Our staff at BDN Premium has now seen Tony Parker (left) and Alex Poythress (right) play in over 16 times, so we can tell you firsthand our opinions. But on this occasion, we bring you a chat with Van Coleman, one of the nation
BDN has established a lot of genuine relationships in that for years, we have been covering the Grassroots Basketball scene live and in person. The great thing about being an independent site is that we can use a myriad of the nation's best recruiting gurus, whereas corporate sites are generally limited to those who work within their ranks. In the past, we've talked to the best of the best and this time is no different, as we enlist the help of long time talent guru, Van Coleman.
Coleman is well respected and established in his field and, like our past guest analysts, he brings years of experience to the table. And if you're looking for the best quality coverage around, BDN Premium is "the" place to be. Without further ado, here is Varand Khachdouri's chat with Coleman, as we give you a sample of the kind of work you will find inside BDN Premium, our subscription based service. - Mark Watson
Offering a loud and booming voice, long time scout Van Coleman really hammered home his points to the campers about what it takes to really make it. BDN got a chance to pick the brain of the long time scouting guru. Take a look at what he had to say about some current Duke prospects.
Shabazz Muhammad: He’s a tremendous athlete, a guy who can make plays on both ends of the court. He does it off the dribble and uses his hands on defense. Really has worked very hard on improving his jump shot. That’s one of the reasons why I think he’s right up there for the number one player in the country, because of his consistency of play, and the things that he can do kind of offsets what those big guys and all their athleticism. He really is a guy who can win ball games for people.
Rodney Purvis: He’s a tremendous ball handler, a guy that can score off the dribble, improved his jump shot to the point where it now freezes the defense. It makes him a much more effective player. He can play either guard spot. One of the nice things, like Nolan Smith, he’s a guy that in college becomes a guy who can take that spot over (point guard position) if he has to. He’s a scorer first but he’s a guy who can run the show. One of the top 20-25 kids in the country.
Rasheed Sulaimon:The guy can score! He flat out will put points up. Shoots the three, is a tremendous athlete. At the rim he finishes over big guys. Just a guy that’s going to put a lot of points on the boards for the Blue Devils.
Mitch McGary: One of the big surprises of the spring. He’s really had a tremendous spring. He’s improved his skill set away from the basket and face up. He knocks the jumper down now. He has developed the ability to get that 1-2 dribble drive, something he didn’t have a year ago. That’s really lifted his level to where now he’s in consideration for a top 10 spot by a lot of guys. He has become a McDonalds All American I think with that, that’s been the big change for him. He’s a power guy who can score around the basket, defend, and is smart and understands the game. That makes him a guy that Mike Krzyzewski is going to look at.
Julius Randle - BDN Photo
Tony Parker: A rebounding machine. If you love Kevin Love, you’re going to like Tony Parker. He’s a guy that can absolutely dominate on the glass, and finishes around the basket. I’d like to see his face up game get a bit better but that will come with time. Right now, he is a man on the back boards. No better rebounder maybe in high school basketball.
Alex Poythress: Athletic, long, a guy who’s improved his jumper which has made him a more much affective player. I think he has lifted his stock this spring with a lot of folks. As that shot gets better, the more exciting of a player he’s going to become because when it comes to getting to the rim he’s one of those guys who makes highlights.
Julius Randle: Maybe the most skilled big man in the country as far as how he utilizes those tools. He can handle it, he can go to the middle on the break, he can take you off the dribble, he’s long, and he’s got a great shooting touch from 17ft to the basket. He just does a lot of things. He might be as good an all around big man as there is in the country.
Jabari Parker: Takes off 20 lbs and the comparisons to Paul Pierce really start showing up in a hurry. He’s got great skills, he’s really improved the jump shot, he makes people pay if you back off of him, he can get to the hoop with either hand. He’s a guy that right now I think has risen to challenge Randle for the top spot in that class.
Nerlens Noel: He’s long, he blocks shots. Offensively he’s very very raw. At this point it’s mostly right around the basket. The drop step dunk, those kinds of things. But man can he change the game in the paint with his shot blocking ability, and he can run the floor like he’s 6’5, so he gets up and down and creates opportunities. When the offense comes, he’s going to be a special player.
Theo Pinson is firmly on the Duke radar despite his young age.
Theo Pinson: Well we’re talking about offense, I tell you what, we’re talking about a guy that can score a lot of points in a hurry. I think he’s really improved his ability to take people off the dribble with confidence and finish in the lane. He’s always been a guy that can pop that outside jumper and get people to freeze a little bit. Now he has the dribble drive game to go with it. I think he’s a kid that’s on the rise and is really going to be a tremendous talent for whoever he ends up with.
Brannen Greene: He can put it up from the perimeter, a real long range guy. He really bombs it. He has enough handle though that if you guard him he can get that 1-2 dribble pull up jump shot. A kid that’s on the rise, a lot of people hadn’t seen him a lot until this spring, and I think he’s a kid that could surprise a lot of people with that jumper. You know what, there’s never too good of a shooter.
