Well we can stop dreaming now....
http://espn.go.com/chicago/ncb/story/_/id/8158431/jabari-parker-nation-top-basketball-recruit-considering-10-schools-possible-landing-spots
Is Buzz losing his touch in recruiting?
Thought that Chew cat was tight with Parker. There's UK and the also rans.
I'm hoping he chooses DePaul and it wouldn't surprise me if he does.
BYU?
He's Mormon.
I believe that Jabari is Mormon.
Im not joking
Quote from: cheebs09 on July 11, 2012, 09:44:08 PM
Is Buzz losing his touch in recruiting?
Exactly when did Buzz have the in with the top prospect in the nation "touch".
Quote from: Knight Commission on July 11, 2012, 10:06:37 PM
I'm hoping he chooses DePaul and it wouldn't surprise me if he does.
Getting DePaul off the mat can only be good for the Big East.
Quote from: LittleMurs on July 11, 2012, 10:20:33 PM
Exactly when did Buzz have the in with the top prospect in the nation "touch".
I figured that didn't need teal.
Quote from: cheebs09 on July 11, 2012, 10:48:04 PM
I figured that didn't need teal.
That's three fails by my sarcasm detector in two days. This is getting embarrassing.
I'd choose Gtown or Stanford.
The best two schools on that list.
Parker would be next year's no. 1 pick if he could come out. He will play at a school that will give him the best chance to win as a freshmen and then go to the association.
So it will be Kentucky. No chance on any of the others?
Well we must have been #11...or at least TIED for #11!
Quote from: 77ncaachamps on July 12, 2012, 12:36:51 AM
I'd choose Gtown or Stanford.
The best two schools on that list.
I'd choose Kentucky, the school that sent 4 kids in the first round this year, including #1 and #2
Quote from: LAZER on July 12, 2012, 08:02:07 AM
I'd choose Kentucky, the school that sent 4 kids in the first round this year, including #1 and #2
Considering Kentucky has been landing consistent Top 10 high school players since Calipari has been there....they should have a track record of sending guys to the NBA, and high draft picks at that.
Having said that, off the top of my head - what Kentucky guys of late have really done much at the next level? John Wall? Umm..wouldn't exactly say he's been a great Number 1. DeMarcus Cousins? Not much production there. Enes Kanter? Brandon Knight?
Quote from: Ners on July 12, 2012, 08:15:33 AM
Considering Kentucky has been landing consistent Top 10 high school players since Calipari has been there....they should have a track record of sending guys to the NBA, and high draft picks at that.
Having said that, off the top of my head - what Kentucky guys of late have really done much at the next level? John Wall? Umm..wouldn't exactly say he's been a great Number 1. DeMarcus Cousins? Not much production there. Enes Kanter? Brandon Knight?
John Wall: 21
DeMarcus Cousnins: 21
Enes Kanter: 20
Brandon Knight: 19
Quote from: Ners on July 12, 2012, 08:15:33 AM
Considering Kentucky has been landing consistent Top 10 high school players since Calipari has been there....they should have a track record of sending guys to the NBA, and high draft picks at that.
Having said that, off the top of my head - what Kentucky guys of late have really done much at the next level? John Wall? Umm..wouldn't exactly say he's been a great Number 1. DeMarcus Cousins? Not much production there. Enes Kanter? Brandon Knight?
At age 21, averaging 16-8-4.5 over 2 seasons is pretty good for a #1 pick.
Also, Cousins is a complete headcase but I'd hardly call 18 points, 11 boards, 1.2 blocks and 1.5 steals "not much production."
Brandon Knight started 60 of 66 games and put up 13-4-2 as a 20-year-old rookie.
What exactly do you want from these guys to think they can play?
Quote from: cheebs09 on July 11, 2012, 09:44:08 PM
Is Buzz losing his touch in recruiting?
Buzz cooled on him.
Did anyone think we would be in his top 10???
QuoteThe Parker family expressed disappointment when Illinois fired Bruce Weber as its basketball coach this past spring, but Sonny Parker (Jabari's father) said his son was open to playing for any coach.
Hire Bruce Weber!
Quote from: Ners on July 12, 2012, 08:15:33 AM
Considering Kentucky has been landing consistent Top 10 high school players since Calipari has been there....they should have a track record of sending guys to the NBA, and high draft picks at that.
