re: Jabari Parker Signing Day Thread.

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Here is my take on Parker. I have watched him play 3 full games, not counting his game against DeSoto last week, which he shouldn't have played. It was irresponsible to send a kid who is 40 pounds over game weight into a game against an elite opponent, when he is coming off a broken foot. His coach should know better.

But based on the first 3 games, he is not as good as the hype. He got the SI cover last year as the best high schooler since LeBron. He is not that guy. He is ranked second in a class that is loaded at the top. He is not that good.

He has played on a great team for the past 3 years. They won 3 straight state titles. That is amazing, in a competitive state like Chicago, and Parker has been their best player. He is obviously a top 10 to top 20 talent in any given year (probably top 5 in last year's dismal class). But his stats aren't incredible. I am not just talking about the volume numbers, something like 20 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, etc. THat's fine if you play for Findlay or Oak Hill, and Simeon is as good as those teams, imo.

However, his efficiency numbers aren't great. He shoots 45 percent from the field. His AAU numbers are similar. He doesn't excel at anything but is solid at all facets of the game. I expect more than that from the "best high school player since LeBron."

I have watched him play 6 halves. In only one of them was he a transcendent talent, in the first half of a game against Miller Grove last year. Other than that game, he's missed too many shots for my liking and while a good passer and ballhandler, he isn't anywhere near the level of LeBron or even Durant (and I mean Durant at Montrose).

With all that being said, I think he will start from Day 1 at Duke, MSU, UF, etc. But if he goes to Duke, he won't be their best player next year. Or maybe even their second best. Not that it will have any impact on his draft stock because scouts buy into hype as much as message board posters.

If I have to give a prediction about where he lands, I'll say Duke because of a tweet from Duke Forum last night. Those guys are mostly alums and broke the story about Seth Curry's shins weeks before the national media. Last night, they said multiple sources from the university said Coach K was told to expect a commitment to Duke today. But we'll see. I don't think Parker is lying, but Harrison Barnes lied to the faces of coaches for several weeks and never informed him of his actual decision.

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