Parker fitting in quickly at Duke But Krzyzewski doesn't want former Simeon star to feel too much pressure
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/chi-jabari-parker-duke-basketball-20131016,0,496706.story Jabari Parker's page is last in the section of the Duke media guide devoted to players. His new teammates describe him blithely as fun, enamored with video games and a hard worker in the gym. They say there is nothing remarkable about his fitting in.
"He's regular," Duke forward Rodney Hood said at ACC basketball media day Wednesday. "Just a regular kid."
Parker, of course, is expected to be anything but regular for the Blue Devils. The 6-foot-8 four-time state champion, two-time Illinois Mr. Basketball and McDonald's All-American has prototypical one-and-done potential and will be an essential Duke cog in the refashioned ACC.
But the way to hurry up and get there involves some slowing down.
"Whenever a youngster comes in with outstanding talent like he has, but a learning curve like all of them do, they would always benefit from going to a veteran team," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "That's not going to be the case for Jabari.
"He has a lot to learn, and he wants to learn. But who he is initially will not be as good as he will be later in the year. I just want him to not feel the pressure of trying to be a completed product right away. Because that's not going to happen."
Still, guard Tyler Thornton described Parker — voted Wednesday to the preseason All-ACC team and named preseason rookie of the year — as "really special." Hood labeled him a "phenomenal talent." The former Simeon star and No. 4 recruit in the Class of 2013 apparently has been effective at the point, from the wing and in the post in workouts.
Parker can do it all, but the next step is learning when not to.
"We're just trying to teach him to take what the defense gives you," Thornton said. "At this level, you don't really have to make something happen. We're going to have a lot of possessions. Coach wants us to score a lot. But (Parker is) really good and has done a great job of adapting."
