The GBOA West tournament is inching closer and closer, which got me thinking about which player I most want to see during the tournament. Looking at the teams and the rosters so many names jump out. This is a talented field across the board, with so many big names it's hard to pick just one player but I knew I there was someone out there worthy of the top spot.

The first player to come to mind was the LA Dream Team's Renardo Sidney, who is the top ranked player for the class of 2009. I hear so much about this kid's talent and how he may be the next big thing. USC and UCLA are recruiting him along with most other high majors. He's big, strong and talented. He's extended his game to the 3 point line and is continuing to develop. All very nice, but I think I'm looking for something else.

How about SCA's David and Travis Wear? This dynamic duo led Mater Dei to a California D-2 state championship and are headed to North Carolina to play for Roy Williams, where they will no doubt shine. They are both extremely talented and the fact that they are twins kind of makes it something I'd want to see just for the fact that two guys who look exactly alike will be on the court at the same time...that never ceases to amaze me. You know what they say about simple minds. That all sounds good...but not quite what I'm looking for.

This summer's crop of point guards is so full of talent with guys like freshman sensation Cezar Guerrero, Darius Morris and Elijah Johnson. A star point guard is like the star quarterback, they lead the offense and usually steal the show. Again, these guys sound great and I'll definitely be keeping my eye out for them because I know they'll turn out some outstanding performances, but I think there is something else I'm looking for.

Ah yes, Jeremy Tyler. My top player to watch. The kid is only a sophomore but plays more like a seasoned vet. Tyler is already considered by practically every recruiting site out there as the top player in the class of 2010. He's so talented grassroots hoops guru Sonny Vaccaro claims he's the best high school player since LeBron James.

I YouTubed Tyler because I was told I'd find some monster dunks. That was an understatement. These dunks didn't look like something you'd see from a sophomore in high school. This kid's skill set is so far advanced he's already being touted as the best big man to come out of California since Bill Walton. Big men typically develop slower and take a bit longer to refine their game than do most players at other positions, so to see this kid already so far along in his development is pretty surprising and can only mean bad things for his opponents.

Comparing a kid to LeBron and Walton seem pretty lofty but he's producing the numbers to back it up. At San Deigo High, he nearly averaged a triple double (AMAZING), scoring 18 points grabbing 15 boards and blocking 8 shots per game. This as a sophomore! Tyler says he tries to mold his game after Amare Stoudemire because he likes his drive and work ethic. The funny thing is that if any high schooler's play resembles Stoudemire's it is Tyler. An interest in another player's drive and work ethic do even more to make this kid sounds like he's way beyond his years on and off the court.

Tyler will be given a chance to showcase his talent while playing this summer for the California Supreme, a team with several other very talented players on it's roster. Tyler should have no problem fitting in with these older guys since he's already spent some time playing with the team. He and Supreme teammate Gary Franklin are best friends and look to make this summer season one to remember by winning the GBOA West and earning a trip to Chicago for the Challenge of Champions tournament in August.

Make sure you check out all the teams and players at the Galen Center on May 3rd and 4th, because you will see plenty of superstars to be sure, from the Wear twins to Sidney to a couple of players no one knows yet just waiting to explode on the national scene. But trust me when I tell you to make sure you give a little more attention to Jeremy Tyler. At least this way when you see him tearing up the NCAA and then the NBA in a couple of years, you can say you knew he was going to be a star before anyone else.

-GM