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Report: Duke’s Jabari Parker to return for sophomore season

By Andrew Melnick

Jan 18, 2014; Durham, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Jabari Parker (1) and forward Josh Hairston (15) and guard Rasheed Sulaimon (14) head to the bench for a timeout against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 18, 2014; Durham, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Jabari Parker (1) and forward Josh Hairston (15) and guard Rasheed Sulaimon (14) head to the bench for a timeout against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 18, 2014; Durham, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Jabari Parker (1) and forward Josh Hairston (15) and guard Rasheed Sulaimon (14) head to the bench for a timeout against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 18, 2014; Durham, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Jabari Parker (1) and forward Josh Hairston (15) and guard Rasheed Sulaimon (14) head to the bench for a timeout against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports /

Duke Blue Devils forward Jabari Parker is considered one of the two or three best prospects in college basketball and many have projected Parker to be the #1 overall pick in this summer’s 2014 NBA draft.

However, Parker leaving for the draft after just one season isn’t the sure thing everyone believes it to be.

According to Sam Smith of Bulls.com, the “growing view among NBA executives seems to be Jabari Parker will not leave Duke this year.”

"Parker is a bright young man with a strong family and the feeling is he understands both the importance of education and feels he owes Duke and the chance to have a great Duke team, which more than likely is the next two seasons. Plus, Parker has seen what staying in school has done for other greats compared with the tough starts for even stars like Kobe Bryant. …"

Smith cites Parker’s relationship with big man Jahlil Okafor as the main reason. The 6’10, 265 lb. Okafor is the top prospect in the class of 2014 and has signed with the Blue Devils. Like Parker, Okafor is from Chicago.

This season, Parker is averaging 19.1 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.

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