Prospect Profile

** Traded to Golden State on Draft night

Strengths:

  * Very good strength and toughness
  * Good leaper
  * Strong body with long 7-3+ wingspan
  * Very good body control for his size

Weaknesses:

  * Conditioning
  * Needs to create better inside
  * Lacks shooting touch (45.4 percent FT this season)
  * Needs to work with off-hand
  * Has trouble finishing away from the basket
 

NBA projection:
Most likely a mid-second round pick who will spend time state-side in the D-League next season honing his skills and getting into better shape.

2010-11 season:
Playing this season in Japan for former NBA coach Bob Hill

Key statistics:
2010-11 Tokyo Apache – Japan (BJ League) 33 g, 15 mpg, 9.9 ppg, 6.4 rpg. FG 51.7%, FT 45.4%
 
Cool statistic:
Tyler became the first United States born player to skip his senior season of high school to play professionally in Europe. He signed with Maccabi Haifa in the Israeli Premier League but managed to average only 2.1 ppg and 1.9 rpg in 10 games before leaving the team. He originally committed to Louisville before deciding to skip college. Tyler was the top center recruit while a high school junior.

Reminds me of:
Kwame Brown

What the Experts Say:
Bob Hill, head coach, Tokyo Apache and former NBA head coach
"I've been working with him since July so it's been a long, long, long experience. He has made significant progress, I would say, in the last month, maybe, month and a half."

"He was turning the ball over and he was fouling early on and he was doing some good things. The one thing the kid does all the time is rebounding. He has this propensity where he wants to score which a lot of young guys think is the answer to their prayers. His footwork has gotten better, he's not fouling as much."

Current contract and team:
Tokyo Apache (Japan)

Chris Denker and Carl Berman are Managing Partners of NetScouts Basketball, "The International Basketball Connection."