Experiment implodes: Jeremy Tyler quits Israeli basketball team
| Jerusalem
Former U.S. high school basketball star Jeremy Tyler quit Israeli team Maccabi Haifa and returned home Friday, cutting short a disappointing first pro season.
The 18-year-old Tyler arrived in Israel on a wave of publicity in August after deciding to skip his senior year at San Diego High School to gain professional experience.
However, his time in Israel was fraught with problems, and he left two months before the end of the season
"Due to personal matters, Jeremy chose to leave the team on his own will on March 18 and return home to San Diego," Maccabi Haifa owner Jeffery Rosen said in a statement. "We wish Jeremy all the best."
In the 10 games Tyler played for Haifa, the 6-11 (2.11-meter) power forward averaged only 2.1 points and 1.9 rebounds in 7.6 minutes per game. Tyler, who reportedly earned a $140,000 salary, found it hard to adapt to the pro game and couldn't find a place in Maccabi Haifa's starting lineup.
His frustration began to show. Last month he walked out on the team at halftime to protest not getting more minutes. For the last three games he sat on the bench not wearing a uniform after being left off the Haifa squad entirely.
