Jabari Parker tweets college choices — Illinois isn’t one of them
BY MICHAEL O’BRIEN mobrien@suntimes.com July 11, 2012 9:14PM
Simeon basketball player Jabari Parker. | Scott Stewart~Sun-Times
Updated: August 13, 2012 2:06PM
Simeon rising senior forward Jabari Parker, widely considered the top player in the national class of 2013, tweeted his list of 10 possible college destinations Wednesday.
It wasn’t good news for new Illinois coach John Groce.
Parker named Kentucky, Stanford, Michigan State, Kansas, Florida, Duke, BYU, Georgetown, DePaul and North Carolina. Illinois was left off the list.
So barring any late change of mind, Illinois once again will miss out on the top in-state player. Aside from Jereme Richmond, every top in-state recruit in the last decade has wound up somewhere other than Champaign.
Parker has kept a tight lid on his college recruitment, but some recruiting analysts believe Michigan State is the current leader, with Duke a close second.
“If you know in your head, why string anyone along,” recruiting analyst Joe Henricksen said. “It’s been a tough situation with a completely new coaching staff in Champaign. It was a real inopportune time for Illinois to have the top player in the country in the state. It’s not the fault of anyone in the Illinois camp or in the Parker camp.”
Parker is expected to make his choice sometime before the high school season starts in November.
