I don’t have the exact statistics handy, but I’m sure of this: the NBA is a code that’s damn near impossible to crack. Of the thousands of potential prospects in collegiate competition and foreign clubs around the world, there are still only 60 draft slots available each June.

For some, seeing their replica jersey adorn store shelves has been a foregone conclusion since middle school, while others have taken a more unconventional route through minor league lineups and 10-day contracts. But whatever path is ultimately taken to the NBA, it’s undoubtedly filled with its share of surprises, sidetracks and lucky moments. Read More »

Last year, Jeremy Tyler made national headlines by deciding to forgo his senior year of high school to play pro ball overseas. The San Diego (Calif.) product, a 6-10 center who was previously committed to Louisville for the Class of 2010, ended up signing with Maccabi Haifa in Israel. But after a forgettable season that was cut short when he decided to quit, Tyler — who isn’t eligible to enter the NBA until 2011 — is now taking his talents to Japan to play for Apache Tokyo. Read More »

Without Stephen Jackson or Ron Artest, with Shaq biting his tongue about Dwight Howard and the Washington Wizards officially swagless, the NBA had little trash talk last night. Hopefully with 16 games on the schedule tonight, including an Orlando/Cleveland showdown, there will be plenty of talk for tomorrow’s Reebok Still Talkin’ Quote of the Day. For today we go international and turn to the Israeli media and prep to Europe player Jeremy Tyler. We all know that Jeremy Tyler took the Brandon Jennings route (albeit for different reasons) to Europe and opted to forgo his senior year of high school to go pro. Thus far his European adventure has been less than impressive and according to Ze’ev Avrahmi (courtesy of Sports Illustrated’s Seth Davis) the team is growing sick of Tyler. Read More »

This last Thursday, forward Latavious Williams became the first high schooler to jump straight to the NBA since the League instituted its age limit in 2005. Oh, did I forget to mention that Williams went from graduation right into the NBA’s Development League?

You read right: the D-League. Read More »

Lately we’ve been calling for NBA TV to do us starving hoop fans a favor and put next month’s FIBA European Championships on the air, all while forgetting the FIBA Asia Cup is actually going on right now. Not as much star power, not as high quality ball, but we still wouldn’t mind seeing some of those games on the schedule to replace the endless ’80s re-run games … From the games yesterday — or next Tuesday or whatever it would be with the U.S./China time difference — Yi Jianlian was the star, putting up 29 points and 18 boards in China’s win over Jordan. Read More »

Just when you thought Latavious Williams was going to be the first big-time recruit for Memphis’ new coach Josh Pastner, the 6-8 forward from Christian Life Center in Humble, Texas has decided to head to China. Following in the footsteps of Brandon Jennings and Jeremy Tyler, Williams is opting to get paid while he plays next season. Read More »

Now that we’re a solid four months into the AAU season, it’s time for the report card – HighSchoolHoop’s new Top 50. Some have joined us and some have gotten the boot, some have climbed to the top and some have slipped into mediocrity. Still, as you well know by now, our rankings disregard class, which means even being on the list makes you a certified baller. Read More »

Just when it looked like Jerry Sloan was at the end of his rope and about to suit up John Stockton for Game 4 — try to tell us Stock didn’t look like he could get 10 points, six dimes and a steal right now — the Jazz showed some heart and made this Utah/L.A. series interesting, knocking off the Lakers last night thanks to their Big Two … How much of a problem was Carlos Boozer? Deron Williams said it all in the post-game interview with Pimpin’ Craig: “He’s a beast, man.” Read More »

“How One Player is Changing the Game Forever.”

When I first saw that work-in-progress headline for Brandon Jennings‘ Dime #46 cover, admittedly I thought it was a reach. But eventually I talked myself into it, and came to believe that Jennings’ groundbreaking decision to sidestep David Stern‘s NBA age limit and still get money right after high school would reverberate on every level of basketball — from high schoolers being presented with another option besides college, to colleges having yet another competitor in the recruiting wars, to the on-court effects of the NBA introducing players with a unique background of having played American high school and international pro ball. Read More »

The Hawks should have known Dwyane Wade wasn’t gonna have two bad playoff games in a row. After being held to 19 points in Miami’s ugly Game 1 loss, Wade came out last night with the Terminator scope on, and ATL didn’t help their cause by giving him some wide-open shots. In the second quarter Wade (33 pts, 7 asts, 6 threes) went on a run where he scored 13 straight points in three minutes, hitting up Flip Murray and Mo Evans for buckets. Read More »