Post by jhb on May 13, 2021 14:08:34 GMT -5
Jabari Parker
PF
6'8"
240
19
Duke
Among the top players from last year's high school class, Parker stands out for his skills rather than his athletic ability. While he's been described as an underrated athlete, Parker has what you might call old man game. He's bulky but he plays smooth. He might not blow by you but he'll overpower you and somehow find a way to create space without being quick. Scouts describe him as passionate about basketball and has a better grasp on the nuances of the game than the other teenagers in this draft class. He's a bit of a tweener but likely to stick as a power forward at the next level despite his lack of length and elite bounce/lateral quickness that most are looking in a big; regardless of where he plays, he's been a winner for all his amateur career and scouts rave about his intangibles.
The biggest question mark about Jabari is where he fits defensively. That will ultimately determine his position at the next level since he's got the versatility offensively to play either as a 3 or a 4. He simply doesn't have the length and didn't show much craftiness as a post defender at Duke. However, the concern remains that he just doesn't have the lateral quickness and foot speed to stay in front of most athletic perimeter players. He could potentially re-composition his body to add quickness and try to get to where he's an average defender on the perimeter (at best) but the more likely path forward is trying to hide him on an opponent's less deadly option in the post while pairing him with a rim protector who can cover for some of his flaws. He was at least solid as a defensive rebounder for the Blue Devils in college so for all his defensive flaws, he shouldn't hurt you too badly on the defensive glass.
For all those questions, the offensive game sure is enticing. Parker showed the ability to score at all levels in college. He's got a fairly advanced post-up game for a 19 year old and he has a soft touch around the rim to finish. He finishes well through contact and doesn't mind taking possessions to the charity stripe, where he converts his opportunities. His jump shot is solid and he's a threat from the midrange all the way out to 3, where he made 36% of his 3 attempts per game in college. He has one of the most advanced face-up games of any prospect that is one year out of high school and he handles the ball well for a man his size. He's not a great passer, but that's alright because he usually does a good job of finishing when he attacks. He also showed a ton of aggression on the offensive glass and helped create a lot of second chance opportunities for Coach K.
The lack of elite athleticism limits his upside to some extent and whoever selects him will have to figure out how to cover for him defensively, but he's a very skilled offensive player who could help teams in need of buckets.