Having said that, off the top of my head - what Kentucky guys of late have really done much at the next level? John Wall? Umm..wouldn't exactly say he's been a great Number 1. DeMarcus Cousins? Not much production there. Enes Kanter? Brandon Knight?
You're really grasping at straws there. If you want to go to the NBA as a high draft pick your school is Kentucky and your coach is Calipari. I don't think it's a question. Maybe UNC, but in a few years I expect Kentucky's list to be even longer and more impressive.
Quote from: The Sultan of South Wayne on July 12, 2012, 09:13:59 AM
Did anyone think we would be in his top 10???
Considering we weren't even in his top 14 or whatever he announced earlier, I'm not sure why this is a surprise.
Quote from: LittleMurs on July 11, 2012, 10:22:16 PM
Getting DePaul off the mat can only be good for the Big East.
But bad for us. If they land him, Parker is a game-changer for them, and likely pushes us beneath them in the league standings and national rankings.
I'm curious on the perennial DePaul comments--the Big East standings are a zero-sum game, which team at the top of the standings do people expect to fall? People say "Boy, it would be great if DePaul were a good team again". If you want DePaul to move up and become one of the top teams in the league, the logical corallary to that is that MU or GU or Louisville must fall.
Quote from: Ners on July 12, 2012, 08:15:33 AM
Considering Kentucky has been landing consistent Top 10 high school players since Calipari has been there....they should have a track record of sending guys to the NBA, and high draft picks at that.
Having said that, off the top of my head - what Kentucky guys of late have really done much at the next level? John Wall? Umm..wouldn't exactly say he's been a great Number 1. DeMarcus Cousins? Not much production there. Enes Kanter? Brandon Knight?
ya kind of a really dumb statement. not only are all these kids really young, they have actually done pretty good as young pros.
bottom line is you can go to UK and play on a big time stage for a program that has a track record of lottery pick freshman.....success in the NBA ultimately is on the player.
Pretty sure Buzz knew this was no-go for awhile for many reasons. Lot of people involved with this kid and difficult to navigate all the handlers I would think.
Quote from: Ners on July 12, 2012, 08:15:33 AM
Considering Kentucky has been landing consistent Top 10 high school players since Calipari has been there....they should have a track record of sending guys to the NBA, and high draft picks at that.
Having said that, off the top of my head - what Kentucky guys of late have really done much at the next level? John Wall? Umm..wouldn't exactly say he's been a great Number 1. DeMarcus Cousins? Not much production there. Enes Kanter? Brandon Knight?
#1 Those guys are still young.
#2 They are getting PAID and they are set for life (if they plan correctly)
If I was picking a college, and they told me they had successfully made their 25%* of their students millionaires by age 20, I'd be very encouraged.
(*I don't know Cal's exact %, but he seems to have 2-3 guys per year)
Quote from: LAZER on July 12, 2012, 09:20:53 AM
You're really grasping at straws there. If you want to go to the NBA as a high draft pick your school is Kentucky and your coach is Calipari. I don't think it's a question. Maybe UNC, but in a few years I expect Kentucky's list to be even longer and more impressive.
I agree it is early for those guys, but the guys Calipari gets are guys who would be rich regardless of where they went to college. To me, the allure of Calipari is that your one year of college will be great because you will be playing with other lottery guys and can expect a big NCAA run. I think Anthony Davis would have been the number 1 pick if he went to Marquette or any school in the biggest 6 or 8 conferences.
Quote from: The Equalizer on July 12, 2012, 10:10:30 AM
But bad for us. If they land him, Parker is a game-changer for them, and likely pushes us beneath them in the league standings and national rankings.
If that's the case, then the fact that MU is not in Jabari's Top 10 is probably a good thing. (Unless you're assuming that DePaul also picks up a couple more 4 & 5 stars.)
Logic:
Jabari + 4 at Depaul > MU2013 → MU2013 ≈ "Middle of Pack" Big East
MU2013 ≈ MoP-BE → MU2013 + Jabari ≠ 2014 Final Four
Jabari = 1 & Done ⇒ ⊤
∴ MU2013 + Jabari ≠ 2014 Final Four & MU2014 ∌ Jabari → Last 2013 Scholly to 1&D < Last 2013 Scholly to a project.