LOS ANGELES - When scanning the country for the top hot beds of talent in hoops’ we often think of New York, Los Angeles, Indiana, the DMV area, and of course Chicago. Some of the biggest names in hoops have come from The Windy City such as current NBA finalist and NBA Champion Dwyane Wade, this year’s league MVP Derrick Rose, 12 time NBA All-Star and Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas, Tim Hardaway and many more. Taking a look at the current crop of Chicago products and the future still looks bright for one of the hoops capitals of the country.
Who do we look to for that future? None other than 6’7 215 lb Jabari Parker of Simeon Career Academy. Though giant in stature, Parker is very friendly at heart, speaking very highly of his teammates and seemingly always willing to give others his time. Currently sitting at the top of his class, Jabari displays advanced skill for his age, a trait likely strengthened by the aid of his father, Sonny Parker , who spent some time in the NBA with the Golden State Warriors.
BDN was able to catch up with Jabari at the Nike EYBL Session #3 here in Los Angeles this past weekend.
BDN: I’m going to start with something a little different. You’ve got a pretty good freshman teammate in Jahlil Okafor (2014 6’10 255 lb from Whitney Young), tell me a bit about him.
JP: Oh yea he’s dominating right now even though he’s playing up, ya know. I think he’s the best player in the country as a freshman, playing up with the 17 year olds he’s showing a lot of dominance in the paint. He’s real good, he’s very fluent, he’s agile; he can run for his size, he can shoot.
Do you have any new schools involved recently? And who is heavily involved with you right now?
Lately I have had Mizzou and Utah St. that just offered me. Kansas, Duke, Washington, and Illinois are really coming at me hard.
Do you have any visits set up soon?
No, not really. I’m just trying to focus on this AAU circuit you know, and just really getting better.
After this event there is some time until the Nike Peach Jam, will you be headed out to any camps?
Oh yea, right after USA camp I have to go out to the Kevin Durant Skills Camp.
Tell me a little a bit the USA camp (Parker was named to the 2011-2012 USA Developmental National Team) and how it feels to be invited?
Oh man it’s just a blessing you know. Supporting your country and having an opportunity to eventually play for them is a great feeling. You look at some of the players that have played for USA Basketball in the past it’s an honor to be following in their footsteps.
Absolutely must be a thrill. One last question, has your role changed at all from the beginning of the AAU season up until now?
Yea my role has gotten a bit bigger you know, having to become more of a play maker as well as score a lot. They are running a lot of offense through me lately. I try to score but also always keep my teammates involved you know, and try and rebound.
Thanks for your time, Jabari.
Anytime man, thanks.
BDN Premium has an overload of interviews coming your way. Look for a more in depth chat with Jabari coming next week.
Andrew Wiggins and Theo Pinson are two future Duke Basketball Prospects - BDN Photo, Lance King
For many, Memorial Day Weekend is a time of remembrance, family, friends, and grilling. But for recruiting junkies this is a time to catch the top prospects in the nation battle it out. For the second straight year Nike ran its new EYBL, Elite Youth Basketball League. The league hosts three sessions starting in Hampton, VA at the Boo Williams Sports complex in early April, Dallas, TX at the Fieldhouse USA in late April, and the last leg, before the finals, was held in Los Angeles, CA at the HAX this past weekend. The culminating event after the three regular season events will be the Nike Peach Jam held in North Augusta, SC from July 12-15th. The top 24 teams will be invited to battle it out for the EYBL Championship as well as a contract from Nike.
This year there was a bevy of Duke prospects at hand in L.A including the likes of Jabari Parker, Tony Parker, Alex Poythress, Rodney Purvis, Theo Pinson, Rasheed Sulaimon (verbal commit), Andrew Wiggins, and Nerlens Noel. Let’s see what went on with them this weekend.
I know it was [private] early morning but it’s hard to forget your basketball jersey at the hotel isn’t it? Well there was a little mishap with Tony Parker and his jersey. Tony had forgotten his jersey at the hotel and unfortunately it was not brought back in time for him to play in his first game vs. Playground Elite (WI). With Tony out this meant Alex Poythress was the main attraction. Alex went 5-8 from the field for 12pts and 5rebounds. He also had 2 blocks. Alex put on a nice display of athleticism with a beautiful baseline reverse layup. He has the type of frame that NBA GM’s drool over. At already 6’8 it is clear that his upper body still has room to fill out, and when it does watch out! Alex is seemingly known for his three point shot, however, that is not all this talent can do. Alex displays a great slashing ability and has been on the connecting end of several big time alley oops that will surely come to a YouTube channel near you. His most impressive attribute in my opinion is how seemingly effortless he makes his put backs look. At this point though, it is clear his handle will need improvement but that can come with time and repetition. His defense can use more consistent intensity, but again, this is not a worry as it can be coached and drilled into him, and AAU ball isn’t exactly a clinic for defense. In his night game Alex went for only 9pts on 4-7 shooting but had 8rebounds including 2 offensive.
