"He who is prudent and lies in wait for an enemy who is not, will be victorious." - Sun Tzu
At fifteen, Tyus Jones, the 6'1" 175 lb point guard from Apple Valley, Minnesota, has accomplished more on the basketball court than almost all of his peers, utilizing a mix of court vision, change of pace, and advanced perimeter skills.
On a national level, Jones' coming out party was last April in Dallas when, playing for the Howard Pulley Panthers, he scorched a Seattle AAU team for forty-five points, despite being more than two years younger than his competition. He quickly followed that up by earning a spot on the ultra-competitive USA Basketball's U-16 team in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Soon thereafter, the self-described "pass-first point guard" helped lead the United States to a gold medal at the FIBA Americas 16U Championship in Cancun, Mexico. Jones broke current Duke point guard Quinn Cook's tournament assist record, dishing off twenty-eight assists to, amongst others, fellow Duke recruits Jabari Parker, Jahlil Okafor, and Theo Pinson.
Tyus has been playing varsity basketball for Apple Valley, a suburb of the Twin Cities and home of the Minnesota Zoo, since he was an eighth grader. Last year, he missed more than eight weeks (thirteen games) of the season after lacerating his kidney, when he unfortunately landed in the heel of a St. Louis Park player.
This year, the sophomore came back and lead the Eagles to a 23-6 record, scoring more than twenty-eight points per game. For the season, despite being the focal point of a variety of "junk" defenses, the precocious point guard shot an eye-popping 56% from the field, 44% from beyond the three-point arc, and better than 86% from the charity stripe. In addition to earning a MaxPreps All-American distinction and the Star-Tribune's Player of the Year, Gatorade named the sophomore Minnesota's Player of the Year, noting his performance on the court, 3.1 GPA, and charitable work with Feed My Starving Children.
In the late winter, Coach Mike Krzyzewski formally offered Jones a scholarship to Duke University. It was an unusually early scholarship offer for the Duke program, but, as a rising sophomore, Tyus Jones first captured the attention of the four-time National Champion and Olympic gold medal-winning head coach at last year's Peach Jam. Jones has already visited unofficially three Big Ten schools: Ohio State, Michigan State, and his hometown Minnesota Gophers. Tyus told BDN that he will definitely visit Duke in the future.
The sophomore lead guard comes from a tight basketball family. His affable father, Rob Jones, who is 6'6," played for Proviso East (IL) HS and the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, while his mother, Debbie, won a state title as the point guard for Devils Lake (ND) HS. His older brother, 6'2" Jadee, played for Furman and Minnesota State-Monkato. Jadee has been Tyus' trainer and the one he credits for his shooting prowess, working on repetitions and technique.
If anyone thought that there might be a sophomore slump with Tyus, they've been sorely disappointed. The shrew lead guard is now at the top of the national leaders in both points (21 per game) and assists (6.55 per game), while exhibiting more vocal leadership skills. His team, the Howard Pulley Panthers, currently have a 5-4 record through the first two legs of the competitive Nike EYBL. This weekend, at the Boo Williams Complex in Hampton, Virginia, Tyus concluded the weekend with a 37 point, 8 assist, and 5 rebound performance in a win over the Bluff City Legends of Tennessee. Throughout the two live period weekends, the Duke coaches have been a constant presence at his games.
After an EYBL game, Tyus spoke with me about, amongst other things, leadership, USA Basketball, pre-game visualization, his use of change of pace, the early Duke offer, pressure to stay home for college, and his family's support.
You recently won the Gatorade Player of the Year.
It was a huge honor. It’s a humbling experience and feeling. It’s just amazing. It just goes to show that hard work and dedication does pay off and my teammates helped me with that with making shots to help us win games. My coaches setting up stuff, so I just was really proud of that honor.
It’s also a well-rounded award. I was talking to the guy that runs it and obviously basketball is a key criteria, but they’re also looking for people who won’t embarrass their brand off the court.
Exactly, exactly. My parents raised me to be the young man that I am. They keep me grounded and I don’t want to embarrass them.
You’ve been playing varsity since the 8th grade.
Yeah, it helps me because this year we had a young team that is helped because I had some experience seeing a lot of the situations in the games that they hadn’t. I’ve just got to lead and lead by example and be vocal. It’s helped a lot.
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Being vocal is an issue I wanted to get to, but I want to wait a bit. Let’s talk about playing in front of your home fans. It can get really packed. Your dad, Rob, said that your home games were almost all sell-outs and obviously it’s been standing room only here.
It was great playing in front of hometown fans, like you said. We’ve got a good turnout, a lot of families have come here. It’s been a good turnout, I think we’ve shown our fans in Minnesota that we can play and we can play at a high level. We can compete and it was good. I’m impressed with how we played.
Sure, I was speaking before with Jahlil about the USA Basketball experience and we were talking a little bit about you. What are your memories of going through that experience about going through the tryouts and winning the gold medal and everything else?
Right, USA Basketball was an amazing experience. It was an unbelievable feeling to put USA across your chest to represent your whole country, the whole nation. It was an unbelievable experience. We built a great bond with our teammates. Credit goes to Coach Showalter and Coach Jones. They trained us and worked us hard and brought us together to become a family. They’re great guys.