In other words (if I did that right), if MU isn't capable of beating a Jabari-led DePaul team next year, then MU is better off spending its last 2013 scholly on a project than a 1 & done.
Quote from: CTWarrior on July 12, 2012, 11:35:48 AM
I agree it is early for those guys, but the guys Calipari gets are guys who would be rich regardless of where they went to college. To me, the allure of Calipari is that your one year of college will be great because you will be playing with other lottery guys and can expect a big NCAA run. I think Anthony Davis would have been the number 1 pick if he went to Marquette or any school in the biggest 6 or 8 conferences.
+1
If your intention is to go to school only one year, why wouldn't you go to Kentucky?
Quote from: Goose on July 12, 2012, 11:10:24 AM
Pretty sure Buzz knew this was no-go for awhile for many reasons. Lot of people involved with this kid and difficult to navigate all the handlers I would think.
Jabari's one and only handler is his father, Sonny Parker.
Quote from: Guns n Ammo on July 12, 2012, 11:20:39 AM
#1 Those guys are still young.
#2 They are getting PAID and they are set for life (if they plan correctly)
If I was picking a college, and they told me they had successfully made their 25%* of their students millionaires by age 20, I'd be very encouraged.
(*I don't know Cal's exact %, but he seems to have 2-3 guys per year)
So, of the 5,000 or so who enroll at Kentucky each year, you're saying only 8 to 12 are students. Sounds about right.
Jabari Parker recruiting news should be barred to superbar. At least until he commits.
Quote from: AnotherMU84 on July 12, 2012, 11:47:49 AM
+1
If your intention is to go to school only one year, why wouldn't you go to Kentucky?
exactly, great basketball, hot chicks, and low academic standards... its a dream.
From everything I've read that he says it seems like he would put his religion first or go to a lesser, closer program than to be a typical one and done UNC Duke or UK player. He is still strongly considering BYU and I remember awhile back that MSU was supposedly in the lead for him? Don't know if they are now.
Quote from: Hards_Alumni on July 12, 2012, 12:26:45 PM
exactly, great basketball, hot chicks, and low academic standards... its a dream.
Except if you are religous, care about academics, your dad is already a millionaire and will be the #1 lottery pick no matter where you go. MSU is the leader supposedly.
Quote from: Benny B on July 12, 2012, 11:44:55 AM
If that's the case, then the fact that MU is not in Jabari's Top 10 is probably a good thing. (Unless you're assuming that DePaul also picks up a couple more 4 & 5 stars.)
I think its logical to think that DePaul will pick up a couple more 4- or 5-stars who want to play with Parker. They already have one 4-star commit in Billy Garrett Jr. Maybe Nunn wants to join them? BeeJay Anya? Purnell has a long list of 4- and 5- star prospects.
Quote from: Benny B on July 12, 2012, 11:44:55 AM
Logic:
Jabari + 4 at Depaul > MU2013 → MU2013 ≈ "Middle of Pack" Big East
Jabari won't arrive at DePaul until the 2014 season, so I'm not sure what you meant by comparing to MU 2013. I think when all the recruiting is done, (DePaul + Jabari in 2014) > MU 2014.
Quote from: Benny B on July 12, 2012, 11:44:55 AM
MU2013 ≈ MoP-BE → MU2013 + Jabari ≠ 2014 Final Four
I don't follow.
If we landed Jabari for 2014, I think we'd be a contender for a final four. We will lose Cadougan (and have an even keel replacement by Wilson) and Lockett (where Parker will be an improvment), add Burton & McKay, plus year-over-year improvement in everyone else.
If DePaul landed Parker and one or two more 4- or 5-stars, and Melvin sticks around, I think they're better in 2014 than our 2014 team.
Then, assuming if Parker is a one and done for DePaul in 2014, they'll have a dropoff. But we're also in for a down year after losing Otule, JWilson, Blue and Gardner. And they might still be better than us in 2015 if the supporting cast that comes in with Parker is better than Burton and Duane Wilson.
Quote from: Benny B on July 12, 2012, 11:44:55 AM
∴ MU2013 + Jabari ≠ 2014 Final Four & MU2014 ∌ Jabari → Last 2013 Scholly to 1&D < Last 2013 Scholly to a project.
