Only a Man on the Outside

At 6'11 258 lbs. Jeremy Tyler is a 17 year old man-child. However, Tyler is also an immature adolescent who hasn't grown up and has decided to skip his senior year of high school to go play professional basketball in Europe. Thats right, senior year of HIGH SCHOOL! I know I often write about the NBA's minimum age requirement, which forces NBA prospects to be at least one year out of high school basketball play, but this new story is a ridiculous path around the rule. Physically, yes, Tyler is ready for the bangs and bruises that professional basketball has to offer; but, in no way is Tyler mentally prepared for professional play of any kind. For God's sake, he's not even allowed to watch an R rated movie! The NBA's minimum age restrictions may be designed to keep kids from making the wrong decisions, but in my eyes the ruling is utterly ineffective and easily avoidable. Its sad that as I search the internet, this issue of professional athletes who are simply to young is constantly in the news. No matter the sport, no matter the country, physically abled kids are constantly being pushed to play professionally, but the mental ramifications are simply never taken into account. I don't know what will happen to Tyler in 5, 10, or 15 years, but I will say this: no matter how much professional experience he has had, he will still suffer some negative consequences on missing out on so much educational and social growth.