Give the audience a sense of the tryouts. I know they were very competitive in Colorado Springs.
The tryouts were in Colorado Springs. They were very tough, very tough. Every single drill, every single play, every possession. It was unbelievable and you’ve got to come to play and you can’t take a play off because you’ll get exposed.
What’s your take on Jahlil (Okafor) and Theo (Pinson)?
They’re two of my good friends and we all in a sense, them included, bonded together. They’re great characters, they’re great students, they’re great basketball players, so everything worked out.
You had a lacerated kidney. What did you learned about yourself and basketball in the time you were unable to play?
Oh, yeah, that was a huge thing in my career.
For the audience members who may not know, how did it happen?
Oh, yeah, I got double-teamed and got pushed into a kid.
Cheap shot?
If you want to say so.. I fell onto the back of his leg and into his heel. His heel just pushed right up into my kidney and cut it.
That’s terrible.
Yeah, it was. I cut it and I ended up having to sit out for eight weeks. It kind of made me step back and see…
What did you realize?
It made me step back from the game of basketball and really what I had in front of me and what was really important and just kind of cherished the game more and just cherish everything more because the game can just go away from you. In a split second, it can be gone.
Who do you try to model your game after?
I try to take bits and pieces from, you know, all the great point guards in the NBA. Guys like Chris Paul, I think he does everything well and I try to just take as much as I can from him. And Rondo, you know he sets up his teammates incredibly well and…
He’s a great defender.
Yeah, exactly, and he anticipates and everything like that. He anticipates everything well on the floor. And then there’s Russell Westbrook..
Well, by the way, you might shoot a little better than Rondo at this point.
(laughs) With Russell Westbrook, I love to see how he uses his explosion and just gets his team where they need to go. And there’s all kinds of little things you can take from different point guards’ play because they’re in the NBA for a reason.
You come from a bit of a basketball family. Your father, your mother, and your brother all played at various levels. How do you think that helps you and differentiates you from other players?
Yeah, it helps a lot because any one of my relatives I can go to and talk about basketball just like they’re all behind me and support me in any way I need and whatever I do. They’re all there for me. So, you know, being born and raised in a basketball family, it’s helped me love the game and just pushed me.
Does it make you more competitive when you’re growing up in a family like that?
Yeah, definitely. I was trying to compete with my brother, my cousins, everyone who was older. I just was always trying to compete with my brother in everything. I was just trying to hang with them as much as I could and I think it just helped. It really turned me into a competitor. Yeah, now that I’m older I can hang with them. We’re much more competitive.
You guys must kill with two-on-two at the local YMCA.
(laughs) It’s competitive. We always go back and forth.
What was it like when you first beat one of your older relatives?
It kind of just told me that I was getting there. I was getting bigger, I was getting older.
It was a first step.
Right, right. It felt like a big deal.
In terms of leadership, what was it like being the captain of the team this year as a sophomore?
Being captain was a good honor. It was big being named leader of your team and you’ve got to set a good example. I think I do that well and guys are looking for you to lead and you just got to be on point and you’ve got to be ready to lead them.
You wanted to be more vocal this year. You mentioned it a little bit earlier as well.
Yeah, I mean, you can never communicate too much.
Particularly with a young team.
Yeah, exactly, especially on a young team, you’re being just vocal and communicating, it makes it a lot easier for everybody. Than if you are being quiet, just being vocal it starts up top and everybody else communicates.
Are you loud or more quiet by nature?
I would say I’m more laid back and quiet by nature. So it’s just something that’s out of my element to be more vocal. You know, I’d rather lead by example, but I just have to be more vocal. It’s something that I have to constantly work on and have to step out of my comfort zone and be vocal.
Another important issue with point guards is leadership. We talked before about you being named captain, but how would you assess your leadership skills at this point?
Leadership is obviously important. You’re the leader on your court at all times and I’m just a point guard and just try to take that and go with that.
We talked before about all the fans showing up to support you in high school and here. Would you say there’s a lot of pressure for you to stay home for college?
There is. There’s been a lot of pressure to stay home, but I’ve just got to take it in stride. You just go through this once and you just have to have fun with it.
I was at your game last year in Dallas where you scored over 40 points (45 points). Shooting is obviously one of the things you do relatively well. How do you account for your shooting and what is your shooting regimen?
Oh, yeah, I just try to put up as many shots as I can in the off-season, just work on repetition. You know, you can never put too many shots up. There’s never too much repetition.
How did you learn how to shoot originally?
My older brother was a tremendous shooter and he worked with me a lot and, you know, it just worked its way out.
You try to mentally and visually prepare before the games. That’s something unusual for a kid your age.
Oh, yeah, I just kind of get into my own zone and where I want to go with the ball and how I want to pass it. A lot of guys are just different. I don’t know. It’s the way I feel I need to get ready for the game and it’s worked for me. Some guys goof around, some guys are very serious, and some guys are off on their own. It’s a matter of trying to be comfortable with how you feel.
What about your use of change of pace?
Oh, yeah, definitely change of pace is very important to me. I’m trying to work on my change of pace because it makes it hard for guys to try to stay in front of you.
It’s kind of like in baseball where if you’re a changeup pitcher, it makes your fastball look a lot faster.
Yeah, that’s a good example.