Problem is that we're out of scholarhips for 2014 if you assume that Otule is going to get an additional year.
I'd accept a transfer (or not applying for Otule's waiver) to get a player like Parker in 2014. But I don't think I'd take a project right now knowing that it means either Otule or another player will not be on the 2014 team.
Quote from: Benny B on July 12, 2012, 11:44:55 AM
In other words (if I did that right), if MU isn't capable of beating a Jabari-led DePaul team next year, then MU is better off spending its last 2013 scholly on a project than a 1 & done.
Regardless of what Parker decides regarding DePaul, I don't think I'd take a project now. Our roster for 2014 is set, and should only change for a significant upgrade--not a project.
Bottom line--I don't see any good for us if DePaul lands Parker.
So ... what everybody here is saying is that Jabari is pretty much a lock for Marquette, right?
Quote from: The Equalizer on July 12, 2012, 01:39:05 PM
Jabari won't arrive at DePaul until the 2014 season, so I'm not sure what you meant by comparing to MU 2013. I think when all the recruiting is done, (DePaul + Jabari in 2014) > MU 2014.
Jabari is a senior this year. Unless you know something about his academics that we don't, he's part of the 2013 recruiting class.
Quote from: The Equalizer on July 12, 2012, 01:39:05 PM
If we landed Jabari for 2014, I think we'd be a contender for a final four. We will lose Cadougan (and have an even keel replacement by Wilson) and Lockett (where Parker will be an improvment), add Burton & McKay, plus year-over-year improvement in everyone else.
I'll admit that I haven't seen Jabari play, but it's pretty bold to say that ONE player - a freshman, no less - is good enough to be the difference between mediocrity and the Final Four (in MU's case) or between the dog house and better-than-mediocre (in DePaul's case).
Quote from: MU82 on July 12, 2012, 01:45:32 PM
So ... what everybody here is saying is that Jabari is pretty much a lock for Marquette, right?
Why, has he posted a pic in Marquette gear?
Quote from: 4everwarriors on July 12, 2012, 02:04:46 PM
Why, has he posted a pic in Marquette gear?
He tweeted something that one of Marquette's recruits looked at once. It's in the bag.
Quote from: CTWarrior on July 12, 2012, 11:35:48 AM
I agree it is early for those guys, but the guys Calipari gets are guys who would be rich regardless of where they went to college. To me, the allure of Calipari is that your one year of college will be great because you will be playing with other lottery guys and can expect a big NCAA run. I think Anthony Davis would have been the number 1 pick if he went to Marquette or any school in the biggest 6 or 8 conferences.
I'll agree with you on that. With the likes of Wall, Rose, Kidd-Gilchrist and in this case Parker they'd probably be in the NBA regardless. But Calipari gets ALL of his guys into the NBA. His success rate is unbelievable. I'd say Calapari's real value would be to a Top 50 recruit. Those guys playing on other squads are a crapshoot to make it to the NBA, on UK they've got a real good shot.
Quote from: KenoshaWarrior on July 11, 2012, 10:11:15 PM
I believe that Jabari is Mormon.
Im not joking
He is a devout Mormon and there is concern about whether or not he should take his Mission as he is considered a likely 1 and done.
Quote from: muhoops1 on July 12, 2012, 03:27:40 PM
He is a devout Mormon and there is concern about whether or not he should take his Mission as he is considered a likely 1 and done.
Couldn't he just reach out to all of Shawn Kemp's kids during his rookie season and double dip?
Quote from: Benny B on July 12, 2012, 02:02:57 PM
Jabari is a senior this year. Unless you know something about his academics that we don't, he's part of the 2013 recruiting class.
Correct. But that means his first year in college is for the 2014 season. 2013 never comes into play for either MU or DePaul.
Quote from: Benny B on July 12, 2012, 02:02:57 PM
I'll admit that I haven't seen Jabari play, but it's pretty bold to say that ONE player - a freshman, no less - is good enough to be the difference between mediocrity and the Final Four (in MU's case) or between the dog house and better-than-mediocre (in DePaul's case).
