Here’s what went down Thursday on G&A

Goodbye Prom, Hello Europe - Top high school recruit Jeremy Tyler is skipping his senior year and will play professionally overseas before entering the NBA draft in 2011.  The 6’11 center from San Diego, who signed with Rick Pitino at Louisville, is expected to be a top pick in 2011.  Gambo & Ash wonder if this is right decision for several reasons.  Why can’t Tyler play one more season and “experience” high school before playing at The ‘Ville for a season and cashing it in in the NBA?  Ash wonders if Jeremy is mature enough to handle playing overseas at the ripe old age of 17.  Will this start a trend which was initially set by former UofA recruit Brandon Jennings?  What’s next-skipping all four years of high school?  Will this help mature Tyler-or simply rob him of playing for a great college coach (Rick Pitino) in a great conference (The Big East) for a season or maybe two?  We took calls.

We were joined by James Tyler, whose son Jeremy, made national headlines yesterday when the high school junior declared he will skip his senior year at San Diego High to play professional basketball in Europe.  The 6’11 Tyler, who initially committed to Louisville, is expected to be a high-lottery pick in the 2011 NBA Draft.  He said this was strictly a basketball decision and feels his son is ready for a more mature playing, and living, environment, overseas.  Tyler said that if we can send a kid overseas to fight in a war, why not to play basketball?

Former UofA assistant, now the head basketball coach of the Memphis Tigers Josh Pastner joined us.  The 31-year old takes over for John Calipari, who left for Kentucky.  Pastner, one of the best young recruiters in the country, discussed his first head coaching gig and yesterday’s news that top prep player Jeremy Tyler will skip his senior year of high school to play professional ball in Europe.  Pastner helped recruit fellow prep star Brandon Jennings to UofA before he chose a pro career in Italy.  He said he learned how to coach “the right way” from Calipari and Lute Olson.

ASU Director of Athletics Lisa Love checked in to share her thoughts on Tyler skipping his final season of high school to play basketball in Europe, the 29-8 Sun Devil baseball team - who plays a three-game series at Cal starting tomorrow, and everything else making news around Tempe.

Busted - Former Jags receiver Jimmy Smith is in trouble-big trouble.  He was pulled over and busted in Jacksonville and found with crack and pot.  Nice.  He was initially pulled over for excessive window tint.  Smith faces multiple drug charges, on top of the fact that he was driving with a suspended license.  G&A wonder why Smith didn’t just do drugs somewhere else…like his house.  Gambo, the almost-former-New York cop, says a luxury vehicle with extremely dark tint is a red flag for officers who are on duty.

Our baseball analyst Tim Kurkjian checked in for his weekly visit to discuss the latest news surrounding the Diamondbacks, a possible Cliff Lee trade from Cleveland, the red-hot St. Louis Cardinals, Gary Sheffield’s Hall-of-Fame chances, and what’s going on with David Ortiz in Beantown?

Small Papi - David Ortiz is struggling.  The Red Sox slugger has yet to hit a homerun this season after a poor postseason performance last fall.  Tim Kurkjian says Ortiz can’t do what he once did better than anyone in baseball - hit the fastball.  He is coming off wrist surgery, but G&A wonder if he can’t get in better shape and how much not having Manny Ramirez in the lineup is hurting him?  Is the 33-year-old already on the downside of his career?

Mr. Big Shot - The Nuggets are cruising right now after spanking the Hornets again last night in Denver.  The guys debated if Chauncey Billups, J.R. Smith and the gang can put a scare into the Lakers if they meet in the Western Conference Finals.  They also previewed Thursday’s pivotal Celtics-Bulls Game 3 in Chicago.  Gambo is slowly gaining interest in the playoffs after initially thinking otherwise.

Tim Legler from ESPN broke down the first round of the playoffs including Chauncey Billups’ impressive play for the Nuggets, the intriguing Chicago-Boston series, and told us what makes Rookie of the Year Derek Rose so good.  One word-maturity.

Gonzo! - Pro-Bowl tight end Tony Gonzalez is now a member of the Atlanta Falcons.  The former Chief was dealt for a 2nd-round pick in next years’ draft.  Gambo is bummed because he thought the future hall-of-famer would be a perfect fit in Ken Whisenhunt’s offense.  Ash loves this deal for the Falcons, who are now even more of a Super Bowl threat in the NFC.  Whiz told G&A earlier in the week that he’s been happy with the progress of the club’s receivers.  The guys discussed how this may affect Todd Haley’s first draft in Kansas City.

New Trade Prospect - The Tennessee Titans now have Anquan Boldin on their radar.  They are “monitoring” the situation with the draft just two days away.  The Titans have 10 total picks this weekend, including the 30th overall.  John would like to see LenDale White in a Red Birds’ uniform if the trade is done.  Ash thinks the Titans would be a good fit for Q because they need a go-to receiver and assistant head coach Dave McGinnis drafted Boldin back in 2003.  Ash is thinking Anquan will eventually land in Philly.

Friday:  Complete draft coverage…we’ll be joined by ESPN’s Mark May & Mark Schlereth 

 

 James Tyler [13:47m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (28)

 

 Josh Pastner [13:12m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (24)

 

 Lisa Love [5:44m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (8)

 

 Tim Kurkjian [10:58m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (24)

 

 Tim Legler [11:25m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (25)