Tony Parker finally got around to getting his jersey for the Georgia Stars second game of the night vs. a solid New Jersey Playaz team. Tony put on one of his better displays this game putting up 17pts and 6 rebounds on an efficient 8-12 from the field and 1-3 from the line. Using his wide frame Tony parked himself in the paint and didn’t move, which should be a delight to hear for many Duke fans. Tony shows lots of comfort with his back to the basket often backing his man down before displaying an extremely quick spin move to mini hook shot. Tony also has no problem dropping a 5-8ft fade away jumper that is a joy to see go in. There was a little bit of controversy in this game between Tony and his coach but I assure Duke fans there is no worry with this. In his game against Alabama Challenge Tony was consistently fed the ball in the post. The Georgia Stars would work the ball around the arc while Tony would flash in the post from side to side. In this game Tony displayed some quality vision by passing inside to his teammates on many occasions. Unfortunately not many of his teammates hit the shots but the passes were there from Tony. Parker put up 19pts and 8 rebounds on another solid 8-14 shooting performance while also going 3-5 from the line. He continued to display his comfort in the post as well as a solid face up game. In catching up with Tony after the game he knows that his post game is solid but that adding a respectable face up game is essential in his development.
We’ve discussed one Parker, now let’s move onto another one, Jabari Parker. Regarded as a top two prospect in the 2013 class, Jabari displayed a plethora of moves this weekend. One of his best attributes is his knowledge of the game at such a young age which has no doubt been strengthened by his father’s tutelage. Jabari displays great instinct in when to give the ball up. He often made plays this weekend which eventually led his team to an easy bucket. In his game vs. All Ohio Red, Jabari put up 16pts and 7 rebounds on 8-19 shooting from the field but went 0-3 from the line. Jabari also had 4 blocks in this game which speaks well of his defense, something he really enjoys doing. While not a freak athlete at this point, he more than holds his own against the competition in that regard. What makes him special is how seemingly smooth he looks on the court gliding around. In his match up against BABC, Jabari put up 12pts and 6 rebounds on an efficient 5-6 shooting from the field. He also added 3 assists. One thing is for sure, Jabari Parker is a future pro right now and if Duke is so fortunate to land the Chicago product then we will be in great hands with him.
Let’s move onto one of the more impressive defenders not only in the EYBL but in the entire country, Nerlens Noel. Sporting a classic high top fade and pogo stick type frame, Noel is exactly the type of athletic defender every division one school is coveting. In his matchup against the Charlotte Royals he put up 13pts and 8 rebounds on 5-6 shooting from the field and 3-3 from the charity stripe. As far as his defense goes, he had 4 blocked and altered countless others. Noels length and athleticism gave fits inside to the opposition which clearly got frustrated all weekend. He has an incredibly quick second jump similar to Shawn Marion which allows to get up quickly again for the rebound or blocking/altering another shot. Most of his points this weekend came off of put backs and moves from about 10ft and in.
The only verbal commitment Duke had at the EYBL was 2012 guard Rasheed Sulaimon. Rasheed hurt his ankle in his game against Arkansas Wings Elite. Before his injury he was matched up with 2012’s Archie Goodwin, often regarded as one of the better players and athletes in his class. Rasheed has become a big time defender and he proved it in the 19 minutes he played that game. He held Archie to 3-12 shooting, and quite frankly some of those buckets came after Rasheed had left the game with injury. The play in which the injury occurred was a 3pt shot from the wing which he hit, but on his way down he landed awkwardly on his ankle and stated he had heard a pop. Fortunately he was able to come back in and show that it wasn’t too severe. Impressive to say the least, considering many players may have considered shutting it down for at least the day as to not risk anything further. His handle has proven to be much more advanced than I had originally anticipated, clearly showing he is improving in this area. His lateral quickness allows him to really stay in front of his defender. Combine that with a low defensive stance that would make Coach K extremely proud and you’ve got one good looking future defender. At this point Rasheed is showing to be a very solid shooter from beyond the arc as well as a bit of a mid-range game. As he adds strength he will be able to follow through and finish with contact when he gets to the rim. His best offensive game came against MoKan Elite where he put up 17pts, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 turnovers, and 1 steal on a solid 7-14 shooting.
At one point it was thought that 2012 guard Rodney Purvis would never leave the state for college. That is until he had committed to Louisville due to an incredible relationship with now former Louisville assistant Tim Fuller. Once Fuller left Louisville, it was thought Rodney would decommit, and sure enough he eventually did. Before he had committed to Louisville, the North Carolina product had Duke very high on his list, and now, post decommitment, it seems Duke is right back up there. Rodney displayed some very nice dribble penetration this weekend that either led to a bucket or a kick out to a teammate. He had multiple And 1 situations all throughout the weekend which speaks well of his strength at this age as he finished well through contact. Rodney also showed some quality effort as I saw him dive for multiple loose balls, a quality any team certainly would enjoy. He attempted many pull up jumpers from about the 18ft mark which unfortunately were inconsistent. With time and practice he should improve on that aspect of his game. Rodney also showed some quality defense this weekend. He is very quick going both north and south but also going east to west. From a scoring perspective, his best offensive game came in his last, against the Jackson Tigers. Rodney put up 18pts, 9 rebounds, and 2 assists on 7-16 shooting from the field and 3-6 from the line. He consistently put up between 15 and 18 points all weekend long. As Andrew mentioned it seems as if at this point it is a N.C State/Duke race, though we all know how fluid recruiting is. In speaking with him this weekend I asked if he would be leaving Upper Room Academy since it seems to be only going through the junior year. He told me that he is planning on staying because they are supposed to soon add a senior year.