Two words: Cody Zellar. ;)
But its not just "ONE" player--they have a commitment from PG Billy Garrett who ESPN has at #61 (compared to #58 Duane Wilson, who many here are already drooling over). Plus Cleveland Melvin will be a senior. Plus they're in the running for Kendrick Nunn (who we well know), as well as for BeeJay Anya, ESPN's top rated Center (#13 overall). Plus, they're still recruiting another half-dozen four and five star recruits.
And my belief is that if one piece falls into place, others are likely to follow.
Quote from: The Equalizer on July 12, 2012, 03:34:19 PM
Correct. But that means his first year in college is for the 2014 season. 2013 never comes into play for either MU or DePaul.
Two words: Cody Zellar. ;)
But its not just "ONE" player--they have a commitment from PG Billy Garrett who ESPN has at #61 (compared to #58 Duane Wilson, who many here are already drooling over). Plus Cleveland Melvin will be a senior. Plus they're in the running for Kendrick Nunn (who we well know), as well as for BeeJay Anya, ESPN's top rated Center (#13 overall). Plus, they're still recruiting another half-dozen four and five star recruits.
And my belief is that if one piece falls into place, others are likely to follow.
Two even better words, better illustrating a 1-and-done, Final Four-ready player:
Carmelo Anthony.
Quote from: The Equalizer on July 12, 2012, 10:10:30 AM
But bad for us. If they land him, Parker is a game-changer for them, and likely pushes us beneath them in the league standings and national rankings.
I'm curious on the perennial DePaul comments--the Big East standings are a zero-sum game, which team at the top of the standings do people expect to fall? People say "Boy, it would be great if DePaul were a good team again". If you want DePaul to move up and become one of the top teams in the league, the logical corallary to that is that MU or GU or Louisville must fall.
But Parker is in all likelihood a one-and-done, so I doubt that signing with DePaul autromatically dooms us to also-ran status.
Quote from: MU82 on July 12, 2012, 04:53:39 PM
Two even better words, better illustrating a 1-and-done, Final Four-ready player:
Carmelo Anthony.
Derrick Rose, too.
That said, Hakim Warrick, Gerry McNamara, Chris Douglas-Roberts and Joey Dorsey probably won't be playing for DePaul.
And, more importantly, Oliver Purnell won't learn how to coach like Jim Boeheim and John Calipari.
He ain't goin' to no DePaul.
Quote from: The Equalizer on July 12, 2012, 03:34:19 PM
Correct. But that means his first year in college is for the 2014 season. 2013 never comes into play for either MU or DePaul.
Two words: Cody Zellar. ;)
But its not just "ONE" player--they have a commitment from PG Billy Garrett who ESPN has at #61 (compared to #58 Duane Wilson, who many here are already drooling over). Plus Cleveland Melvin will be a senior. Plus they're in the running for Kendrick Nunn (who we well know), as well as for BeeJay Anya, ESPN's top rated Center (#13 overall). Plus, they're still recruiting another half-dozen four and five star recruits.
And my belief is that if one piece falls into place, others are likely to follow.
To your first point, semantics. He is part of the 2013 recruiting class, not the "class" of 2013. If you want to refer to the season by the year in which it ends, fine. But look at the context next time.
To your second point, 1) IU didn't go to the final four this year and 2) Zeller wasn't even IU's top scorer in most of their biggest games this year. Heck, Zeller wasn't even the most dominant freshman player in the NCAA this year. Without Zeller, IU gets more minutes from Pritchard (whose stats as a freshman aren't too far off of Zeller's stats this year) and likely still makes the tournament.
Just to point out that DePaul still has a long way to go. Billy Garrett is the assistant coach's son and verballed a year and a half ago...but that hasn't opened any flood gates yet. Neither Rivals nor Scout list BeeJay Anya with DePaul, but ESPN list them with his other 15 schools he whittled down to. Nunn is waiting for Parker to see if he can raise his lot. I think Parker and DPU is a possibility but a long shot. Surprised Illinois did not make his final 10.
Quote from: Dr. Blackheart on July 12, 2012, 07:54:26 PM
Just to point out that DePaul still has a long way to go. Billy Garrett is the assistant coach's son and verballed a year and a half ago...but that hasn't opened any flood gates yet. Neither Rivals nor Scout list BeeJay Anya with DePaul, but ESPN list them with his other 15 schools he whittled down to. Nunn is waiting for Parker to see if he can raise his lot. I think Parker and DPU is a possibility but a long shot. Surprised Illinois did not make his final 10.
