Chicago prep star set to choose
JABARI PARKER, of Simeon High School in Chicago, the second-rated senior in the country, will announce his collegiate plans on Dec. 20, his high school coach told ESPNChicago.com.
JABARI PARKER, of Simeon High School in Chicago, the second-rated senior in the country, will announce his collegiate plans on Dec. 20, his high school coach told ESPNChicago.com.
"He just wants to get it over with,'' coach Robert Smith said. "He wants to focus on the season and trying to win another state championship.''
Parker's final list of schools consists of BYU, Duke, Florida, Michigan State and Stanford. He's made official visits to all the schools except Stanford. He made unofficial visits to all of the schools.
Parker's father, Sonny Parker, told USA Today he isn't sure which way his son is leaning, but he thinks it's between Duke and Michigan State.
"He hasn't told me where,'' Sonny Parker said. "I didn't ask him. It's kind of hard to say. He's liked all the schools we've visited. He's hard to read sometimes. He keeps things to himself, so I don't put any pressure on him.''
Smith said he also does not know which school Parker will choose.
"To be honest, he hasn't told anyone,'' Smith said.
As a junior, the 6-8 Parker was named the ESPNChicago.com Player of the Year, Illinois' Mr. Basketball and the national Gatorade Player of the Year. He averaged 19.5 points, 8.9 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 3.3 blocks and 1.4 steals.
Noteworthy *
Alabama center Carl Engstrom will miss the rest of the season after having surgery to repair a torn ACL and MCL in his left knee.
Engstrom, a 7-1 junior from Sweden, suffered the injury during Alabama's game against Cincinnati on Dec. 1. He averaged 3.3 points and 2.7 rebounds in seven games this season, starting three games.
In last night's games *
At Ohio State, Deshaun Thomas scored all but one of his 22 points in the first half and No. 7 Ohio State showed its firepower inside and out in beating Savannah State, 85-45.
LaQuinton Ross added 13 points, Shannon Scott had 12 and Evan Ravenel 11 for the Buckeyes (7-1), who are three games into an eight-game homestand that will carry them all the way through the Big Ten opener against Nebraska on Jan. 2.
Arnold Louis led Savannah State (5-5) with 14 points.
The game was played in front of 13,848 at Value City Arena in Columbus. In Savannah State's six home games, the total attendance was 6,071.
* At Maryland, Nick Faust scored 16 points, Alex Len had 14 points and 10 rebounds, and the Terrapins (9-1) beat Monmouth, 71-38, for their ninth straight victory.
It's the Terrapins' longest winning streak since they won 13 consecutive Atlantic Coast Conference games en route to capturing the national championship in 2002. The current run has come entirely against non-league foes.
CAA to Baltimore
The Colonial Athletic Association will holds its men's basketball tournament in Baltimore for 3 years beginning in 2014. The 2013 tourney will be held in Richmond, Va. Drexel is a member of the CAA.