NBA GMs are finding predicting Jabari Parker’s moves to be as big a challenge as all his would be-ACC defenders did this season.
What Parker will do has become the million dollar question is NBA circles, as the Duke freshman forward has remained largely reticent about his NBA draft plans since the Blue Devils were ousted in the second round of the NCAA tournament by upstart Mercer.
Andrew Wiggins, Aaron Gordon, Joel Embiid and even Parker’s Duke running mate Rodney Hood have all gone on record, or at least strongly hinted, that they plan to join the ranks of the pros this summer. And with Kentucky freshmen Julius Randle expected to do likewise once the Wildcats season officially ends, the only great unknown remains the ever-versatile Parker.
In the immediate aftermath of the Mercer loss, Parker told Sports Illustrated he felt his college career was “incomplete.” The fact that his boyhood Chicago pal Jahlil Okafor is the top recruit in Duke’s 2014 recruiting class only seems to make his decision to leave the Blue Devils that much harder.
In his one season, Parker became the first Duke freshmen to earn consensus first-team all-American honors, leading the team in both scoring (19.1) and rebounding (8.7), despite often times playing out of position.
“Jabari, he’s in a great position for his future, so that would be a big-time decision not to go,” Coach Mike Krzyzewski told the News & Observer. “If you’re a high lottery pick, you become an asset, a monetary asset for an organization.”
Still, the New York Daily News recently reported more and more general managers are growing convinced Parker is leaning toward staying put. “That’s what’s in the air right now,” said one unnamed Eastern Conference GM, all the while raving “he plays like he’s 23, not 18. He can post and score inside, he has great hands and rebounds. He’s just not a big-time athlete. But he’s got ‘top pick’ written all over him.”
Jabari’s father, Sonny Parker, also played six NBA seasons, averaging 9.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists.
