Jabari Parker: I recommend Chicago recruits to Michigan State
Former Michigan State Basketball recruiting target Jabari Parker says that he recommends all Chicago recruits to East Lansing.
There’s one recruitment over the past decade that still haunts Michigan State Basketball fans, and probably even Tom Izzo, too. Jabari Parker seemed like a Michigan State lean back in 2012 when he was a high school senior, but during his live announcement, he pulled a blue and white Duke hat out of his backpack.
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Hearts of Michigan State fans burst into flames and hopes of a national title were seemingly dashed before the season even began.
Now, the Milwaukee Bucks’ star is in town for the annual Moneyball Pro-Am which features current Michigan State stars and incoming freshmen. He took time to answer questions from the media afterward, saying nothing but nice things about Michigan State.
Jabari Parker (continued): "If there's anyone in Chicago, I recommend them straight to Michigan State."
— James L. Edwards III (@JLEdwardsIII) July 13, 2016
Interesting given that he’s a Blue Devil at heart. Maybe he’s just now realizing what the better college choice would have been to win a national title and grow as a player (although Duke is second to none) — Parker’s Blue Devils were bounced in the first round.
Not only did he have that to say about recruiting, but he poured some salt into the wounds of Spartan fans who believed Michigan State would have had its best chance to win a national title with him on the squad.
Jabari Parker "I always dream of what it would have been like at MSU..I knew I could have won a national championship here" More at 11 on 6
— Fred Heumann (@unclefred6) July 13, 2016
Although it’s a little too late for that kind of talk, just look at the team he could have had around him when he was a freshman in 2013-14. Keith Appling, Gary Harris, Matt Costello, Denzel Valentine, Travis Trice, Branden Dawson and Adreian Payne were all part of the 29-9 team that went to the Elite Eight, but Jabari could have been the missing piece.
It’s clear Jabari still has a soft spot in his heart for the Spartans and head coach Tom Izzo by saying all of this.
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What do you think about Jabari’s words from interviews following Moneyball? Would you have liked to see him in the green and white or are you just trying to forget the day when he chose Duke over the Spartans?