What do you view as your strengths and weaknesses right now?
My strengths are just seeing the floor and being that true point guard out there. My weaknesses are, you know, you can always be a better defender. I’ve just got to work on the little things, like being a good leader out there. Those little things are always very important.
You get a lot of junk defenses thrown at you, particularly in high school ball. How have you adjusted to the different defenses?
Oh, yeah, I think I’ve seen them all. It just comes with the territory from our team’s success. You know, when we get success, you just have to go with it and figure out a way for your team to win.
Do you watch a lot of basketball? I know Rubio is another popular point guard around here. Do you watch a lot of college or pro basketball?
I do. I watch as much basketball as I can, both college and pro.
What about being a passer versus scorer? You’re sort of known as being a scoring point guard with your AAU team, but for USA Basketball, you were much more of a facilitator as a passing point guard.
I actually think I’m a pass-first point guard, but I just try to take what the defense will give me. If the defense gives me points, I’m going to take it, but if the defense gets up on me, I’m going to pass it immediately and I’ll hit the open man. I love to set up my guys. It just makes it fun, it makes it easier. I love to just, you know, get your team going.
So, all things being equal, you like to have a great pass over a great jumpshot?
Yeah, exactly.
Who do you turn to for guidance whenever you make big decisions?
My parents, they’ve been there since day one and they really have my best interest at heart.
You’re quite lucky to have both parents.
Yeah, I’ve also got my grandparents, as you can see right behind you. My grandparents are right here, my aunts are right there, they’re all here to support me. I’ve got a great core group of people. I feel very comfortable with them. I really like to listen to their thoughts on things.
I mentioned before about that forty-five point game. That game sort of helped to put you on the map to a degree. What was going through your mind and what do you remember about that day?
It was just one of those days where I was just feeling it and our coaches are always like if you’re feeling it, just go with it. Don’t let up. They just say that if we’re feeling it, just keep going with it, so I just kept putting it up and it just kept falling. It was just incredible.
In terms of a timeline, when would you like to decide by?
I’m waiting, I’m not trying to rush into my recruitment or anything. I’m not looking to give an immediate commitment. I’m looking to survey things and looking deeply into everything. So it’ll be just a little while.
Have you taken any visits?
I’ve taken unofficials to Ohio State and to Michigan State.
And probably Minnesota too.
Yeah, and to Minnesota as well.
What would you like the audience to know about you away from the court?
I’m just a laid-back kid, I like to have fun. I’m not trying to draw a lot of attention to myself. I’m trying to be laid-back and do the right thing. I’m not one of those kids who is a trouble-maker or anything like that. I’m just pretty laid-back and I keep to myself.
You've grown up in Apple Valley.
Yeah, I grew up in Apple Valley. We have the Minnesota Zoo. It’s a nice community to grow up in.
What’s your current size?
I’m about 6’2,” 175.
Before we were talking about change of pace and I remember reading that one of the reasons you wanted to add that to your game was because you may not be the fastest guy…
Yeah, I’m definitely not the fastest guy, so I felt like if I could just add that to my game, I’d just be a lot more difficult to try to stay in front of, rather than if I rely on my straight-forward quickness.
Lastly, can you talk about the Duke offer and what you know about the program?
Yes, Duke has offered me a scholarship. I’m very grateful to them for that. Coach K is a legendary coach and he’s an unbelievable coach and Coach Wojciechowski and Coach Capel are great guys. I saw the Duke coaches watching. They've coached a lot of great players. It will be interesting to see what happens with this recruiting period.
Were you surprised by the offer? It’s much earlier than they usually give players scholarship offers...
Yeah, actually, I was. I guess it was earlier than they traditionally do offer kids. I just feel very blessed and I just feel very humbled that they’re even recruiting me and I never thought that I'd be recruited by any of the big-name colleges and so I feel very blessed to have them even interested in me.
Any thoughts on visiting them in the future?
Yeah, eventually, definitely. I want to take an unofficial there.
What are some future tournaments you will be playing in for fans who want to catch you? Obviously EYBL…
Yeah, EYBL at all of the locations, then at the end of the month, I’ll be in California.
Lastly, what are you hoping to show coaches this year?
I’m just hoping to show them my hard work and just the little things, like boxing-out and getting on the floor and just the little things.
Duke would love to see big GA OT Brett Steverson clearing holes in Durham
Brett Steverson is a 6'4" 300 pound offensive tackle from Fitzgerald, Georgia. After a slow start, his recruitment is picking up this spring, and he now holds scholarship offers from Duke and Troy, with strong interest from several others. The Blue Devils have Steverson near the top of their recruiting board for offensive lineman, and hosted the top junior on a recent visit. Steverson came away impressed and updated BDN on his recruitment.
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BDN: How would you describe your strengths as a player?
As far as being a player, I think that, we’re a run-oriented offense, we run the ball a lot, that’s not to say that I can’t pass block, I’m pretty good at that too. I’m a dominant run blocker, and I think I’m underrated. I think if I match up with anybody in the state, head to head, up front, it doesn’t matter if I’m a two-star or a three-star, it doesn’t matter what they rate me, if I’m going up against a 5-star, All-American, I think I can go head to head with them in run blocking and pass blocking. I love run blocking because I’m physical and I finish all my blocks. As far as pass blocking, I’ve got pretty quick feet for a big guy, but I’d be fine run blocking all game. I can also, in our offense, last year we didn’t pull our tackles as much, but this year we’re supposed to pull our tackles more, so I’ll get a chance to do that. In practice when they pulled them last year, I did a good job and the year before that I actually played guard, so I can pull and move and stuff.