Parker did the Illini a favor by not including Illinois. If he strung them along, the fanbase and media would have thought there was a legitimate shot, which would have been killer when he threw a UNC hat on during the selection broadcast.
Quote from: PTM on July 12, 2012, 08:24:31 PM
Parker did the Illini a favor by not including Illinois. If he strung them along, the fanbase and media would have thought there was a legitimate shot, which would have been killer when he threw a UNC hat on during the selection broadcast.
And, here I was thinking Anya (DeMatha coach played for Purnell at ODU) and Parker left DPU on their list to give Purnell some buzz.
Quote from: Dr. Blackheart on July 12, 2012, 08:56:02 PM
And, here I was thinking Anya (DeMatha coach played for Purnell at ODU) and Parker left DPU on their list to give Purnell some buzz.
DePaul would benefit from such, Illini think they are a top ten program. Different delusions.
Quote from: ecompt on July 12, 2012, 05:40:26 PM
But Parker is in all likelihood a one-and-done, so I doubt that signing with DePaul autromatically dooms us to also-ran status.
It doesn't doom us, but it certainly doesn't help us, either, as so many here seem to think.
DePaul has sucked for most of the last decade, which coincided with arguably the strongest sustained performance for Marquette since the 1970's.
Quote from: 4everwarriors on July 12, 2012, 06:05:40 PM
He ain't goin' to no DePaul.
Could not have said it better myself.
LittleMurs
I think there may be many more folks in the mix running behind Sonny. Agreed that many of the "handlers" are self appointed but this a complicated recruitment from what I have heard.
Ya know, I can't say that I've ever seen Jabari in any of MU's top ten lists either.
I would be very surprised if it isn't Michigan State, Duke, or Kentucky, and even a little bit surprised if it is Kentucky. I know DePaul is close to home, but I think that's the only reason they're on the list, throwing the token bone (just like he did with BYU as a Mormon).
When they changed the rules on text messages a month or so back, his family came out and said that only one college coach has Jabari's new number. I would bet my paycheck it's either K or Izzo, and whichever it is will be getting Parker, even if he's going through the "list" formality.
Michigan State...
Stone cold, lead pipe, lock!
I believe that in the past when DePaul went up as MU went down and vice versa and I argued that an improving DePaul hurts MU. I now think the Big East needs a strong DePaul and that is more important than a possible negative effect on MU. Buzz has shown the ability to recruit nationally, so DePaul starting to sign some better Chicago recruits does not hurt MU as much as it would have in the past. Given that MU has no chance at Parker, I do not mind DePaul getting him. However, the negative effect would be if they got Nunn. That is assuming that Nunn would go to MU, if he did not go to DePaul.
Quote from: brewcity77 on July 14, 2012, 02:38:47 PMWhen they changed the rules on text messages a month or so back, his family came out and said that only one college coach has Jabari's new number. I would bet my paycheck it's either K or Izzo, and whichever it is will be getting Parker, even if he's going through the "list" formality.
I would bet pretty much everything I own that it's Oliver Purnell. Either that, or Billy Garrett, Sr. is the nation's worst assistant coach.
Quote from: chr31ter on July 14, 2012, 09:29:48 PM
I would bet pretty much everything I own that it's Oliver Purnell. Either that, or Billy Garrett, Sr. is the nation's worst assistant coach.
Yeah, no.
If it makes you feel better about DePaul though feel free to keep that delusion going.
Quote from: PTM on July 14, 2012, 10:09:21 PM
Yeah, no.
If it makes you feel better about DePaul though feel free to keep that delusion going.
I hold no delusions about DePaul's chances with Jabari Parker. I'd say they're better than most people think, but really slim.
That said, if there's one coach in America that has Jabari's cell phone number, it's DePaul assistant Billy Garrett. And if Garrett's got it, then Purnell's got it, although I doubt he uses it out of respect for the process.
From today's Chicago Tribune...
One day as Mark Aguirre was taking the L from his West Side home to DePaul for another recruiting visit that included a Cubs game, the feeling hit him. Aguirre still struggles to describe the sensation now, almost 35 years later.