It may be a ways from now but Theo Pinson and Andrew Wiggins have firmly placed themselves at the top of everyone’s 2014 list. The two athletic guards displayed flashes this weekend that shows why everyone is so high on the two freshman. As far as this tournament goes, neither guard put up ridiculous numbers. Against the Arkansas Wings Elite, Theo put up 17pts and 4 rebounds on 7-11 shooting from the field and 3-5 from the line. Andrew had his best offensive game against Boo Williams when he put up 13pts on 3-12 shooting from the field and 7-10 from the free throw line. Both players showed off superb athleticism this weekend as well as flashes of what is to come in the future. As freshman, it is a testament to their poise that their coaches have trusted them enough to put them on the big stage. Both players showed confidence in taking their shots and not being nervous in such a setting. I spoke with one of the CIA Bounce staff after their game and he spoke very highly of Andrew Wiggins. I had asked how it was working with him and he could not have been more complimentary of him. He stated that he’s really just a kid at this point who isn’t fully aware of the onslaught of media that is in his future, but that to this point he has handled it with maturity beyond his years. He also said that the game has already at this point really slowed down for Andrew, which is extremely vital to his early development. Simply put, these two players look to have big time futures.
The game of the weekend was easily CP3 vs. Houston Hoops, so good that I felt it deserved its own paragraph. This game hosted 5 top 50 guys including Rasheed Sulaimon, L.J Rose, J-Mychal Reese, Rodney Purvis, and Theo Pinson. The crowd was big time for this highly anticipated match up. The bounce of the ball and squeak of the sneakers was overshadowed by the playful banter between families of both teams. This game meant something to these players and families, and both teams showed it. While Rodney put up 17 points, it did not come easy. The experienced trio of J-Mychal Reese, Rasheed Sulaimon, and L.J Rose made it very difficult for Rodney to penetrate to the hoop. Instead he was forced to shoot much more than he probably liked and had to earn his points at the line where he went for an impressive 7-8. Despite a hobbled ankle, Rasheed continued to play overall stellar defense against CP3. At halftime the game was 30-28 Houston Hoops. The second half had a flurry of traded baskets keeping a quick and exciting pace. The crowd grew even more ruckus as the game was within a few points. In the end a very solid Houston Hoops team pulled out the victory 63-58. Rasheed ended up with 14pts and 3 rebounds on 3-9 shooting from the field and 7-9 from the line. Rasheed continuously attacked the hoop getting past quick defenders. He hit a few clutch free throws to ensure his team the win.
As far as other players that impressed me this weekend there were three. Houston Hoops’ Justin Jackson, a 2014 prospect, showed a nice soft touch around the rim for such a young player. Justin is a 6’5 wing prospect from Bryan, Texas. Secondly I was extremely impressed with Tony Parker and Alex Poythress’ teammate Marcus Hunt, a 6’5 215lbs 2012 prospect. Marcus displayed a great ability to attack the hoop and often finished through contact. He has a strong frame for his age which helps against smaller guards. The third prospect which impressed me was Jahlil Okafor of Mac Irvin Fire. The 2014 prospect is 6’10 and 255lbs and showed a lot of quality flashes for a young freshman. He is a big body down low that many coaches will surely observe over the next few years. His teammate and Duke prospect Jabari Parker spoke very highly of Jahlil even calling him the best freshman in the country. [/private]
Alex Poythress is playing at the Nike EYBL in Los Angeles this weekend. BDN Photo
BDN Premium has Andrew Slater and Varand Khacadouri covering the Nike EYBL event in Los Angeles this weekend and their reports are coming in via the message board and our twitter site. We'll have player interviews coming this week and much more including some members take on the prospects.
In fact, one of our knowledgeable members, Caleb has shared his early take on the kids and here they are while we await more reports from California.
Here are some thoughts and comments from what I saw this weekend -
Julius Randle: From what I saw he's the player I most like from the class of 2013. He looks to be a legit 6'-9" from looking at him. He is strong with the basketball and aggressive. Likes to use the glass alot when shooting in and around the paint. He has a good feel for the game and attacks the basket hard. He handles the ball well...but would be a serious matchup problem at the four. He was double teamed a lot by defenses yet still scored strong when I watched. When you watch him play it's hard to believe he is class of 2013! Very mature game.
Jabari Parker: Really [private] good all around player. Very smooth. Understands the game at a high level. Not super quick or fast but he is athletic. Fundamentally sound...gets team- mates involved well. Not as big or strong as Randle...more of a 3/2. His game reminds me of a slightly less explosive Grant Hill. I think with added strength he will be a special player. Very un-selfish. He is a very pleasant kid. Duke would be fortunate to get Jabari.
Nerlen Noels: I hope that Duke really goes after this kid. He blocks shots like he is on a pogo stick! He can go up down and then back up again really quick. I saw him block shots with both right and left hand. He can block jump-shots! He's just so long and makes you change your shot when driving to the hoop. On offense he plays within himself and doesn't force much. With time his offensive game will improve. He is not a liability at all on offense and he does display some touch around the basket. He does need some added strength. He will be a wiry, strong type of athlete.