BDN: What are you working on this offseason as you prepare for your senior year?
I think the main thing I’m trying to do is just, I’m a strong kid in the weight room, most people call me the gym rat because every time somebody comes to the weight room, it seems like I’m up there. But, just getting stronger, faster, and quicker, and more explosive. Trying to work on football explosiveness through power cleans and stuff like that so I can be more explosive on the field, it all ties together. That’s the main things I’ve been working on, and also some pass blocking, doing some more one-on-ones so that when I get to combines it’s not such a big thing because we never get in the two-point stance, so just working on my pass blocks and stuff we don’t do that much.
BDN: As you approach your college decision, what are the most important things you are looking for in a school?
I think education is going to play a big role. Another thing that will play a big role is how much of a family atmosphere there is, how the coaches and players get along, how their relationship is. Of course, a relationship between a coach and a player is going to be intense at times, but I also want to have that security where the coach is going to care about you and be like your dad when you’re at college and away from your family. That’s one thing that I really liked about Duke, Coach Cutcliffe is such a great guy, and those guys up there are top notch academically.
BDN: You mentioned Duke as one of the schools that has stood out to you. Where do you stand with offers and interest from schools now?
Duke and Troy are my two offers right now, but our high school coach has been talking a lot to Coach McCollum up at Georgia Tech and Coach Brattan at Maryland, they might offer at any time. People say that Georgia…people say things, that stuff, all the articles and reporters and stuff, until it’s legit, you don’t really know. I did really like Duke and I think Coach Cutcliffe and them are doing a great job up there. I haven’t been to Troy yet. I know that people say Duke’s football is not on the map, but Coach Cutcliffe has done a great job there trying to develop a program, building new facilities. Even though they only won 3 games last year, they lost 5 games by a combined 14 points, so that shows they’re right on the brink of being a bowl team and an ACC contender. That’s a credit to Coach Cut and the players and all the assistants.
BDN: You mentioned Troy as a school that you have some interest in; do you have any plans for any visits this spring or summer?
Miami wants me to come down, I’ll go down there in the summer probably. I’ve been to Georgia three times before I got offered by Duke. It was nice, but I didn’t like the atmosphere, I didn’t take in as much as I did at Duke, even though they’re a top school every year, it just didn’t seem like as friendly of an atmosphere. I plan to go to Troy, but I’m not going to lock down any visits until I get some more offers, which will probably come this spring. I’m not going to really plan anything, I’ll probably go to some places over the summer, but right now I don’t know where I’m going to go. I want to take my mom back up to Duke, because she didn’t get to see it. I have three players from our school, well two are already there and one is going there this fall, to play football at Troy, so it will be cool to catch up with those guys, but I haven’t planned to go there yet.
BDN: Do you have a timeline in mind for when you plan to narrow things down or make your final decision?
That’s a tough questions, because I think I’ll get some more offers this spring and hopefully get an offer from a SEC school, a big SEC school, because it seems when that happens everybody starts to jump on board and pay attention. It would be nice to get an offer from someplace like that so I can see what all my offers and options are going to be. I really would like to make a decision either in very early football season or before football season, because I don’t want my football season to overlap with questions not surrounding the team but surrounding me and my decision. I would rather get that out of the way so it’s less of a distraction for me any my team.
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore is not an act, but a habit.
-Aristotle
Semi Ojeleye was born in Overland Park, Kansas and his family's tale is one of the American Dream. His father, Victor, arrived in Kansas from Nigeria, looking to do an internship and residency at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Dr. Ojeleye now operates as a family physician in Ottawa, Kansas, roughly fifty miles south of Kansas City, Kansas, with his wife, Joy, a registered nurse.
The Ojeleyes had two boys, Victor and Semi. Victor, the oldest, was heavily involved in community service, became Ottawa High School's all-time leading scorer, and was valedictorian of his graduating class. After not receiving much basketball interest coming out of Ottawa high school, he opted to do a postgraduate year in North Carolina, where he played under veteran coach, Chris Chaney. It was there that then Kansas St. assistant coach, Dalonte Hill spotted the 6'5" Ojeleye and ultimately convinced him to walk-on for his home state Kansas State Wildcats. Victor wound up being a reserve player for the Wildcats, led his teammates in Bible studies, and was an All-Academic Big XII winner in each of his three seasons, culminating in this season's inaugural Dr. Loge Award for the Big XII Conference's highest academic honor. This May, he will receive his degree in Finance and Accounting before joining Koch Industries.
Semi Ojeleye was blessed with the same genetics and work ethic as Victor. He's been a 4.0 student, but will shatter Victor's basketball records for the Ottawa Cyclones. The 6'6" wing averaged nearly nine rebounds and thirty-three points per game this season, never scoring below twenty-five in a single game, while leading Ottawa (KS) to a third consecutive Class 4A State Title game. The high water scoring mark for this season came when he knocked down eight three-pointers and hit all ten of his free throws for a fifty point game and a win in front of Missouri Coach Frank Haith.