"I just suddenly realized Chicago was for me,'' recalled Aguirre, one of the nation's top high school players at Westinghouse in 1978. "Can't explain it. I could have gone to any school I wanted but enjoyed the fact that rarely are you going to play in a big city where everybody knows you like that. The more I thought about it, Chicago was who I am, in my blood, comfortable. I loved it so I stayed.''
Nobody knows whether similar sentiments will strike Simeon's Jabari Parker in the coming months as America's best high school basketball player decides on a college. But Parker captured a city's imagination last week by including DePaul on a list of schools he narrowed to 10: Kentucky, Stanford, Michigan State, Kansas, Florida, Duke, BYU, Georgetown and North Carolina.
It was like seeing Two-Buck Chuck included on a list of fine wines.
Suddenly, DePaul creative-writing professors had their perfect summer-school assignment: Imagine how the most welcome Lincoln Parker since Aguirre could revive college basketball in Chicago. Immediately, DePaul coach Oliver Purnell had hope, not to mention a boost to recruiting credibility. Naturally, Aguirre had a smile on his face drawing parallels between his experience as a hometown star influenced by geography and Parker's.
"I don't know how Jabari's thinking but I can say he's never going to have the audience he has now in Chicago, no matter where he goes,'' said Aguirre, 52. "This is a rare opportunity. I know what he's thinking: 'Who do I want to play with to turn it around?' If Jabari committed to DePaul, they would start getting All-American recruits. All it takes is one. He would be the beginning of a new time.''
Times have changed in college basketball since DePaul landed Aguirre, its biggest local recruit ever, and followed the chubby freshman to the Final Four. Aguirre left for the NBA after his junior year — two more seasons than most people expect Parker to stay. The one-and-done trend favors NBA-apprentice programs led by coaches with more proven track records of quickly developing lottery picks. How does DePaul compete, for example, with Kentucky coach John Calipari promising Parker he can do for him what he did for Olympian Anthony Davis?
"Coach Cal knows what the NBA is about and that's big,'' Aguirre acknowledged. "On the other hand, if you're going to be a pro, you're going to be a pro.''
Other factors besides location provide DePaul inherent advantages. Close family friend Billy Garrett Jr. of Morgan Park, a former AAU teammate, already committed to DePaul — where his father, Billy Sr. is an assistant. Another grade-school buddy, Cory Dolins of Niles West, will walk-on for the Blue Demons next season.
Parker attended several DePaul games last season. His parents showed up for DePaul's Midnight Madness last year when their son was out of town with USA Basketball. The relationships the family has built within the basketball program suggest Parker still considering DePaul goes beyond lip service.
Buoying spirits even more along Belden Avenue, Parker told the Associated Press at an awards dinner last week in Los Angeles he would factor distance from home into his decision.
"I don't want my family waking up at 12 o'clock in the morning just to watch my games," Parker said. "But then again I have to go with which program fits me the best and what system and style of play is going to allow me to expand my game out in the pros."
It all sounds tantalizing: Parker expands his game, DePaul extends its reach. Would Parker's presence bring more blue-chippers to DePaul? More fans too? Would his commitment expedite the campus arena project?
Bobby Simmons believes in the positive ripple effect created by Chicago players choosing DePaul. Back in 1997, Simmons (Simeon), Lance Williams (Julian) and Quentin Richardson (Young) – the Parker of the 1990s – conspired to reinvest in Lincoln Park. Rejuvenation followed.
"We wanted to do something different and finally said to each other, 'Let's put our eggs in one basket and make it happen,'' Simmons said. "As young men growing into adults, having the backing you get in your hometown made our transition period that much easier.''
As legitimate as mutual interest seems I still wonder if DePaul has a better chance of winning the Big East next year than signing Parker. Similar skepticism comes from ESPN recruiting analyst Dave Telep, who called DePaul a "very dark horse candidate.''
"We need to keep things in perspective: 10 schools is an abnormal amount for a final list,'' Telep said. "They have the local angle going for them but you have to be reasonable because so much heavy national traffic is in front of them.''
Taking the city streets to DePaul sure would be the road less traveled for Parker — and for the Blue Demons it could make all the difference.