NEW YORK– I must be getting old. I grew up listening to the music of Bruce Springsteeen and was excited to see the Boss show up with his daughter, who is an undergrad there, to watch Duke defeat UCLA, 80-63, in a cross country matchup of elite programs before a near sellout pre-holiday crowd at the Garden.
But it’s obvious Duke precocious freshman forward Jabari Parker doesn’t have “Born to Run” on his I-tunes.
“No,” he said. “That was a little ahead of my time.”
It is easy to forget at times the 6-8, 235-pound Parker is only 18-years old. The son of NBA first round pick Sonny Parker already has an NBA ready game. Parker is the best freshman we’ve seen to date. What sets him apart is his ability to constantly produce on the biggest of stages. We got a taste of that in early November when the former Chicago Simeon Career Academy star went off for 27 points and 9 rebounds during a loss to Kansas in the Legends Classic at the United Center in his hometown.
Then this past week, Parker ripped through UCLA for 23 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists in front of 45 NBA scouts.
“I don’t ever pay attention, to tell you the truth,” he claimed. “I don’t even care about the scouts.”
They has taken a special interest in him. Parker built a strong argument he should be the No. 1 pick if he declares for the 2014 NBA draft, ahead of 6-8 Canadian import Andrew Wiggins and 7-0 center Joel Embiid of Kansas. The elevation of Parker in the mock drafts is erasing the stereotypical opinion that he is a ‘tweener who might struggle defensively against longer, more athletic players at the NBA level.
“He done pretty well in every arena,” Duke Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski said. “The thing is, in a big arena, he’ll sing his song and more people will listen to it and more people will watch it.”
Jabari loves to play. He’s a natural. In different sports, there are people who are naturals. Jabari is a natural and he has to learn how to use all that. He embraces the moment.”
Right now, Parker, a devout member of the LDS church, appears publicly conflicted on whether to immediately pursue a basketball career or go on a Mormon mission.
He should be used to making big decisions by now. When Parker was a 6-0 fifth grader, legend has it he received five Division I offers. He began scrimmaging against another Simeon great, future All American NBA first pick overall Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls, as a sixth grader. Parker became the first freshman ever to start for Simeon, the public school power on the south side that become a national story on gang violence when 6-8 Benji Wilson, the most talented high school player in America in 198 was senselessly gunned down on his way home from school just prior to his senior season in 1984.
Rose actually wore Wilson’s number to honor him. As good as they both were, neither won four straight Illinois 4A state titles, like Parker. Parker was considered the best American-born high school player in his class in each of his four years of high school. He was also a huge star on USA Basketball’s grass roots programs that won both the U16 and U18 world championships. “USA Basketball really helped me prepare for college,” he said. “It’s very organized in terms of preparation and scouting. In AAU, you might play 100 games. With USA Basketball, you take it one game after another and you are playing for what’s important– to honor your country.”
Nike astutely gauged Parker’s marketability at a young age and the Oregon-based shoe company giant was smart enough to cut a four-year deal with Simeon coach Robert Smith during Parker’s 10th grade season to provide players at that cash strapped public school with new Nike shoes and apparel worth close to $26,000 per year, according to information obtained by the web site, Grid. The exposure Nike received because of Parker’s high school dominance and his clean cut, devout Mormon background was priceless.
Parker was in huge demand. Before his junior year at Simeon, he took part in a workout at his high school in September, some 43 colleges sent scouts and coaches to watch. Krzyzewski, Roy Williams, Thad Matta, Bill Self, Bruce Weber, Oliver Purnell and Tom Izzo were all there. Duke won the lottery, beating out Michigan State and Florida for the player who graced the cover of Sports Illustrated with the headline: “The best high school player since LeBron James is . . . Jabari Parker.”
How many players have been called the next LeBron? Far too many. But Parker is part of a on going discussion.
. “What brought me to the decision is, of course, the history,” Parker said. “Duke was always going to be a team in the tournament. You can’t go wrong at the program. And most importantly, the long-term investment. I feel if I go there I can get a good degree. I can also stay close to home, where it’s easily accessible for my parents, for my family. It’s not too far away.”
Parker couldn’t resist the lure of playing for the legend. “It ‘s just Coach K,” he said. “That’s one of the best coaches ever, and I wanted to be able to experience the things that he has.”
As for Krzyzewski, Parker said he wasn’t all that excited like when he received word. “He said, “Congratulations,”’ Parker said at the time. “I know I’m not on their mind. They land players like me all the time.”
At age 66, Krzyzewski is the winningest coach in the history of the college basketball. He has won two gold medals and a national title in the past eight years alone. He’s become a mentor to some of the NBA’s greatest talents, coaching 17 of the 25 players who played in last year’s NBA All Star game. And he is showing no signs of slowing down.
Krzyzewski has produced 43 NBA players and Parker has already elevated himself to one of his ten best ever, along with first team All Americas Johhny Dawkins, Danny Ferry, Christian Laettner, Bobby Hurley, Grant Hill, Elton Brand, Shane Battier, Jason Williams and JJ Redick.
“He’s special, an outstanding player; and he can become better,” Krzyzewski said. “That’s my responsibility. It’s one of reasons he came to Duke.”
Krzyzewski, who was born and raised in Chicago, has gone back to his roots as he attempts to win a fifth national championship in the modern era with Parker. Krzyzewski has signed 6-11 Jalil Okafor from Whitney Young High, the best player in the Class of 2014, for next season. If Krzyzewski hangs another banner in Cameron and wins a third consecutive Olympic gold medal in the 2016 games at Rio, he will likely replace the late John Wooden of UCLA as the greatest American basketball coach of all time.
Parker will play a role in shaping Krzyzewski’s legacy.
Parker, who has scored 20 plus points in nine of his first 11 games in college, has the biggest upside of any Duke player Krzyzewski has coached since Grant Hill, who played on two national championship teams in 1991 and 1992 and led the Blue Devils to a third national championship game in 1994. He has heard the comparisons between himself as current Knicks star Carmelo Anthony, a polished finisher with the ability to play the four, score inside and stretch the floor out to the three. He doesn’t shy away from them. “Yeah, it’s a good comparison,” Parker admitted before a horde of media in the locker room. “He’s mastered the fundamentals. He’s always good at his craft. He works on it and that’s a person I’ve been looking up to, so year, that’s a good compliment.”
UCLA first year coach Steve Alford agreed.
“I know we’re in New York City, but there’s a lot of Melo in him as far as guy that can stretch you to the 3-point line,” Alford said. “He can drive the basketball. He creates space off the dribble to get jump shots. He can take you to the post, so I just think he’s a very, very talented, gifted player. And you don’t see a lot who are this polished 10, 11 games into their freshman year.”
Parker was the co-MVP of the Jordan Classic at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, but All Star games like that that don’t always guarantee future success. A better barometr might be the more meaningful Nike Hoop Summit in April, where Parker led the American team with 22 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals and two blocks during a 112-98 loss to the internationals.
His legend continues to grow. His Wiki page is 8,000 words and is growing.
“Jabari loves to play,” Krzyzewski said. “He’s a natural. In different sports, there are people who are naturals. Jabari is a natural and he has to learn how to use all that. He embraces the moment.”
Parker said when he announced for Duke he could stay for two or even three years, depending on how he did. Perhaps he sees himself himself as another Grant Hill. More likely, he will see himself as the first name called in the 2014 NBA draft.