Tony Parker: I like Tony. I hope Duke gets him. He really grew on me this weekend. Varand described his game well. He has good footwork...especially this strong low post spin move that he uses well to score with. He's definitely a power forward/college center. He seems to be a legitimate 6-8+ but the days of 270lbs are over. Some are saying he hasn't been playing well of late...if that is the case, he may be adjusting to playing at a lighter weight. Regardless, he played well this weekend. He plays best when he's getting the ball. He is a good kid...I repeat he is a good kid.
Alex Poythress: Effortless leaper. Long and athletic. Offensively he is a 4/3... defensively he could probably guard the 2 and 3 very effectively. Could develop into a passing lane nightmare. He had a two handed dunk where he literally glided through the air without much effort and with plenty of hang time. It would be hard not to take this kid if he wanted to commit. Seems to be tight with Tony Parker. Another really good kid.
Theo Pinson: Very gifted but young. When it's all said and done he'll be a great one. Displayed a nice shooting touch out to 3. His handle is good. He can dribble with both hands. He was active around the basket at times but definitely needs more strength to finish inside. The game I saw him play was against Houston Hoops, (Rasheed's team). It was probably a little tough for Theo to shine against such a talented trio of elite level Houston Hoop guards...led by Rasheed. Theo's dad is really cool and level headed. He mentioned that the experience of playing in such a high level game would only help Theo get better. Lots of up-side.
Rodney Purvis: I think we're all fairly familiar with Rodney's game. He is strong and really has the look of a player. Very confident player and he traded baskets with Rasheed a couple of times. I think Varand mentioned that he deferred a little too much during crunch time against Houston Hoops but he will be big time. He is a legit 6-3 and he can take it to the hole strong. After the game against Houston Hoops which was easily the best and most competitive game that I saw, Rodney was very nice and forthcoming with answering questions and picture taking. I would really like to land him.
Rasheed Suilamon: He has the tools to be great. In what was probably the best game of the weekend (Houston Hoops vs. CP3) he was the best player. His handle is legit. He can lose a defender with his cross-over and changing of speeds. Once he gets past his defender he attacks the basket hard. With added strength he will finish more consistently. He can knock down the deep three or pull up for his jumper off the dribble. He's an energy player who can defend well. His personality is magnetic...I really like him and predict he will be one of my all-time favorite's when he leaves Duke. He will represent Duke very well.
Thanks again to Andrew and Varand for a great weekend! [/private]
I hope you guys caught the opening game of the NBA Eastern Finals last evening for former Duke players Luol Deng and Carlos Boozer both helped Chicago to victory. In fact, the Bulls crushed the much ballyhooed Heat, led by Dwayne Wade and LeBron James. And even a tremendous effort by Chris Bosh couldn't sidetrack the Bulls who are 4-0 versus their opponent this season. CBooz had 14 points and 9 rebounds in the win, but it was Deng who was the most impressive with a team high plus 18 rating. Deng finished with 21 points, 7 rebounds, 4 steals and 0 turnovers.
One thing you can count on in big time college athletics is the fact that recruiting is a year round affair. We're big time recruitniks around here, so that's okay by us. Andrew Slater kicks the week off for Blue Devil Nation Premium members with another one of his in depth interviews. His subject, Nerlens Noel is one of the studs in the top heavy class of 2013. Duke is as you know, interested in Jabari Parker and Julius Randle as well and members will have heard from all three in the coming days. In short, three of the top five prospects are on the Dukies radar.
The likes of former Duke greats Christian Laettner, Grant Hill and Jason Williams will be in Durham for Coach K Academy IX which runs from June the 1st through the 5th on the Duke campus. The event is one of those once in a liftime deals where campers for a price can bond with Duke Basketball is a most special way. For more information call the Duke Basketball Legacy Fund at (919) 613-7501. And you can bet BDN will be on hand to talk with some of the former players, so you can look forward to that.
The Duke Men's LAX team holds off a furious Delaware rally to advance in the NCAA Tournament. The womens tennis team advance as well sweeping Yale. And for recruiting? Here are the newbies for the Duke Women's Volleyball team.
Duke Football is lining up prospects for their camp as well and you can bet that we'll bring you coverage via Patrick Cacchio. Football recruiting news is something we take seriously and we are supportive of the program as they continue to build under David Cutcliffe. Our premium football message board is growing and you can always count on updates there from those who follow the program closely. Be it the jam packed with inside information "Football Friday," articles or coming interviews with true prospects, BDN is the place to be for football. While we are on football, check out Al Featherston and his take on the Blue Devils efforts to build a running game.
Here is an excerpt from Lindy Brown where he tells of some of the latest news on two incoming stars for the Duke womens hoops team -
The honors keep coming in for two future Duke women's basketball standouts -- Elizabeth Williams and Amber Henson -- as the duo were selected Parade Magazine All-America on Sunday. A 2011 Morgan Wootten National Player of the Year selection, Williams averaged 18.9 points, 11.4 rebounds and 5.1 blocked shots for Princess Anne H.S. She was named MVP of the McDonald's All-America contest as she set a single-game record with 23 points to go along with a game-high 11 rebounds. Williams, who is from Virginia Beach, Va., led the USA Basketball U-17 team to a gold medal at the 2010 world championships while averaging 13.5 points and 7.6 rebounds."
