Most NBA scouts and GM’s agree that after the first month of the NCAA season, Duke forward Jabari Parker is hands-down the most NBA ready among the star quartet of superstar collegiate freshmen that includes Andrew Wiggins, Julius Randle, and Aaron Gordon.
He’s averaging an impressive 23 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 blocks on the season, including scoring 20 or more points in his first 7 games as a Blue Devil.
Unlike Wiggins, Jabari has clearly shown he has the alpha male gene, capable of taking over a game at any time, making him the early frontrunner for the top pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.
Everyone simply assumes that Parker, along with rest of his fellow superstar frosh brethren are merely making the mandatory one season pit-stop in the college ranks before taking their rather sizable talents to the NBA in the form of franchise changing lottery picks.
But while upwards of 10 NBA teams are in “tank mode” to secure the services of one of these basketball phenoms, what happens if the top rated player decides to return to college for another season?
It is possible. Case in point Oklahoma State guard Marcus Smart, who returned for his sophomore season after skipping last year’s draft and potentially being the top PG selected, passing on millions for another year of the college experience.
When considering the fact that Coach K has already assembled the top ranked recruiting class in 2014, led by probable top 2015 NBA pick Jahlil Okafor and top rated floor general Tyus Jones, Justice Winslow, and Grayson Allen, a returning Parker would undoubtedly make the Blue Devils the preseason favorite to win the National Title.
Parker and Okafor are very familiar with each other, both hailing from Chicago, playing on the same Mac Irvin AAU squad, and were teammates last Summer on the U-17 Team USA squad that won the World Championship.
Parker is already referring to Okafor, Jones, Winslow, and himself as “we” when talking about how much of an impact a stationary old school big man like the 6’11 and 280lb Okafor could make next season………
“He can bring a lot to the table. “We’ll have a true big even though me and Amile Jefferson and other guys can play that position. But we’ll have a true big that’s stationary and in that position.”
For now, the Cameron Crazies can always dream of just how potent a Parker, Okafor, Winslow combo would be next season.
Allen Moll has been a lifelong NBA and NCAA College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously, and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen has also provided content to Bleacherreport.com, Upperdeckblog.com, Cleveland.com, CSN Philly.com, Buckets Magazine, in addition to being a tenured NBA and NCAA columnist for TheHoopDoctors.com.
