Jabari Parker Commits To Duke!

     Jabari Parker has been considered the top player in the nation since his sophomore year in high school and on Thursday afternoon Jabari Parker made his decision on where he would be attending college. This was a great day for Duke Nation. The 6-foot-8 senior committed to play for the Duke Blue Devils. Since his freshmen year he has led Simeon high school to three consecutive Illinois state championships. His game is on another level compared to others in his class. His game similar to Carmelo Anthony, he can shoot midrange shot along with the long three. When he attacks the rim the contact seems to bounce off him, rather than the other way around, just like Carmelo. Along with his premier shooting he can also post up. With his quick first step he can easily blow by defenders. Now everyone knows that Carmelo is not the best defender and tends to take a play off on defense, but so far we have not seen this in Jabari. He takes on every possession and plays each one with tenacity and is relentless on both ends of the court, which landed him on the cover of Sports Illustrated as "the best high school basketball player since Lebron James." At the time the article asked about if he would serve the church on his mission upon graduation; however, on the Thursday he said he was not going to go his journey just yet but maybe later in life.

     Everyone that knows Jabari knows that he hates attention. With his strong faith in the Mormon church Jabari has stayed out of the blinding lights of the limelight. He really did not want to do a huge announcement on where he would be attending school, but he knew that if he didn't then it would be seen as selfish on his part. Apart of choosing Duke he wanted to go there because receiving a great education. He has great interest in teaching others and loves being around children, so we may see him as a teacher after his basketball career possibly.

     Now, his mother, Lola, was raised as a Mormon in Utah, and his father, Sonny, had a six-year NBA career with the Golden State Warriors in the late 1970s and 80s. So coming from a Mormon family he abides by Mormon rules. He does not smoke or drink alcohol, church services trump his basketball schedule, and he regularly attends bible study before school. Faith is what defines who Jabari Parker is. "Character is everything to our family because when you have faith in something other than yourself, then you have faith in something other than yourself, then become humble. He understands there is a responsibility that comes with all this," said Lola Parker.

     Another reason why Jabari chose Duke was because of Coach Mike Krzyzewski. He saw this as an opportunity to learn from one of the best college basketball coaches of all-time. Aside from that, Simeon is also where No.1 draft pick Derrick Rose attended high school. Head coach Robert Smith of Simeon has luckily been able to coach both Derrick Rose and Jabari Parker, and he says that Parker is the best player that he has ever coached. But determining which one is better may be a little difficult since they play different positions; however, both are phenomenal players. Overall we all wish the best for Jabari Parker in college basketball career.  

(submitted by: Eddie Praley)