Andrew Wiggins, Joel Embiid and Julius Randle are all set to go for the 2014 NBA Draft. However, one star college basketball player has yet to declare and that player is Duke's Jabari Parker.
We reported not too long ago that many NBA scouts believe Parker is returning to the Blue Devils for his sophomore season. Parker has until April 27 to decide, and reports say he will meet with Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski on his decision.
"It's a very tough decision especially potentially leaving behind my coach and the program that really helped me out this year so I really have to keep them in consideration in this whole process," Parker said Friday, via ESPN.
Parker is expected to be a top 3 pick in the draft and some even believe he could go No. 1 ahead of the likes of Wiggins and Embiid.
However, Parker performed terribly in the NCAA Tournament as Duke got knocked out in the first round to Mercer. Parker could return and team up with Jahlil Okafor, creating a fierce tandem that could be a force in March 2015.
Parker refuted a recent report that he applied for student housing already at Duke for next year. Even with that, he doesn't think that going back to college is risky.
"I think there's no risk," Parker said. "I think the community at Duke has really done a good job of taking care of my safety and they make sure that everything is done by the playbook. My parents, they come from different backgrounds. They don't even value money. My situation isn't the best, but they're not complaining and I've been going on this long so why can't I wait another year? That's the mindset in my head that keeps me moving."
Parker still has a few weeks to make his decision.
Not many players expected to be one of the top picks in the draft but end up staying another year in college turn out successful. One can look to Jared Sullinger or Harrison Barnes, both who stayed in college only to see their draft stock fall the next year.
I say Parker should go to the NBA. It's just too risky, in my opinion, to stay another season even with the team Duke has lined up.
