According to ZagsBlog Duke's top target for the class of 2013 has said he will make a decision in November. Recruits often say things then decide that perhaps those things were said to prematurely and thus take them back or renege on them, but for some reason I believe Jabari Parker.
He seems to be come from a different kind of ilk than some of today's teenagers who say one thing and then do another. For starters it seems like his parents have done a very solid job of keeping him grounded.
Adam Zagoria wrote in a recent blog post that Parker according to Roy and Harv Schmidt of Illinois Prep Bulls-Eye that Parker would likely try to narrow his choice down to a national title contender since he is likely to spend only one season in college.
According to the Schmidts they feel like that would either be Duke or Michigan State based on the schools that Parker currently is considering at the moment.
His list consists of BYU, UConn, DePaul, Duke, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan State, Missouri, North Carolina, Northwestern, Ohio State and Washington. He has said that by the end of the summer he wants to narrow that list down to eight and now apparently wants to decide by November.
That is a lot of work for him to do in a short time period and it is widely reported that the recruiting process has taken its toll on Parker. He by all accounts appears to be a humble guy who values education.
Duke stands a good chance with its reputation as an academic institution and Parker's relationship with Mike Krzyzewski a fellow Chicago native is apparently strong. Now this doesn't guarantee anything for Duke but I'd have to say you'd have to at least like their chances.
Still his relationship with Michigan State's Tom Izzo apparently is also strong and the Spartans are closer to home. There is still time but we all should know more once he narrows down his list.
For now Duke fans should feel at least somewhat optimistic. I for one have a good feeling about Parker, though I admit it is more of a gut than anything journalistically substantial to site or report. And unlike so many other recruits that announce dates for decisions only to change their minds, I feel that once he commits to a date he will stick to it, that just seems like the type of kid he is.
Stay tuned to the Duke Sports Blog for more recruiting updates.
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