To read the full article go to GoDuke.com. Thanks for checking in with BDN.
BDN's Andrew Slater gets up close and personal with one of the nations top prospects in his fabulous new interview - BDN Photo, A. Slater
Deep in the South Side of Chicago sits Simeon Career Academy, a vocational school that has helped churn out graduates with skill sets that are able to enter the labor force. One of its recent graduates, Derrick Rose, was just named the youngest MVP of the NBA.
Jabari Parker, a 6'7" 215 lb sophomore forward at the school, has accomplished something that even Rose didn't: he's started every game of his high school career. This past March, the multifaceted sophomore, who last year was named ESPN Rise's National Freshman of the Year, lead Simeon to a 48-39 victory over Warren for its second consecutive and fifth overall state title.
Chicago is called the City of Big Shoulders. If following in the footsteps of the MVP might be too much of a burden to some, it's not to the soft spoken Parker. The Parker name carries a lot of weight in Chicago, where his father, Robert "Sonny" Parker, has tried to give back to the community that helped raise him.
His dad, Sonny, was an all-state player over at Farragut, the alma mater of Kevin Garnett. Mr. Parker then became a Junior College All-American at Mineral College and spent his last two years in College Station at Texas A&M, where he was named the Southwest Conference Player of the Year. After graduating, he became a first round draft pick in 1976 of the Golden State Warriors, where he played in the Bay Area for his entire six-year NBA career.
In 1990, he began the Chicago-based Sonny Parker Youth Foundation, a non-profit which seeks to offer year-round recreational and educational after-school programs for Chicago kids in grades K-12, in order to provide alternatives to gang and drug-related violence that still plagues parts of the Windy City. In the mid-90s, the altruistic Mr. Parker would have the last of his seven children, Jabari, who likely will turn out to be the best basketball player of his scion and a future contributor to the legacy of his foundation.
A 3.5 student, Jabari Parker, is very demanding of himself on and off of the court, but feels that his Mormon faith has kept him grounded, as others have tried to tout him as the next great one. Looking for a demanding college coach that will treat him the same as his teammates, the versatile Parker traveled to Durham this past winter to catch a Duke game with Shabazz Muhammad. The 2013 prospect has spoken with Duke coaches Mike Krzyzewski and Nate James and appreciates their straightforward approach.
In April, Jabari visited the University of Washington, where reportedly Coach Romar, a former Golden State Warrior teammate of Sonny Parker, is interested in hiring his older brother, Christian.
At a recent AAU tournament, the gracious Jabari Parker, who now plays with Nike's Mac Irvin Fire, spoke at lengthexclusivelywith Blue Devil Nation. Which schools are recruiting you?
Note - I have never seen a more in depth, informative and concise interview with a player of major interest to Duke fans as this Jabari Parker interview conducted by BDN Recruiting Analyst Andrew Slater. You will be a flat out expert on Parker by the time you read this 3264 word interview and learn about a key prospect In short, join BDN Premium. And folks, we are just scratching the surface on warm ball recruiting coverage! Once you are a member and finish this article, you can then jump to the latest on Alex Poythress and Tony Parker and there is more to come. And remember, this interview is exclusive, meaning you will not find it elsewhere nor will you see well studied questions designed to bring you up close and personal, BDN style. - Mark Watson
That's plenty. Do you have a timeline for when you'd like to decide by?
I'm going to [private] open up my recruitment fully. I'm not going to commit too early because I'd like to get my teammates the same good looks that I've received.
You want to give them the opportunity to have all of those eyes watching them.
Yeah, that's right.
That's generous of you. For those that haven't seen you play in person or, perhaps, have only seen your highlights on YouTube, can you describe your game to the audience? How do you view yourself?
It's not complete. I feel that there's still a lot that I have to work on, but I feel that I sometimes lack all the intangibles. Like there are times where I find myself being lazy and not diving for loose balls or grabbing an extra offensive rebound that I should or even sometimes not moving enough without the ball. Some of my strengths are that I can shoot well. I'm a triple threat. I'm pretty good at scoring on the break. In transition, I'm able to make passes and I'm good defensively. That's it.
In terms of position, what do you view yourself as? A three? Four?
Yeah, a 3/4. In high school, they run me at a lot of four.
Yeah, outside of two high school games with Simeon, I've primarily watched you on the AAU circuit, where they've played you at both forward spots and even a bit at center. Who is "the guy" that you try to model your game after? Is there any one player or a couple of guys?
Some of the main small forwards in the League, like Paul Pierce, a lot of people compare me to him. I like to watch Carmelo Anthony a lot though.
Alright, finally, a Knick gets mentioned.
(laughs)
He's such a tremendous overall offensive weapon. Either in Chicago or on the AAU circuit, who's been the most difficult guy for you try to contain?
It was Anthony Davis at the NBA Top 100 camp. He was so difficult to match-up against.
