The NBA will not draft players who are under 19 or who are not at least one year past high school graduation.  Most players opt for at least one year of NCAA basketball where they are unpaid and (at least nominally) full-time students.  The first step toward the unraveling of this system has occurred as Jeremy Tyler has left San Diego High School and will skip his senior year to play professional basketball in Europe.  After two years he will be eligible for the NBA draft at which point he is a likely number 1 pick.

“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?’ ”