The city of Chicago has seen many great basketball prospects make a name for themselves within its boundaries over the last twenty years, a Who's Who of prep stars that have gone on to accomplish bigger and better at the collegiate and professional levels. Sadly for the United States' third-most populous city, none of these young men have stayed home, opting instead to take their talents elsewhere around the country on the road to the NBA.
Starting with Kevin Garnett, who played at Chicago's Farragut Academy before being selected fifth overall by Minnesota in the 1995 NBA Draft, no elite Windy City prospect has remained in the area, or even in the state for that matter. Michael Finley, taken in the same 1995 draft that produced Garnett, went to Wisconsin. Dwyane Wade, regarded to be arguably among the best players Chicago has turned out in recent memory, went up Interstate 94 to Marquette before spurning a potential NBA homecoming to remain in Miami. Most recently, the Second City has been victimized twice in the last five years by John Calipari, who lured Derrick Rose and Anthony Davis away from home to become one-and-dones at Memphis and Kentucky respectively before the two subsequently became No. 1 overall draft picks. Fortunately for Chicago fans, Rose returned home when he was drafted by the Bulls.
Enter a 17-year-old who has already been hyped by Sports Illustrated as the best high school prospect since the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player who just celebrated winning his first championship. Not even a senior in high school yet, he continues to keep a local school in play for his services among a national list of suitors that includes blueblood programs such as North Carolina, Duke and Kentucky. When you consider that it has been over three decades since one of Chicago's own opted to stay home for college, you will see monumental the hope around the city he calls home is for that honor to stay that way.
A 6-8, 220-pound swingman, Jabari Parker has already received Mr. Basketball honors in the state of Illinois to go with more accomplishments than most boys his age can place in their resumes. Already regarded as the nation's best prospect in the class of 2013 by multiple outlets, Parker has narrowed his list down to ten.
As expected, the usual suspects for top prospects are there in the form of North Carolina, Duke, Kentucky and Michigan State, not to mention some other traditional powers such as Kansas, Georgetown and Florida. The other three schools on his list are unique in their own different ways. There is Stanford, which justifies Parker's standing as a true student-athlete, something you do not see often anymore. The 17-year-old carries a 3.63 grade point average into his final year at the prep level, which would certainly qualify him as an honor student that would have no problem getting into a school of high academic reputation such as Stanford.
There is also Brigham Young, a variable that could play a huge role in Parker's recruitment because Jabari is a true minority in this sense: He is not only biracial, but also a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. A Tongan and African-American blend, Parker is part of a scant three percent group of minorities of Mormon faith; something that is also very important to Parker, who still carries the Book of Mormon with him at practices, attends church services regularly, and may still undergo a two-year mission that is required of all Mormon men.
Finally, there is a third wild card, one that has fallen on hard times recently. One that has a proud and rich tradition and history. One whose fan base is equal parts eager and desperate to embrace a winner and one whose fan base are already showing mounds of support for a native son who would be their first highly regarded hometown hero since Mark Aguirre led the program to a Final Four in 1979. More importantly, one who needs this kid more than anyone.
DePaul University is still attempting to not only rebuild, but establish itself as a player in the powerhouse Big East Conference. Since leaving Conference USA in 2006, the Blue Demons enjoyed brief success in their first two years as a Big East institution, but have since endured four consecutive last-place finishes in league play after a 12th-place standing in 2007-08. Third-year coach Oliver Purnell has undertaken similar rebuilding efforts in the past at Dayton and Clemson, with NCAA Tournament appearances being the end result in each circumstance. Purnell has already built a solid foundation in Chicago with the recruitment and evolution of Cleveland Melvin and Brandon Young, and has help on the way with incoming freshman DeJuan Marrero. Parker's skills have already been compared to Grant Hill, and Jabari himself likes to consider his game a hybrid of Paul Pierce and Carmelo Anthony, a skill set that would augment DePaul both inside and outside while also making it difficult to guard him in a Big East that prides itself on true guard and forward matchups. DePaul has also gone six years since one of their own heard his name called in the NBA Draft, and Parker has already been thrown around as a potential No. 1 overall selection in 2014, a distinction that would help Blue Demon fans forget that it has felt like somewhat of an eternity since Wilson Chandler was drafted.
There are also two familiarity factors that will hopefully make DePaul intriguing and appealing to Parker. First is his relationship with assistant coach Billy Garrett, who has spent the last two years recruiting Jabari, and whose son Billy Jr. has already given the Blue Demons a verbal commitment for next year. Second is the prospect of a player opting to turn down bigger names to play in his hometown and help lead a revolution, something Maurice Harkless did to perfection this past season at St. John's. After turning down offers from schools such as Arizona, Baylor, Connecticut, Florida, Kansas and Maryland, the Queens native signed with Steve Lavin and the Red Storm, becoming the Big East Rookie of the Year and 15th overall selection in June's NBA Draft when Harkless was taken by the Philadelphia 76ers.
Finally, there is the sentimental factor, a human interest story of sorts. The Chicago basketball community is still recovering from the murder of Michael Haynes, one of their own who had recently signed with Iona College before being fatally shot a week ago tonight outside his home. Parker staying home would help ease the pain in a way, giving Chicago fans easy access to cheer one of their own frequently; not to mention it would go a long way toward giving DePaul and its own fan base a reason to believe that they can not only compete in the Big East, but on a national level as well.
Being a broadcaster in New York and a St. John's alumnus, I got to see firsthand how positive of an effect Maurice Harkless staying home to play for St. John's had on his team despite playing with a six-man rotation for more than half the year. Harkless' commitment brought additional blue chip prospects to St. John's, including this year's class that is headlined by the likes of JaKarr Sampson and Chris Obekpa. It only takes one, and if his well-rounded persona is any indication, Jabari Parker is more than capable of starting a similar domino effect in Chicago.
Chicago already has great pizza, great tradition, and a great fan base. All they need now is a great player to stay in their backyard.
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