CHICAGO, Dec. 21 (UPI) -- Chicago high school basketball star Jabari Parker announced he has chosen to attend Duke University.
Parker, the star of Simeon High School's basketball program and the No. 2-ranked senior in the United States by ESPN, announced in his school's gym Thursday he chose Duke over Brigham Young, Michigan State, Stanford and other schools that had attempted to recruit him, the Chicago Tribune reported Friday.
"What brought me to the decision was the course of history," Parker said. "Duke is always going to be a team in the [NCAA] tournament. You can't go wrong with the program. Also, most importantly, it's a long-term investment. I feel like if I go there, I can get a good degree."
Parker's parents, Lola and Sonny Parker, said they left the decision up to their son. Parker whispered his decision to his mother before the announcement and his father said he did not know the verdict until his son pulled a Duke T-shirt out of a backpack in front of reporters.
"It was important for me that he felt he was always in control of the decision-making, so that's how we handled it," Lola Parker said.
Chicago Bulls star guard Derrick Rose is also a graduate of Simeon High School.
