Jabari Parker, the No. 2 prospect in the Class of 2013, will announce his college decision at 3 p.m. on Dec. 20 at Chicago Simeon High School, and his father says he’s likely headed to Duke or Michigan State.
“He hasn’t told me where,” Sonny Parker told USA Today. “I didn’t ask him. It’s kind of hard to say. He’s like(d) all the schools we’ve visited. He’s hard to read sometimes. He keeps things to himself, so I don’t put any pressure on him. I think it will probably be…between Duke and Michigan State. That’s what I’m thinking.”
The 6-foot-8 Parker is also considering Florida, BYU and Stanford. He was moved to the No. 2 player in the Class of 2013 after Andrew Wiggins reclassified from 2014.
“He mentioned that he wanted to do it that day [Dec. 20],” Sonny confirmed to SNY.tv by phone after the news was first reported by Joe Henrickson of City/Suburban Hoop Report. “They play Monday, Wednesday and Friday so Thursday is a good day for him to make his announcement.”
Asked if Jabari had made up his mind, Sonny told SNY.tv, “I’m sure he pretty much made up his mind. Other than that he said he’s going to do it next week Thursday, I didn’t ask him which school. I’ll let him make that announcement himself.”
Sonny said his son had visited every school officially except Stanford “but he visited them twice unofficially.”
Parker is a Mormon and could go on a Mission, although it is unclear if he would do so before college or during college. If he were to go next year before college, it is possible he could never attend college and go straight to the NBA after the mission. The Church of Latter Day Saints recently lowered the age for missions from 19 to 18.
“He’s a part of the church, he’s LDS,” Sonny said. “That’s always going to be there.”
Sonny said Jabari simply wants to get the hectic recruiting process over with.
“The season is up on him and he just wants to concentrate and focus on his senior year and get that behind him,” he said. “He’s handling it well. It’s just overbearing with these questions.”
**Parker and Simeon will face Duke-bound Matt Jones of DeSoto in Dallas on Thursday at 9:30 p.m. on ESPN.
