler, after all, is still an 18 year old kid that has had mental problems so far, and the big buzz around him might eventually cause a situation when Haifa will not know how to deal with Tyler complexity.

Anyway, for this young talent, the picture is definitely happy. He is coming to Haifa as springboard on the way to the 1st pick in the NBA draft and he has no doubt that he is going to lead his team one step further and bring the green fans a first championship: "I would say I'm very passionate" says Tyler in a special interview from San Diego, "I'm already counting the minutes until I arrive and I hope it'll be as soon as possible".

Did you get to learn a bit about Israel?

"I haven't done any research yet but I heard it's a very beautiful country and that it has the right atmosphere for the best experience I could get".

How are your friends responding when you tell them you're coming here?

"There are some who say 'what are you crazy? Why are you going so far away?' but most of them support me and understand that I'm doing it in order to develop and that it's the right thing for me now".

"Jeremy is ready"

He originally wanted to be a baseball player. A short time after his 10th birthday, his father took him to the training pitch but the team told him he was too big and that he'd rather choose a different sport. From there, the road to basketball was short. Tyler kept growing and so did his speed and athleticism. On his last season in San Diego high school he reached an average of 28.7 points and 12 rebounds per game, and in the opinion of most commentators in the US, he is the most talented player in his age. "My destiny was always basketball" says Tyler, "from the moment I started I knew that this is what I want to do and I worked very hard to get there. I feel that was blessed with the ability to fulfil this dream".

If in the age of 14 I would have told you that 4 years from now you will be on your way to Israel in order to play basketball, what would you have said?

"14?" asks Tyler as if it was dozens of years ago, "I try to think what was going through my head in that age. I guess that already then I believed that I'll be in the NBA but I wouldn't have been surprised to know that I'll be going somewhere else to see the world and develop. I feel that I was blessed with being able to do it"

You were wanted by many teams, what made you choose Haifa?

"There were many considerations. The team, which I heard is very good and is a great place for youngsters and the fact that it's a place where people speak English and that the mentality is similar. The main thing was the fact that Devon Jefferson is staying in Haifa, I know him well and with him it feels like home and that was a very significant factor in my decision. I have no doubt that the chemistry between us will be something special, and beyond that I knew that he is someone I can learn from both on the court and outside it. He has already been one season in Haifa so he can show me around town and help me blend in".

What do you know about the Israeli league?

"I heard that it's an excellent league with a lot of good players, and that Haifa counts as one of the best teams in the league. I also heard about Maccabi Tel Aviv of course that wins the championship most of the times".

There are some who wonder if you'll live up to the expectations. Is a kid in your age capable of leading a team like Haifa already in his first season?

"I think that beyond the age issue, I'm a very good basketball player and that maturity isn't always about the age. I think I'm very mature and that I have the mental ability to succeed despite being very young, and that I'll successfully deal with Europe's big competitions. I am positive that the team and I are going to succeed big time and I believe this will be a great experience which I will learn a lot from. This is exactly the jump I have to do in order to develop. Jeremy is ready - I'm ready for the challenge and for this season and I'm really excited about coming to Haifa".

"Can't be a kid anymore"

Despite being convinced that he is up for the challenge mentally, Tyler knows this is probably the biggest change he has had so far. From an undisputed superstar he becomes a completing player to come off the bench, and be the new Devon Jefferson, the one that gives 20-25 minutes and has to change the tone of the game. Despite the sharp move, Tyler has no doubt that he is ready for the mission: "I'm going to work on everything Haifa will think I have to improve. If they'll think that I have to be stronger, I'll go to the gym and do it, and if they'll think that my jump or my speed need to be better, I'll go to the gym before and after practice in order to be the best I can be. There's no doubt that I have never been in a situation like this. In high school I use to score 40 points and take down 20 rebounds and I didn't really have teammates that will take the pressure off me. Every game I had 3 players guarding me and things were about the same always, and now I will be coming off the bench and play 20-25 minutes, but that's something I'll get use to. If that's what they will ask me, to come off the bench and change the momentum of the game, then that's what I'll do".

Besides your I.D, is there any other proof that you're just a kid?

"I'm still young and I do stuff the youngsters do, but I accepted the fact that I can't be a kid anymore. This is my profession and I have to act like a professional. I still go out and have a good time, I love hip hop music and as a kid I even had a dream to have a career in music, but as far as drinking for example, it's really not my style. I think I have never been really drunk before. The demands are high and this is my profession and I'm happy that I am obliged to it".

You know Brandon Jennings's story very well. What do you need to do so that your European story will be different?

"Brandon is a great player, but I think that the mental issue means a lot here. Jennings didn't manage to blend in right and to make the switch in the head. That's something that I am sure that will be different in my case, I believe I'm coming here with a more determined approach and that I will easily fit in the European style".

Did you make the breakthrough for other players that will skip their last year in high school and come to Europe?

"The moment I informed that this is what I'm going to do, many players approached to me and said that they want to do it too. I told them not to do it just because I did, but only if they think that this is the right thing for their career. For me I know it is and that's why I was so sure about it".

What will be your main difficulties?

"Mainly the distance from the family and friends, but at least here I am happy there's a player like Jefferson and many other Americans that will help me create a home here and reduce the yearning to the US. About the basketball itself I'm not worried, I have no doubt that things will work out very well".

What do you have to improve in your game?

"I feel that I need to improve everything. I am very varied in my game but in order to be a top NBA player all the aspects in my game have to be better, my game has to be as perfect as possible. If there are specific things then I guess it's mainly shot percentage, and that's the first thing I will be working on".

Do you really intend to go to high school here?

"We brought it up in the family and we still haven't made a final decision. We need to analyze the meaning of it but there's a good chance that it will happen".

To sum up, what can you tell the awaiting fans in Haifa?

"First of all, they should expect a championship and a lot of dunks from me, that's my goal in the court. Outside the court I want them to say 'he's a nice guy I want to be his friend'. It's very important for me to succeed not only in basketball but to donate to the community and make the people in the city happy. I am sure that together with them this will be an unforgettable season. Haifa will win the championship this season, you have my word".