Simeon basketball star Jabari Parker has been named USA Basketball's Male Athlete of the Year for all men's basketball teams.
The 6'8 junior, rated as the No. 1 player in the Class of 2013 and arguably the nation's leading high school player regardless of class, is the youngest ever to receive this prestigious national award.
Parker, son of former Farragut, Texas A&M and NBA star Sonny Parker, was the most valuable player while leading the United States team to the Under-16 championship at the FIBA Americas Championships last summer. He averaged 15.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.
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"He has a complete game," said longtime recruiting analyst Van Coleman of Hot100Hoops.com. "He can run the break off the glass as a point forward or known down threes with much improved regularity. He can finish at the rim in traffic or hit the open man off the dribble if double or triple-teammed.
"He makes everyone around him better. And he isn't afraid to do the dirty work on the glass or lock down the opponent's top scorer. He is the total package. He has drawn comparisons to (NBA stars) Paul Pierce and Carmelo Anthony because of his ability to make things happen both inside off the dribble or post up as well as with the jumper or pass on the perimeter."
Most veteran recruiting analysts, including Coleman and Bob Gibbons of All-Star Sports, rate Parker as the top player in high school regardless of class. He is the leader of a Simeon team that is rated No. 1 in the nation and heavily favored to win its third consecutive state championship and fifth in seven years.
According to his father, Parker won't make his college decision until the fall of his senior year. Jabari, who is Mormon, is considering Duke, Michigan State, North Carolina, Ohio State, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Stanford, Brigham Young, Washington, Connecticut, Florida, Louisville, Georgetown, Texas, Baylor, Texas A&M and North Carolina State.