This season, Semi, a devout Christian, played all five positions for Coach Jon McKowen's Cyclones and knocked down seventy-eight three pointers at nearly a forty percent clip on the season. In the state semi-final game, Ojeyele grabbed fourteen rebounds and scored thirty-two points. In, ultimately, a close 56-52 loss to Basehor-Linwood in the Championship game, Ojeleye, who has tried to slowly convert himself from more of a post player to a perimeter force, scored thirty-two points and snagged twelve rebounds. For his efforts, the 6'6" junior, who now has 1,811 career points and helped his team to a 24-2 final record, earned an All-State distinction.
This AAU season, Semi, who would like to major in engineering, will once again compete with Mo-Kan Elite on Nike's EYBL circuit. The past two weekends, at least one Duke coach has observed his playing. This weekend, Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski watched the versatile wing play in person. He is scheduled to visit UCLA and Wisconsin, the first high-major school to offer him a scholarship, in the coming months, but is hoping that his play this AAU season will garner more interest beyond the primary Big XII and Pac-Twelve options.
Semi spoke with me after a close EYBL game about a variety of issues.
Let’s start with your background.
My parents are from Nigeria, but I was born here.
In Kansas
Yeah, in Overland Park. My father came over to be a doctor.
Oh, well, congratulations.
Thank you.
Were you in a bit of a zone that day when you had the fifty point game?
Oh, yeah, my teammates got me involved and I just had my stroke that day. I just thank God because it was just one of those times when everything just clicked.
Last year, I thought you had more of an inside game than an outside. Do you feel like you’ve expanded your game and developed more of a mid-range game?
Well, I’m 6’6.” So, I’m not going to play center at the next level and I felt like I had to adjust. I feel like I’m going to become a guard. So, I felt like I had to develop more guard skills. So, I had to work on my handling and my shooting a lot.
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And have you improved?
Yes, I feel like I have.
Academically, I heard you were a 4.0 student. Obviously, your father is a doctor, so genetically, you should be a good student.
(laughs) Yeah, I take pride in my work and my academics. I want to have something that I can fall back on, because I know how difficult it is to make it to the professionals.
Your older brother is at Kansas State. What advice has he given you about going through this process?
Yeah, he’s been a good big brother to me. He’s gone through the whole thing and he’s taught me how much more physical it is and how rigorous it is and how I have to keep getting my body in better shape. My
CB Breon Borders led Statesville with 8 interceptions as a junior
After a short lull, Duke football picked up another early commitment in the class of 2013 on Thursday. Statesville CB Breon Borders gave his verbal pledge to the Blue Devils, joining fellow in-state CB Dequavais Mann and Virginia CBs Evrett Edwards and Jake Kite in the future Duke secondary. The 6'1" 170 pound prospect helped lead Statesville to the state playoffs and a 7-5-1 overall record as a junior; he finished the season with 48 tackles, 5 interceptions, and 6 pass break-ups. Borders picked up his first scholarship offer on a February unofficial visit to Durham, which he described as a dream come true, and declared Duke his early leader. He made his decision official on Thursday by informing the Duke coaches, and ultimately chose Duke over an offer from Georgia State and strong interest from Clemson, ECU, UNC, and Wake Forest.
Borders caught up with BDN after his high school track meet this afternoon.
BDN: What led to your decision to commit to Duke today?
I've wanted to go to Duke ever since freshman year, plus I am ready to get recruiting out of the way so I can focus on my senior year and football.
BDN: How did you inform the coaches of your decision and what did they have to say?
I just called up Coach Cutcliffe and I told him that, "Coach, I'm ready to commit." And he was just so excited, he was so excited, I was excited. It was just amazing, it was amazing!
BDN: I know we spoke after you took a visit to Durham earlier this spring and you've had some other schools recruiting you as well. What was it about that Duke that made it the school for you?
I just really connected with the coaches and I really liked the vibe around campus. I think I could come and play within my second year at Duke.
BDN: I'm sure Duke fans will be excited to hear about your commitment. Is there anything you want to let them know?
I just want them to know that they got a good athlete, a long athlete, and they got a corner that's going to come to work every day.
BDN: Congratulations on your commitment, Breon, and best of luck this fall!
Duke is involved with Habari Parker who gave BDN an in depth interview on the latest on the recruiting front. BDN Photo
Last year, we profiled 6'8," 220 lb Jabari Parker after a Nike AAU event in Dallas, Texas. In the time since, the young man from the South side of Chicago has continued to lead an ambitious and altruistic life.
In June, Jabari led the United States U-16 Team to a gold medal at the 2011 FIBA Americas U16 Championship in Cancun, Mexico. For his considerable efforts, he won the tournament's MVP award and USA Basketball later named Parker their 2011 Male Athlete of the Year, joining such notables as Kevin Durant, Elton Brand, and Chris Paul. Afterwards, Parker helped his Mac Irvin AAU 17U squad to successful runs at Nike's Peach Jam and the Fab 48 in Las Vegas.
This past high school season, the junior small forward led his Simeon (HS) to a 33-1 record and its record-breaking third consecutive Class 4A Illinois state title with a 50-48 victory over previously undefeated Proviso East. In the state title game, Parker finished with fifteen points and five rebounds, while being the primary focus of the opposition.
