Although the college basketball season is still months away, we're at the point now when most incoming freshmen are on campus and working with their new programs. With that in mind, Insider's experts are teaming up this week for the "One Player, Three Ways" series, looking at the top five recruits from the 2013 class in terms of (A) how they stacked up as high school players, (B) how they'll fit with their college teams and (C) how they project as NBA prospects for the 2014 draft.
We continue today with Duke power forward Jabari Parker.
Part 1: Who he is, how he's gotten here
Dave Telep: Parker's final year of high school basketball ended with a fourth consecutive state championship, but the ride was rockier than you'd expect for an elite player. Parker injured his foot during the summer leading into his senior year during a stint with USA Basketball. The injury left him rusty and out of shape into December of his final season.
During an ESPNU game in December, Parker was clearly behind and too heavy. In three weeks, he would go on to shed upward of 20 pounds, remake his body and return close to his junior-season form. Parker, the son of a former NBA player, has always had trouble with his conditioning. More than any other player in his class, his shape, stature and athleticism yo-yoed during high school. By the time the all-star games rolled around, Parker had played the rust off and was close to his correct playing weight and condition.
Basketball-wise, this is one of the more competitive players in the class. His makeup is that of a committed, religious and hardworking winner. He's the guy who sets the tone in practice and assumes leadership in games. This is a player wired to be the go-to performer. His attitude of selfless play on the court promotes unity.
He's a true combo forward. His perimeter stroke, depending on the season, rode the roller coaster. He can be streaky behind the arc but often is superb in the midrange and from the baselines. He can shoot facing the bucket or off the pro-style fades. He's more of an opportunity attacker than a dedicated performer in that regard.
In the lane, Parker is a dual threat to score or pass. His basketball brain and feel for the game make him the ideal player to run offense through. He will seek out matchups in the post that favor him and is excellent with his touch and feel in the lane. Most don't regard him as an elite athlete, and he's not from a vertical standpoint, but he will sneak in for tip dunks and surprise with his ability to go straight up and dunk.
What's unique about Parker is his ability to play either in the post or on the perimeter. He doesn't seem to truly favor either one and is more into exploiting matchups than having a go-to move, and he isn't married to attacking from a particular spot on the floor. Defensively, as a high school player, he guarded a lot of bigs. He's capable of slowing down small forwards, but the high-high-level athletes can give him trouble. For example, Andrew Wiggins was a tough guard for him, and Wiggins' athleticism and length also gave Parker trouble in the lane.
Where the separation between Parker and his contemporaries occurs is in the way he sees the game, thinks it and executes. Between the lines, it's about winning. He loves the preparation and is aware of his shortcomings, taking measures to turn weaknesses into strengths. This is a reliable player who can be a pillar for a team. He'll lead not with words but with actions.
Part 2: How he fits his college team
Jeff Goodman: Mike Krzyzewski will expect Parker to do a little -- no, make that a lot -- of everything this season for Duke. And the skilled 6-foot-8 forward will be up to the task.
Many forget that Parker was at one time the top-rated player in the 2013 class, before the foot injury that sidelined him a summer ago and prior to Andrew Wiggins' reclassifying from 2014.
Parker can do just about anything. He's not an exceptional athlete, but he can score in a variety of ways. He will be able to make shots from the perimeter, he can put the ball on the floor and also score in the paint. But that's just one aspect where he'll help Duke become a Final Four contender in 2013-14.
Parker is also able to make those around him better with his ability to pass the ball. He's unselfish, sometimes too unselfish. He's got an extremely high basketball IQ, and that will help take some of the pressure off semi-enigmatic point guard Quinn Cook. He will also be part of arguably the best perimeter trio in the country with Mississippi State transfer Rodney Hood and Rasheed Sulaimon.
Duke doesn't possess a legitimate big man -- at least not one who is proven. That means the Blue Devils will play small often, and that also means Parker will see time in the middle. It shouldn't be much of an issue against most big men, but it's going to be interesting to see if he can become a relentless rebounder and interior defender, because that's what the Blue Devils may need from him more than anything else.
Parker has the complete package. That's what college coaches have been salivating about for the last few years. He knows how to play. He can score, pass, rebound and defend his position. And he'll do them all in Durham this season.
Part 3: How he projects to the NBA
Fran Fraschilla: Parker has had a storied career to this point, winning four consecutive Illinois Class 4A state championships and already adorning the cover of Sports Illustrated. Yet people who follow the NBA are already finding flaws in his game.
Parker is not seen as being as athletic as Wiggins, Aaron Gordon or Julius Randle, but at 6-8, he has a complete NBA small forward's skill set and enough athleticism to hold his own on a nightly basis in the league, in my opinion.
In Parker's favor will be Krzyzewski's success at Duke with developing multiskilled forwards who have gone on to productive NBA careers. Though not exactly the same style, Parker will have the opportunity to have the same success that former Blue Devils like Grant Hill, Luol Deng and Shane Battier have had.
Parker is an excellent shooter, both off the catch and off the dribble. In addition, his perimeter footwork is excellent, and he has mastered the step-back move to create separation for his jump shot. He has deceiving first-step quickness that will allow him to get to the basket in isolation situations.
In addition, Parker can handle the ball well, especially in the open court, and makes good decisions with the ball. He passes the ball well, and his ball-moving ability will be a strength on an NBA team that values team play and chemistry. In that regard, Parker has a chance to be a very good "blend player."
I do believe that his average foot speed at his position in the NBA will be a negative factor for him defensively, but he would not be alone in that area in the league. Good team defense and coaching can protect him in that regard.
It would not surprise me if Parker, who most assume will declare for the NBA draft, is the one player at the top of the 2013 recruiting class who pulls a Marcus Smart and decides to stay two seasons at Duke. I don't think that decision would affect his status as a top-five selection in either draft. In fact, it would add to his uncommon maturity and further increase the odds of him being a successful NBA player.