Ever since the NBA draft was put into place collegiate players have been the dominant choices for teams everywhere. Many professional coaches and organizations felt that the average high school player was not quite mature enough to handle the pressure that comes with playing at such a high level. But until 2005 the option was there for a team to draft a high school player if they felt that individual was ready to play in the NBA.

As of the 2006 NBA draft players under 19 were not eligible to play until their graduating class had been out of school for one year. Of course two of the biggest players in the league right now are Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, both of which came straight out of high school to not only play in the league but to lead their teams.

Kobe has already been a part of three NBA championships and is now the franchise player for the Lakers and a perennial MVP candidate in the league.

While LeBron James was touted as the greatest player to ever come out of high school basketball. Many felt that the expectations for James were too high and he would never pull Cleveland out of the rut they were in. But King James has not only turned the team around to propel them toward a championship he is a marketing dream come true fueling sales of the Cleveland Cavaliers merchandise. With free agency approaching for James many speculate just what this man is worth and how many teams will pursue him.

Now the high school player many are considering the next James or Bryant is 17 and opting to forgo his senior year of high school to play pro. But with the 2006 NBA draft rules Jeremy Tyler will have to play one year abroad in the European pro league before he will become eligible for the NBA draft in 2011 where he will finally get his chance to show if he is the next MVP in the NBA.