Parker, who will play Oak Hill at the Hoophall Classic in January, picked Duke over four other schools, including Michigan State, BYU, Florida and Stanford.
Simeon Career Academy's Jabari Parker talks on the phone with Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski after announcing he will be attending Duke to play NCAA college basketball during a news conference at his high school, Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012, in Chicago.
Six days ago, Jabari Parker committed to Duke, putting an end to the recruitment of one of the top high school players in the country. Parker, a small forward from Simeon Career Academy in Chicago, Ill., will be participating in his second straight Hoophall Classic this January.
In last year’s Hoophall Classic, Parker and Simeon fell 75-50 to Findlay Prep (Nev.). The 6-foot-8 Parker dropped 24 points, while coming away with 12 rebounds in the loss. At that point, Parker was considered the top high school player in the country, before the emergence and reclassification of Huntington Prep (W.Va.) small forward, Andrew Wiggins.
Parker has been on the scene since he was a freshman. In the storied tradition of Simeon, Parker is the only player in school history to play four years of varsity basketball. Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose only played three years of varsity when he was at Simeon.
In the summer, Parker suffered a fractured right foot and was sidelined for four months. Back on Dec. 13, Simeon played a nationally televised game against DeSoto High (Tex.) starring fellow Duke commit, Matt Jones. In a 67-57 loss, Parker was clearly not at 100 percent, struggling to score only five points.
The Chicago native does it all thanks in large part to his versatility. Parker has the ability to score from anywhere on the floor – post, mid-range, behind the arc – when he chooses. One of the more impressive things Parker brings to the game is his unselfishness. Parker has had his game compared to former Duke star Grant Hill, Carmelo Anthony, and Paul Pierce.
The recruiting side
Parker picked Duke over four other schools, including Michigan State, BYU, Florida and Stanford. Georgetown, UConn, DePaul, Kansas, Kentucky, and North Carolina had previously been cut from his list.
Parker joins a three-man crew heading to Durham next year. Matt Jones, a 6-foot-4 shooting guard from DeSoto High in Texas and Semi Ojeleye, a 6-foot-6 small forward from Ottawa High in Kansas have both previously committed to the Blue Devils.
When can you see Parker?
Parker and Simeon had a tough draw last year going up against Findlay Prep. This year isn’t any easier for the Wolverines, as the Chicago powerhouse goes up against Oak Hill Academy (W. Va.).
The two storied programs take the Blake Arena floor at Springfield College at 2 p.m. on Jan. 21, the final day of the five-day event.
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