Tom Izzo has significant mission this afternoon, and it doesn’t involve Jabari Parker.
The MSU coach will be in Flint visiting with Herb Cleaves, whom he said had “a serious surgery.”
“He’s been here for me whenever I needed him,” Izzo said of the elder Cleaves. “Whatever time I get back, I get back.”
The target time is 4 p.m. It would put Izzo in front of the TV in time to watch Parker – one of the nation’s top high school seniors and Izzo’s biggest recruit since Mateen Cleaves back in 1996 – announce his college choice on ESPNU.
Izzo can’t talk about specific recruits until they sign their letter of intent, which Parker can’t do until the spring. But the coach alluded to the matter early Thursday afternoon.
“As we all know, there’s a decision to be made,” Izzo said. “But if I’m sitting front of a TV set, sitting at a church or sitting in a van, it’s not gonna make any difference on what decisions are made today.”
Cleaves’ decision was MSU over Michigan, thus shifting the in-state power balance to the Spartans for about 15 years. And there certainly are parallels between the type of program-changers that Cleaves was and Parker is. However, it’s because of Cleaves that wherever Parker goes – his five finalists are MSU, Duke, BYU, Florida or Stanford – it won’t be as damaging if the 6-foot-8 Chicago Simeon forward picks somewhere else.
“You need the best players to get your program to where you want. But the program’s gonna go on now, the base is pretty solid and set. That’s one thing,” Izzo said. “Back then (in 1996), you were getting a recruit to build your program. Now, I think you’re looking to get recruits to extend your program. It’s a little different in that respect.”
Izzo said he doesn’t care if recruits do or don’t call him with their decision before making an official announcement. Parker and his family and close friends have kept his leanings super secret, though most expect it to come down to MSU and Duke. Izzo and assistant Dwayne Stephens were the last coaches to visit with Parker on Wednesday, and they made a favorable impression – at least on his high school coach.
And there is no question that Parker has left an impression with Izzo and all the coaches who’ve seen him play.
“As Jud said to me, Magic was Magic and Cleaves was Cleaves – they were 20 years apart. Draymond the next,” Izzo said. “Usually there are certain players that don’t come along every year, either for what they have the ability to do or how they have the ability to lead.”
Izzo also added that he does plan to get a recruit for the open 2013 scholarship spot. We’ll all find out in less than two hours if that player is Jabari Parker.
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Hail Mary full of Grace.
You are going to need a lot more than a Hail Mary. Rosaries, Masses and Novena’s–and you will still come up short. Not a chance.
Says a lot about the man that he would go to visit Matteens father right now.
Thats ok Joe, thought for a moment you had decided to send early stories and go all Mitch Albom on us today.
Reminds me of the hype that happen back in the days with Magic. Same scenario, except it was U of M or MSU. I think we can all recall which way it went. Now, back to reality, it will be MSU over Duke. That is my gut feeling and I had the same gut feeling when Magic won the NCAA with the big win over Notre Dame to advance. Finally, Coach Izzo, what a class act – saw him at the Alumni game – the players all came back for him and the University!
I was out of the country when Earvin was recruited, I disliked the Lebron Show: hope this is just quick and done with, Coach Izzo is the BEST!
Okay, I belieive we waited long enough. Is he taking the time to skip college and go to the pros…drawn out.
Now it is affecting my typing skills – should be believe.
It was a technical glitch from our web publishing program. Dewey defeats Truman, it’s not. Sorry for the panic.
GO GREEN!!!
Jabari Parker chooses Duke University over MSU, BYU, Florida and Stanford.
$$$$$$$$
Dick Vitale sells a lot of shoes in China
Booooo!!
Now, if we go back to what he said when he announced this announcement, he said this wasn’t signing day.
Don’t think coach would still recruit him…though…u still got my number…
Not enough scholarships next year to sit around til spring waiting to see if he has second thoughts…
Would it be petty and/or asking too much that this foot injury plagues him at Duke like so many highly touted MSU recruits who have suffered years of never living up to their high school hype? I hate to be spiteful, but can’t help feeling this is a bad choice for the kid. He would have had a much better fit at MSU. Duke loses way more than MSU next year and this kid is going to have a lot of pressure immediately to be the star. Maybe that works better under Coach K. Izzo will find another piece to the puzzle and will find a way to get that success next year, either way. Hopefully, beating Duke at least once along the way…
I’m sure there is a plan B, the turnover machine he was in the game in Tx didn’t have anything to do with his foot. He was the 4th or 5th best player on that court. Grated he’s got 10 months to heal and get in shape, but maybe he announced now because he’s afraid this season is a bust and that people would lose interest. We know what busted ankles are like to shooters, how about slashers?
My view is that maybe this Parker kid wasn’t who we thought he was. Have fun bein’ a Dukie, maybe we’ll see you in the Final Four next year, if you’re lucky.