[Bryant24Participant]

I seen a lot of topics on Jabari Parker here all highlights of him at the swish n dish spring tournament he led his team to the semifinals where they lost to the eventual champions Chicago mean streets.

[For_Never_EverParticipant]

 Reminds me of Kevin Durant a bit.

[seniokasParticipant]

He is incredibly skilled for a player his age. Damn, he is incredibly skilled as a basketball player whatever his age is. By the way the truth is he is a month younger than Andrew Wiggins.

I have probably seen every highlight of Parker in youtube and he looks a bit more bouncy and a bit skinnier than he was. That is really good sign that he still has some athletism reserves left, because his only bigger weakness as a potential NBA star is his only above average athletism ( above average as a NBA player ).

I maybe hyping him but I think he is already NBA level player with outstanding size ( 6’8.5 w/ shoes 7′ wingspan measured in Durant’s academy ) and top notch skillset he just has to continue getting better and maximizing athletic abilities.

[MalcolmxParticipant]

 This kid a problem,every highlight he looks better. He is so big with a smooth shot

[Maniac MaciejParticipant]

Saw him play in person earlier this year. He’s one of those players that’s hard to get a feel for how good he really is, because he is clearly a man among boys at the high school level.

The thing that impressed me most was how easy the game looked for him…not just scoring the ball, but passing, playing off the ball, defense, etc.

[M-EazyParticipant]

Does he still play AAU for Mac Irvin?!  Can’t wait to see him again if he plays for them when they come down to Hampton, VA for Session #2 of the EYBL.  Hopefully I’ll get to see the Parker (#1 SF) vs Troy Williams (#2 SF) matchup finally.

[scbe2223Participant]

 Dude has incredible body control from what I can tell. That’s big for a young prospect

[Moon RiverParticipant]

Will be very upset if Groce does not land this kid in Champaign.  Welcome to the pressure cooker of desparate times of Illinois college basketball coach.

[M-EazyParticipant]

Illini Nation should already start getting mad because no way he goes there.  They lost all chances by firing their coach…I remember reading Parker has known Webber since 5th grade.  It will be interesting to see if Parker can escape the allure of Kentucky and Calipari. 

One big deciding factor in Parker’s decision has to be where Troy Williams (#2 SF) goes, because he’s scheduled to announce his decision between now and mid-May and Williams will pick between UK, UNC, and Georgetown.  Everyone around the city is saying Williams will go to UK.

[Moon RiverParticipant]

Has spent the past few year getting close to the Parker family as well and was hoping that might put him in the mix for the Illini job.  Clearly it didn’t because he did not get a formal interview.

Parker is a clear as a one and done as there is, so not sure why he would go to Champagin either.  Cannot wait for the backlash from the boosters.

[DanEboyParticipant]

Just because Parker knew Weber since fifth grade doesn’t mean he was going there. Remember, Jon Scheyer played for Weber’s brother in high school and ditched him for Duke. DePaul has a better shot in landing him than the Illini do, and they don’t have a shot.

[tuck243Participant]

 this site has him as the same athlete as Harrison Barnes…  Which is simply untrue…  Either Harrison is a 7 on that and quickness or Jabari is a 9 on both…   I just don’t see how they are equal…  Harrison don’t dunk on dudes and his first step is EXTREMELY slow…  Jabari has handles no doubt but he also is quicker than what this website says he is…

[Bill Walton’s KneesParticipant]

Michigan St

[Bill Walton’s KneesParticipant]

He won Nat’l Gatorade POY btw

 

http://espn.go.com/high-school/boys-basketball/story/_/id/7804376/jabari-parker-named-gatorade-national-boys-basketball-player-year

 

 

CHICAGO — For years, Simeon Career Academy junior Jabari Parker has lived by the mantra "basketball is what I do, not who I am."

 

 

Thursday, that combination of "what" and "who" made Parker part of a prep sports legacy when he was named the 2011-12 Gatorade National Boys’ Basketball Player of the Year. Parker was surprised with the news in his Spanish class by seven-time NBA All-Star Alonzo Mourning, who earned Gatorade National Player of the Year honors in 1987-88.

 

 

Gatorade Player of the Year

See which other top high school student-athletes have earned Gatorade Player of the Year honors for 2011-12.

• Player of the Year homepage
• State Football Players of the Year
• National Football Player of the Year
• State Volleyball Players of the Year
• National Volleyball Player of the Year
• State Girls XC Runners of the Year
• National Girls XC Runner of the Year
• State Boys XC Runners of the Year
• National Boys XC Runner of the Year
• State Girls Soccer Players of the Year
• State Boys Soccer Players of the Year
• State Girls Hoop Players of the Year
• National Girls Hoop Player of the Year
• State Boys Hoop Players of the Year

"Can you say, ‘I am excited,’ in Spanish?" said Mourning, an Olympic gold medalist who was twice named the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year. "Congratulations. This is an extraordinary honor you truly deserve. Now tell me how many times you’ve dunked on your dad (former NBA forward Sonny Parker)."