6'8" Jabari Parker, Photo by Andrew Slater
Over the past two seasons, while playing a competitive national schedule, Jabari Parker, now 17, has led the Simeon Wolverines to a 63-3 record. This year, he became more assertive and, as an upperclassmen, took more of a leadership role on his Simeon team. As a result, his statistics all jumped across the board. The son of NBA veteran Robert "Sonny" Parker ended up averaging over twenty points, nine rebounds, five assists, and three steals per game, while achieving the primary goal of winning a third consecutive state title.
This month, Gatorade named him their National Player of the Year, becoming just the fourth junior to ever earn that distinction. This latest accolade came with the added recognition of his academic achievements (18th in a class of 377 students at Simeon) and community service (work with Salvation Army and Operation PUSH). For the first time in thirty-two years, a junior, Jabari Parker, won Illinois' Mr. Basketball, winning by a sizable margin (400-72) over the next closest runner-up. Jabari was Simeon's fourth Mr. Basketball, joining Derrick Rose, Nick Anderson, and Deon Thomas.
After a tough loss to a well-coached BABC team geared to shutting him down, Jabari sat down with me to talk about a variety of issues, including dealing with fame, recent accolades, the loss of Mac Irvin, winning a third consecutive state title, advising Jahlil Okafor, and embracing being a role model to Chicago's youth.
First things first, what was your reaction to the passing of Mac Irvin? Can you tell the audience the impact that he had on your life and the lives of other Chicago young men?
Sure, him passing took a toll on me.
I was sorry to hear that.
Yeah, I didn't really have a grandfather growing up. I really didn't know him and, so I would really look up to him as another father figure in my life and that was my dad's mentor growing up, when he was in the NBA, he had a chance to talk with him a little bit and so him not being here is like we're missing a piece of the puzzle. Without him, we don't have an inspirational guy. That means that everybody else needs to step up his role and get everybody involved.
Jahlil (Okafor) was saying that you guys have effectively dedicated this season to him, with the hope that you can win the whole EYBL in his memory.
Yeah, that's the hope. This was really probably the first trip that he wasn't able to come with us.
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Mac was always very nice to me and I appreciated that.
Yeah, he was always a very respectful guy and it's a shame that he's not here.
On a more uplifting thought, you just won your third state title.
Yeah, that felt pretty good. You know being the first Chicago team to win three consecutive downstate titles. It really just makes us want it more. We don't want to get complacent or become satisfied. We just wanted to go out and execute.
Did this one differ from the first two, for you personally, as your roles and responsibilities have changed? Did you feel differently about this one in particular because you're more mature and had more of an impact?
Yeah, it was more different. The first two years, I was more humble, but, with this third one, I was a little bit satisfied. I had a big chip on my shoulder and the game caused me to humble myself. It reminded me that I've always got to be prepared that everybody will try to give their best game.
You had a few close victories against Proviso East in the title game and against Whitney Young (52-48) before that.
Yeah, they were real close, definitely.
You also had a huge honor recently when Gatorade named you their national player of the year. It's a significant one because, when I spoke with their guy who handles it, he said that they're always very cognizant of a player being well-rounded, in terms of being a high character person who balances athletics, academics, and charitable work. They basically want to try to make sure that the kids who win won't embarrass their brand off the court.
Yeah, that was a huge honor for me. It was a really special one in terms of giving us a lot of exposure.
There was an interview you and your brother Christian did and I think he said of you, "Basketball is what he does. It's not who he is."
Yeah, definitely, basketball is what I do, but I really just try to use it to be a role model to the kids. I'm just trying to be a role model in my community.
Let's quickly get back to basketball. Do you still train with your dad, brothers, and, from time to time, I think, Tim Grover?
Well, I haven't really trained with Tim Grover in a while, but I've just been going on my own…to my own school and getting a lot of shots up. With my dad, he really doesn't coach me anymore.
So, it's just mostly your brothers at this point.
Yeah, it's just mostly my brothers right now.
What about you and Rahm Emmanuel hanging out? It's sort of unusual for a kid your age to be hanging around with the Mayor of Chicago.
Well, yeah, it's been kind of special because my mom was assigned to show him around during the games and we've got a relationship for a while…, well, from last year, so meeting with him again this year, we all just felt a lot of support. He's a very big Simeon fan actually.
Oh, is he? Well, that's good for you guys.
Yeah, that's been good for us.We definitely feel the love.
Speaking of your mother, I saw that she said,paraphrasing, "We all struggle together. Fame is fleeting. We're no better or worse than anyone else."
Yeah, that's true. Fame is fleeting
I took it mean that effectively we're all in it together, so to speak.
Absolutely, we're all in it together and, with respect to fame, it can either bring you down or make you humble. With that, you can't let it get to you and think that you're bigger than anyone. You need to be there for everyone and be of service.
Has it been an adjustment for you as you've gotten older and people are obviously asking you for pictures and autographs?
I give them my time because I know that they're probably only going to see me once in lifetime. So, it's good and fantastic the things that I'm doing now so, you know, why not take a little time out to sign an autograph or take a picture.
