Former San Antonio Spurs head coach Bob Hill has been in Japan as the coach of the Tokyo Apaches of the Japanese League and one of his former players is Jeremy Tyler who will be in this year’s NBA Draft.
Tyler made news back in 2009 when he skipped his senior year of high school to play overseas in Israel. After a tumultuous time in Israel, he wound up with Hill and the Apaches and is now hoping to be drafted in the upcoming 2011 NBA Draft.
Hill has since spent time withTyler in San Antonio, working on his game in the hopes his next career jump into the NBA will be smooth.
Tyler is a 6-10 1/2 power forward, with a 7-5 wingspan and averaged 9.9 points and 6.4 rebounds with the Apaches.
With the Spurs in need of size, could they think about selecting Tyler when they are on the clock during the draft? Currently, NBADraft.net has Tyler going at number 35 in the second round and with the Spurs having the 29th pick, he might be there for the taking.
However, he is very young (19 years-old), had team-chemistry issue while in overseas, and there is a question of his maturity. Though it should be noted he was just 17 when he turned pro and has been performing well at the NBA Draft Combine and seems to have put the issues he faced playing in Israel in the past. As stated before, he does have what the Spurs need – size.
Here is what he had to say at the NBA Draft combine in Chicago.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjMSNSlyyBQ&w=379&h=251]
What do you think Spurs fans? If Tyler’s name is there when the Spurs are selecting in the draft, would you take a chance on him?