 

 

"Can we get back to class now?" said the 6-foot-8 Parker, who turned 17 in March after leading the Wolverines to a third consecutive Class 4A state championship. "Seriously, this award means more to me than any other. I can think of a lot of guys who probably deserve this more, but I’m lucky and I’m honored."

 

 

Parker is only the fourth non-senior to capture the Gatorade National Boys’ Basketball Player of the Year trophy in the award’s history. He joins former two-time winners LeBron James (2001-02 and 2002-03), Greg Oden (2004-05 and 2005-06) andBrandon Knight (2008-09 and 2009-10).

 

 

A 220-pound junior wing, Parker led the Wolverines to a 33-1 record and a three-peat as state champions this season. He averaged 20.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 3.4 blocks and 1.5 steals per game, shooting 55 percent from the field, 39 percent from 3-point range and 72 percent from the free-throw line.

 

 

 

Last summer, Parker averaged 15.4 points and 6.4 rebounds for USA Basketball’s U16 National Team during an unbeaten, five-game run to the 2011 FIBA Americas U16 Championship, capturing tournament MVP honors. In the opening game against Brazil, he set a USA men’s U16 single-game scoring record with 27 points. Parker also earned USA Basketball’s prestigious 2011 Male Athlete of the Year award, becoming the youngest player ever to earn that distinction.

 

 

"Jabari is a once-in-a-lifetime player and person," said Paul Biancardi, ESPN’s National Director of Basketball Recruiting. "As a person, he is incredible, humble and hard-working, regardless of his accolades.

 

 

"On the court, he influences the game with his unique ability to be both a scorer and a facilitator. The versatility allows him to score in the paint and on the perimeter. He possesses outstanding size, combined with an accurate shooting touch from deep, and has added a midrange game that makes him hard to defend. His ball-handling and passing are exceptional, as he seldom gets rattled. His overall basketball IQ and instincts to play the game at a high level at such a young age make him very special with a very bright future."

 

 

[+] Enlarge

Steven Maikoski-USA BasketballJabari Parker is the Gatorade National Boys’ Basketball Player of the Year.

Parker is now a finalist for the Gatorade Male High School Athlete of the Year award, to be presented at a special ceremony prior to The ESPY Awards in July. The Gatorade Player of the Year award recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the court. ESPNHS manages the award’s selection process.

 

 

Parker has maintained a 3.63 weighted GPA in the classroom and ranks 18th in his class of 377 students. The principal-appointed President of Student Representatives with the Local School Council, he donates his time as a youth basketball instructor and has volunteered locally with Operation PUSH (People United to Serve Humanity), the Salvation Army and the New Beginnings Church. He is also a seminary bible study student and a senior citizen youth ambassador in association with the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints Hyde Park Ward. He will begin his senior year of high school this fall and remains undecided on a college destination.

 

 

Recent Gatorade National Boys’ Basketball Player of the Year alumni include Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star forward Kevin Love (2006-07), Philadelphia 76ers guard Jrue Holiday (2007-08), University of Florida All-SEC guard Bradley Beal (2010-11) and two-time winner Knight.

 

 

Parker becomes the 14th prep athlete from Illinois to earn Gatorade National Player of the Year recognition in any sport in the award’s 27-year history. The state has produced multiple national winners in volleyball, boys’ cross country, boys’ soccer and girls’ basketball, including two-time honoree and former WNBA MVP Candace Parker of Naperville Central (2002-03 and 2003-04), but Parker is the first in boys’ basketball.

 

 

Only three states (California, Texas and Florida) have produced more Gatorade national winners than Illinois. Simeon baseball standout and former Major League Baseball first-round draft pick Jeff Jackson became the first winner from Illinois (1988-89). Most recently, Carl Sandburg (Orland Park, Ill.) distance talent and professional triathlete Lukas Verzbicas won National Boys’ Cross Country Runner of the Year honors in 2010-11.

[paradigmnParticipant]

Must be pretty nice to have Alonzo Mourning bring you the award during Spanish Class….VIVA JABARI PARKER!!!

[Ghost01Participant]

Duke or UK

[akhan786Participant]

He’s a great great kid. Started and manages a bible study class early in the morning every week at school.

Also, when he was a sophomore and freshman he used to sit at the end of the bench when Simeon’s JV played and would hand out water to his teammates….

Wow. How many highly touted players would even THINK of doing something like that. Class act, I’ll root for him wherever he goes, but I hear Duke is sitting very pretty in regards to Jabari 🙂

[GrandmamaParticipant]

I watched a few of his games on tv this year. A couple of his public league playoff games, and the state championship game. He can score at will. He has a great mid-range game, good handles, great size, and decent athleticism. He’s a lot like Carmelo in my mind. He’s also a pretty smart kid with a good head on his shoulders. The sky is the limit.

[M-EazyParticipant]

I heard from a player on the AAU circuit familliar with Mac Irvin EYBL team that Jabari Parker has Northwestern at the top of his list…WOW!

[Author]

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