There was a bit of controversy over you guys leaving your sneakers on the court after you won the state title, as a way of leaving your mark.
Oh, yeah, it was nothing really. We just thought that it was our way of leaving our mark on history. It wasn't meant as anything too egotistical, but people are going to take it out of perspective. They were going to build into something that was a little bit more than what it was.
Another issue that came up recently was Cory Dollins (his best friend) going to DePaul as a walk-on and your high school coach trying to get in the running for a job at Illinois. Do those specifically or similar things have a legitimate or serious impact on your ultimate recruitment?
Oh, no, not really. I've got to go through the process and just go to the program that suits me the best. I can't look at everybody and make everybody satisfied. Sometimes, I've got to be selfish on my own behalf.
What would you say that you've improved on most for fans that haven't seen you play in the past year?
Oh, working on my defense would probably be the most noticeable thing. Rebounding has also been something that I've tried to improve on, but really just trying to be a better overall player. Not taking anything for..well, playing every possession like it's my last. I'm starting to do that a little bit more than I used to. Looking back, I think that I used to take more plays off.
I think you're also a little bit more assertive this year, particularly offensively, than you were in the past.
Yeah, I think a little bit. That's a good word. I think I've become a little bit more aggressive on the offensive end.
Yeah, just a little bit.
Yeah, yeah, definitely
If you could target one aspect of your game, what would you like to tighten up most before you hit college?
Probably my body. I need to strengthen up. I've got to try to get, well, toning up. I've got to tone up my body.
Do you hit the weight room at all right now or not really?
No, not really.
You were mentioning before about being a role model, like the anti-Charles Barkley. I know you work with Operation Push, the Salvation Army, and prayer groups.
Oh, I don't look for any attention. It's just to help me out. It's what I do. It's part of my benefit. That's what makes me happy. A lot of people see that and it seems to bring them joy and hopefully inspires them too.
So, there will hopefully be some ten and thirteen year-old kids running around Chicago wanting to follow in the footsteps of Jabari Parker?
Yeah (laughs).
Do you have any visits planned and have you taken any visits recently?
No, I'm going to take my visits in the Fall time or possibly in the summer, but that's if I cut it down in the end.
Outside of that trip to Utah, have you taken any other visits recently?
Oh, no, not really.
Have you given any advice to Jahlil (Okafor), by the way?
Oh, yeah, I always try to get on him. (laughs) I tell that it's going to be different next year than it was as a sophomore. He's going to get a lot more attention. So, he's going to have to be a lot more responsible. He's going to have to choose his friends wisely and keep his inner circle tight. There's going to be a lot of people trying to get involved. I just try to be a big brother to him because he doesn't really have any siblings and, me, I don't really have any younger siblings. So, I, sort of, look at him as a younger one.
You're sort of going through some things now that he'll have to deal with in a year from now, in terms of his recruitment and the attention.
Yeah, yeah, I'm just sort of giving him some feedback that I think he needs to hear.
How about, in terms of him, physically getting in better shape or conditioning? You mentioned earlier how you wanted to tone up your body, but I thought a major turning point for you was when you lost all of that body fat during your sophomore year. It took your game to another level.
Yeah, that's a good point, but, with him, you know, it's just genetics. He's part Nigerian. So, you know, they're naturally big people.
Some of my best friends growing up were Nigerians.
Yeah, yeah, so, with him, I just tell him that he's got to improve his wind. He's got to run even better and be able to keep it up. If he can run, at his size, he doesn't really need to worry about losing weight.
He's got a bright future as well.
Yeah, he does.
Where was that when you wrote "All of my guys eat like kings?" It looked like a nice place.
Oh, (laughs) that was after the Gatorade award. I just wanted to show my teammates my support and how thankful I was for their help in getting me that award. It was a really nice place. I just wanted to show them my appreciation.
That's it for me, Jabari
Oh, thank you very much for your time.
Absolutely, I'm just glad for all your successes. I was really happy for you.
Some talents are identified early, but every year there are a few players that blossom later in life. One young man, 6'9" Marcus Lee, used his unusual mix of speed, size, and jumping ability this weekend to catapult onto every major program's radar. [private] Lee, who is a gregarious and fun-loving young man, is from Antioch, California, an East Bay city of more than one hundred thousand people.
An all-league volleyball player with a wingspan of 86", he's tried to carve out a niche as a superior shot-blocker and rebounder. This past season for his Deer Valley HS, he registered fifteen triple-doubles and averaged nearly fourteen rebounds, fourteen points, and just over nine blocks per game en route to being named co-MVP of the Bay Valley Athletic League. The Northern California big man helped the Deer Valley Wolverines win their first league title and make their first NCS title game. He ended the season on a tear registering a triple-double of twenty-one points, twelve rebounds, and eleven blocks in the NCS semi-finals and scoring twenty-two points in the title game before fouling out with with 3:54 in regulation. Offensively, he demonstrates good court vision for a big man, a trait which may be attributable to spending a little time playing some point guard for his high school team.
This past weekend, he helped the California Supreme and head coach Miles Simon, the former Arizona player and coach, go undefeated at the Minnesota leg of Nike's EYBL. Duke coaches Krzyzewski, Capel, and Wojciechowski all watched Lee, a B+ student, score twelve points, block four shots, and grab five rebounds in a win against the Louisiana Select in twenty-six minutes.