What are you looking for ideally in a college program, whenever you do decide? What are some things?
Yeah, I'm looking for a school that will treat me the same as everybody else. At the same time, I'm able to work hard and push myself to the highest levels of basketball. I'm also just looking for a good relationship with the coaching staff and one with good school spirit.
You mentioned schools all across the country. Will distance be a factor for you or not really?
Not really, wherever I go, I'll be able to see my parents or they'll come out to my games to see me. That's fine.
Would they be interested in relocating?
I don't know about that. My dad's in Chicago most of the time and he's really been there for most of his whole life.
Speaking of that, can you compare your game to your dad's? For those that may not know, your dad, Sonny Parker, was a pro for a number of years.
Yeah, sure, a lot of people around the city say that I have some of the same moves like he had and the same athleticism. Well, not really because he was more athletic than I am. Yeah, my father's been there for me and he's been an inspiration and I'm fortunate to have a father figure in my life. A lot of these kids don't have fathers in their lives.
Yeah, I was talking a little bit about it last night with another father, Mr. Pinson, and he was saying that it's an absolute shame that a lot of fathers don't want to be in their son's lives. You're fortunate.
Yeah, and I'm also fortunate because he went to the next level in the NBA.
Yeah, well, that's another story. (laughs)
(laughs)
Does he give you a lot of pointers or is he, sort of, hands off, in terms of basketball?
Yeah, he gives me advice, but he doesn't really try to coach me or anything like that. He mostly gives me advice.
When you need it…he, sort of, picks his spots.
Yes, exactly.
Speaking of that, who will be some people in your life that will be influential in your college decision? Your mother and father?
Yeah, it'll just be my inner circle. My coach from Simeon, Rob Smith. My mom and dad. My brothers, you know, my whole family.
Where do you fit in, in terms of your family? Are you the youngest? Forgive me for not knowing or remembering. It's been a long day.
No, it's okay. I'm the youngest and I've got two older brothers. One played overseas in Hungary and my other brother is trying to coach at the University of Washington.
Oh, okay. Can you tell the audience a little bit about you away from the court? What would you like them to know about you as a person?
I try to be a really good person. I'm able to click with people. I care about people and I'm humble.
I'm a first-hand witness to that. In terms of your faith, it's a somewhat unusual one.
Yeah, it is.
I literally never have asked about their religion or faith, but, if you don't mind, could you touch on that and possibly how it differentiates you or fills a void?
It helps me stay calm and stay spiritual. Like, I'm not better than anybody else, but I'm also the same as anybody else. I'm just a normal person that happens to play basketball. I'm glad that I have it in my life because I find that it keeps me grounded. I was glad to see people like Jimmer and Danny Ainge have success with spirituality in their lives.
In terms of Chicagoland, they've got a basketball history as strong as anybody. These things ebb and flow, but there's been a bit of a renaissance in Chicago the last couple of years and its continued into your class and the 2014 one as well. Nationally, I'd say Chicago, the New England prep schools, and Texas will be the story over the next couple of years. Can you talk about your class and some of the other bright stars set to come out of the city?
Well, it's always been good over the past years, but, in the past year or so, it's been really good to see some of our guys get national attention like Wayne Blackshear, Anthony Davis, Michael Henry, Sam Thompson. They've really taken Chicago and represented it very well. I'm very glad that the number one player in the country is Anthony Davis of Chicago. I think he does a good job of representing the city real well.
I've dealt with him a few times and he seems to be a really nice kid.
Yeah, he's very nice. He's real nice to everybody.
It's nice to see also a person "come out of nowhere" and wind up as one of the top players in his class. It can be inspirational for future ballers to keep grinding.
Yeah, and he doesn't even have a really big ego either. He's just a really ordinary person and those characteristics, like his personality didn't change just because he became a really good basketball player.
It'll probably help him later in life after he stops playing as well. Speaking of that, do you have any interest in following your brother into coaching as well?
Yeah, kinda sorta, but I just really want to give back to the community. Chicago has done so much for me and it's helped me get out of the streets and stuff. I'd like to work on returning the favor.
How would you go about that? Have you thought about that?
Yeah, I have. I'll take over my dad's foundation and just work to expand it. Hopefully, helping people in the community.
I've heard from people, including coincidentally today, talk about your father and his foundation. Tell the audience a little bit about what your father does, his foundation and what it looks to achieve.
He really deals with the youth of Chicago and he helps hold workouts and camps for kids and stuff. He tries to reach out..
To keep kids off the street and use that energy toward a more positive means.
Exactly, and he also ran an AAU organization. Actually, Anthony Davis was one of the first players there and Wayne Blackshear. That foundation is really highly thought of by people that play basketball.
That's great. Let's talk about your team, Mac Irvin. You've got some guys that also play alongside you at Simeon. What do you think of your squad this year, the level of talent on Mac Irvin this year, and potentially how it'll help you adjust to playing the college game?
It's similar. I think this tournament, the EYBL, the league will help me to be a better basketball player and get me to look closely at the stuff that I'm not able to do. Stuff that I need to improve at. So, this'll help me to improve for college, the next level, when it's really faster.
Do you like or even prefer to play in transition? You do it very well for a guy your size.
