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Michigan State Recruiting: Ranking Tom Izzo’s biggest misses

By Connor Muldowney

Nov 28, 2014; Kissimmee, FL, USA; Kansas Jayhawks forward Cliff Alexander (2) claps and reacts against the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half at HP Field House. Kansas Jayhawks defeated the Tennessee Volunteers 82-67. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2014; Kissimmee, FL, USA; Kansas Jayhawks forward Cliff Alexander (2) claps and reacts against the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half at HP Field House. Kansas Jayhawks defeated the Tennessee Volunteers 82-67. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 26, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Jabari Parker (Duke) is interviewed after being selected as the number two overall pick to the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 26, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Jabari Parker (Duke) is interviewed after being selected as the number two overall pick to the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

Seemingly where the ‘curse’ began. Jabari Parker was the original big-time target of Tom Izzo and the Spartans’ head coach probably believed he would be landing Chicago’s top talent in decades, but the Duke Blue Devils stole yet another one right from underneath Michigan State’s nose.

Related Story: MSU Recruiting: 10 priority 2017 basketball targets

Why did Parker decide to choose Duke over Michigan State? Apparently, because of Branden Dawson, according to Diamond Leung of MLive:

"“Branden Dawson, me and him play the same position, and it’d kind of be a controversy if me and him were on the same floor running into each other,” Parker said Thursday at a press conference following his televised announcement at his high school gym. “So I just wanted to go to a school that was fitting. “I don’t want to mess up his thing. Me coming in there would be kind of disrespectful. I just want him to do well.”"

That’s kind of an interesting statement considering that Dawson probably would have been 100 percent fine sharing the court with Parker, if it meant a possible national title. That year’s team would have easily been the nation’s best had he committed to Michigan State, which makes it all the more upsetting for Spartan fans.

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It seemed like Parker was a Michigan State-lean and when he pulled the Duke t-shirt out of his backpack at his announcement press conference at his Chicago high school, it was devastating.

Parker was named an All-American as a true freshman, averaging 19.1 points and 8.7 rebounds per game in his lone season at Duke. He did consider coming back for his sophomore season, but he was considered a top-two or three draft pick, so he couldn’t pass it up.

Jabari was selected No. 2 overall in the 2014 NBA Draft by the Bucks and despite suffering a knee injury that cut his rookie year well short, he’s averaging 13.6 points and 5.3 rebounds over his two-year career.

Could you imagine just how good a lineup of Keith Appling, Gary Harris, Jabari Parker, Branden Dawson and Adreian Payne would have been with Travis Trice, Denzel Valentine and Matt Costello coming off the bench? Just a scary thought.

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