Marcus' older brother and mentor, Bryan Lee, was an all-Pacific West player at Grand Canyon University, a Division II program in Phoenix, and currently works as a technical recruiter for Google. Lee, who played last year for the Bay Area Hoosiers on the AAU circuit, credits his older brother for his development. When thinking about colleges, he's looking for a warm climate and a coach that makes him feel comfortable, in a similar manner to his AAU coach, Miles Simon.
After the last game was over, Marcus, spoke with Blue Devil Nation about a variety of issues, including Duke's interest and Miles Simon.
Let's just start with a basic one. How do you feel that you and the team played this weekend?
Oh, I feel that I played great. I love playing in the national events and the team really played well together, which helped us get wins and was probably unlike any other team here. We played really as a unit. It was just great.
Shot-blocking is obviously something that you're known for. Talk about that skill and your background in volleyball.
Oh, yeah, sure, volleyball is just a different type of jumping. It helps and I wish could explain it, but it just does.
Well, one guard that I know said that the plyometrics training in volleyball helped with his explosion for basketball.
Yeah, I think that's it.
How much of shot-blocking for you has been about improving your timing?
Yeah, well, that's been the key and volleyball has been great about that because it's all about timing. Now, that I think about volleyball also helps you to calm down and just concentrate on timing. It's very calming and you just block out other things.
So, you find it almost peaceful.
Oh, yeah, definitely.
I know that you've grown a little bit. What's your reach right now, if you happen to know?
Oh, yeah, it's 7'2."
I heard that you were trying to carve a niche as a shotblocker and rebounding specialist. Playing to your strengths to set yourself apart from some other guys.
Oh, yeah, well, I mean I started to think about blocking shots first and about how that was something that I was really good at and I'm 6'9"…So, I thought that I should first just concentrate on making myself the best at that and then the rest of my game would improve as well. It was just something that I thought I was good at and, you know, I thought why not concentrate on trying to make myself really good at that.
What position are most schools recruiting you as, a four or a five?
Dude, I just don't know.
Well, what position do prefer to play?
I just want to play. So, wherever they tell me to play, I'll go do it, man. I'm just happy to be out there.
How do you feel that your offense is coming along?
Oh, it's been great. I'm having fun. When you're having fun, you can't lose.
Let's move onto recruiting. What programs are recruiting you right now?
Everybody really. A lot of schools
What about a timeline? Do you have a time when you'd like to decide by or cut down on your list?
No, I'm in no real rush with that. I don't have any plans or anything like that.
Who will be some people that you will turn to for guidance, whenever you do decide?
Oh, yeah, my brother, Bryan, and my coach, I mean, my Uncle Mark.
I was reading that a school with warm weather is something that you were serious about. Is that accurate and will distance be a factor as well?
Oh, yeah, I've got to be in warm weather, but distance really doesn't matter or bother me.
Is there a player that you've tried to model your game after?
Actually, my brother. I've tried to model his game.
That's unique. Usually, guys will say a pro or hot college player. Were you a fan of any team growing up?
I've always been a North Carolina fan.
North Carolina?
Yeah.
Well, that may make the next question a bit rough.
(laughs) Oh, really.
What about Duke's interest in you? They watched you play a few times this weekend. How do you feel about their interest in you and would you be open to them, given your prior answer?
Oh, yeah, man, it was funny because we actually were talking them watching us for, like, the whole time while we were on the bench. It was amazing. We loved it.
Alright, well, then let me just ask if you personally would be open to them?
Oh, yeah, man, totally. I'd be way open to them. Way open!
Have you taken any visits recently and do you have any planned?
No, I haven't taken any visits recently and I actually don't have any really planned either.
Let's talk about Miles Simon and his coaching.
Oh, he's been amazing. He's very encouraging and he's a high energy guy. He's very supportive and encouraging to everybody on the team. He's always ready and prepared. He's an excellent motivator. Even when we're a bit sluggish or not ready, he'll be like, "Yeah, let's go! Let's go!" (laughs) He gets the guys energized and motivated. It's been fun to play for him.
What are you hoping to show coaches this AAU season?
I really don't know. I'm not sure.
What would you like the audience to know about you away from the court?
That I'm just a really good, chill guy.
What's your current height?
Oh, 6'9"
How does AAU compare to the high school ball for you?
Oh, everybody's much bigger and the teams are just stacked at this level. Almost every player here will be college ball at some level. Everybody's huge too.
What are your goals, short and long-term?
Just to never really get big-headed. I don't want to become someone else or ever think that I'm too good for people. To always be approachable and grounded..
What style of play do you prefer to play?
A good, chill running gazelle type of play. (laughs) Just let's run. That's what I like.
Do you actually watch a lot of basketball?
Actually, between school and basketball, I really have a hard time watching basketball. There's just not enough time.
Lastly, what will you be looking for in a college program, other than the weather?
I'll be looking for a coaching staff that's encouraging and supportive.
Like you were saying about Miles Simon?
Yeah, someone like him and a place that I can feel comfortable in and a fun place to play basketball and go to school.
By the way, where did your play basketball?
Oh, Grand Canyon University.
Thank you very much, Marcus. I know you guys are trying to catch a plane.
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