Yeah, I love transition because, like, on the break, the other guys can't really set up in their defenses.
Right. I've noticed you picking angles and spaces in transition, which is relatively advanced for a guy your age too. You pick your spots.
Yeah, you're right.
I should've asked you this before, but what kind of system would you like to play in and how important will that be in your ultimate decision? You've got some very different offensive systems or philosophies listed among your college choices.
Yeah, I mean I like a transition offense. That could help me in the NBA because mainly there's a lot of fast break points and a lot of one-on-one stuff. So, if that's stuff that I can improve at, then it'll also help make me into a better basketball player.
Are you a Bulls fan, by the way?
I like the Bulls, but I've got to go with my Celtics.
Oh, a Celtics fan. That's interesting. Did coaches come and visit you during the open period?
Do you mean, like, come by the school?
Yes, exactly.
Oh, well, I wasn't at the school at the time, but I heard that BYU came. Illinois, Michigan State, and, I think, Nevada. I was away, but I also heard that Memphis was there for Kendrick Nunn from Simeon and they're looking at him.
What are you hoping to accomplish this summer?
Just a buildup for the season. You know just get myself out there on the circuit and play with the EYBL, which is new to me because I played with Ferrari before.
Will you be playing with both programs?
No, no.
Strictly Mac Irvin for the rest of the year?
Yeah, that's it.
In terms of something like skill development, are you looking to work on your perimeter shot? It seems like you've been either a little more comfortable shooting from the mid-range and deep this year or are, at least trying to expand your game?
Yeah, I can improve my shot a lot. I'm working on getting my shot a little better and getting my handle a little better.
And how about your body?
I'm working on that too. I'm trying to get a little more ripped.
I noticed that your shoulders are getting a little bit bigger.
Yeah, and I've lost a little bit of weight, too.
How did you do it? Was it a lot of conditioning? What was your secret?
Conditioning, yeah, I've just been working out at the Attack Center with Tim Grover.
Oh, yeah? That's a big time place.
Yeah, me and Tommy Hamilton. I've been building my body up and getting my wind back.
Speaking of you and Tommy Hamilton, are you interested in going to college together? Are you being recruited together?
We've been talking about it. We're interested in going to college together, and I know that he's really interested in Illinois, Michigan State, and Minnesota and those schools. That could be a factor because, you know, me and him grew up together. We have a lot of fun together, he's a real laid back guy. He really doesn't have any beef with people or hold any grudges.
In terms of you next year at Simeon, what are your hopes and expectations for next season? Another state title?
Yeah, another state title and to get on the national scene because next year will be my first year going out to like the big-time places.
Which ones are you going to in case some members of the audience want to catch a game?
We're going to Pittsburgh, we're going to Boston, and I think we're going to Melrose.
Last week there was some speculation that Washington may be your leader because your brother might be hired there as a coach. Can you talk about that, if you would? If it's a touchy issue, we can just move on.
No, no, it's cool. When I went out to Washington, it was very nice. I'm trying to take all my recruitment like all my top five equally. I don't really have a high, but since I went out there, it gave me a better look and a better experience with the campus and the University.
What other schools have you visited?
I've visited Michigan State, Duke, and, you know, Illinois is right down the road.
Oh, sure, and probably DePaul, too.
Oh, yeah, and DePaul, too, definitely.
What did you see and do on those visits?
Yeah, those schools, they have a lot of traditions and I liked a lot of the campuses that they have. They have really good athletic dorms and, you know, I like the coaches and the basketball players.
Did you visit BYU as well?
No, I haven't.
Can you talk about your visit to Duke and what was your impression of the school?
Yeah, Duke was very good. Coach K is one of the best coaches ever. He's a guy that I can trust and, when I was talking to him, he was telling me the truth and not telling me what I wanted to hear. That stuff that's going to help me in the future and stuff. Nate James is a really nice guy. And I could get a really good education when I go to Duke, too.
Are you a good student as well?
Yeah, I'm good, but sometimes I can lack on the tests and stuff. Yeah, I have a 3.5.
That's very solid.
I could really be better.
What would you like to major in?
I major now in Information Technology. In my school, that's my career path.
Right, are you good at working with computers? What do you study or do with respect to IT? I apologize.
No, it's okay. We work out on Microsoft, like on Windows and stuff, and Excel. Like formatting documents and stuff so that we can do, like, newsletters for the school and stuff. But, when I go to college, I'll probably major in Communications or Secondary Education. Maybe, one day, if I'm a high school teacher, I'll be able to coach in high school.
Would you like to coach at Simeon one day or would you rather somewhere else?
Probably somewhere else. I'd like to go to a program where I could build it on my own.
Getting back to your father for a second, with all of his connections, has it helped you meet and play with better players? Maybe at the NBA level?
Well, my dad, you know, he's been playing since the 70s and stuff. Like, I've had the opportunity to meet a lot of people through him like John Lucas and those guys and they help me look at basketball not as the business aspect, but something to love and stuff. It's something that you want to do, not something that you have to do.
Much more of a pure aspect to it.
Yes, exactly.
Thank you very much for your time.
No, thank you. Thank you. I enjoyed it.
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