Parker signing solidifies nation's top recruiting class for UCLA
By SCOTT M. REID / THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Published: April 23, 2012 Updated: 11:02 p.m.
LOS ANGELES - UCLA solidified the nation's top recruiting class with the signing of McDonald's All-American Tony Parker on Monday.
Parker, a 6-foot-9, forward/center out of Miller Grove High School in Lithonia, Ga., joins a recruiting class that already included Las Vegas Bishop Gorman's Shabazz Muhammad, the consensus national player of the year, and guard Kyle Anderson, a McDonald's All-American out of New Jersey's St. Anthony High School.
UCLA also signed another Georgian, Jordan Adams, a small forward who is at Oak Hill Academy in Virginia, Parker and Adams played for current Bruins assistant Korey McCray on the Atlanta Celtics AAU team.
Parker chose the Bruins over Ohio State, Kansas and Georgia.
"It is icing on the cake today to have Tony Parker join this recruiting class," Howland said. "He is a great player that has an unbelievable work ethic. I'm so excited for our program to have a quality big man like Tony join our team and Bruin family.
"He has all of the intangibles to go with being a very talented player. He is a driven and motivated talent that plays with physicality, toughness, enthusiasm and passion. He's the first player in the history of the state of Georgia to play in and win four straight state championships. He is a winner and has an unbelievably bright future."
Parker led Miller Grove to four consecutive Georgia 4A state titles. He averaged 16.8 points, 11.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks a season, and posted 21 points, 13 boards and three blocks in the state title game.
Parker won a gold medal with the U.S. national team at the 2010 FIBA Under-17 World Championships. He also was a member of the winning U.S. squad at the 2009 FIBA Under-16 Americas championships. He had a game-high 12 rebounds for the East at the 2012 Jordan Brand All-American Game earlier this month.
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By Chris Foster
The Times of Los Angeles
9:05 PM PDT, April 23, 2012
Tony Parker, last of the blue-chip high school seniors on UCLA's basketball recruiting wish list, gave three reasons Monday after announcing that he had chosen the Bruins.
Shabazz Muhammad, Kyle Anderson and Jordan Adams.
Parker, a 6-foot-9, 280-pound center from Lithonia, Ga., was in the spotlight alone in making his choice later than most, but the moment he signified his decision by putting on a UCLA cap, he became part of a foursome.
"I thought I would go somewhere where I could really succeed with the freshmen that came in with me," Parker said. "I have three great guys coming there with me, Shabazz, Kyle and Jordan."
Parker was the last piece to a recruiting class that will be expected to reinvigorate a program that has meandered the last three seasons. The Bruins, beset by turmoil, finished 19-14 last season and missed the NCAA tournament for the second time in three years.
Parker joins Muhammad, the Las Vegas Bishop Gorman High forward considered the No. 2 player in the nation; Anderson, a 6-8 guard from Jersey City (N.J.) St. Anthony, and Adams, a forward from Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill Academy.
"This was icing on the cake today, having Tony join this recruiting class that is really special," UCLA Coach Ben Howland said.
As to whether it expunges the bad taste from the 2011-12 season, Howland said, "It doesn't change anything. The past is done. The whole key is to learn from it."
UCLA's recruiting class was ranked third in the nation by Scout.com before Parker committed. His presence pushed the Bruins' class to No. 2 — past Arizona but still behind national champion Kentucky.
The influx of freshman talent in Tucson and Westwood improves the Pac-12 Conference's reputation after the league sent only two teams — Colorado and California — to the NCAA tournament.
Howland knows well the pitfalls that can scuttle a recruiting class. UCLA had the nation's No. 1-ranked recruiting class in 2008. Yet Jerime Anderson was the only one of the five recruits who remained four seasons, and UCLA never advanced further than the NCAA tournament's second round.
"These are the problems you want to have," Howland said of renewed expectations. "I have no doubt this class will turn out to be a great class when people look back on it."
Parker was eager to face the expectations after winning four Georgia state high school titles. He had narrowed his choices to Ohio State, Kentucky, Kansas and Georgia, which hoped staying home would be appealing.
Parker wanted more.
"To stay home and just be a hometown hero, I don't think that's pressure," Parker said. "I think that's kind of the easy way out. If you go someplace far away, that's pressure. I'm a piece of coal. I'll be a diamond when I leave UCLA."
Parker joins his former AAU coach, Korey McCray, now a UCLA assistant. Parker told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that McCray is "like an older brother to me, and he has been looking out for me for a long time."
Howland said that McCray was key to landing Parker and Adams, who is from Lawrenceville, Ga..
"If he weren't on staff, we wouldn't have gotten either of those kids," Howland said.
How long any of the four will remain is to be seen. UCLA has had nine players jump to the NBA early, three after their freshman seasons.
"We'll see what happens," Howland said. "What I have to worry about is not getting caught short-handed, like we did this year. I have to try to anticipate."
On Monday, Parker was talking about arriving, not leaving, and he was already in anticipation mode.
"UCLA is where I can succeed and improve," Parker said. "Especially with the guys I'll be coming in with."
__________________
Parker puts Bruins near head of the class
Updated: 04/23/2012 11:10:31 PM PDT
They say it's darkest just before the dawn.
If that's the case, get Ben Howland some shades because things are looking pretty bright in Westwood.
After missing the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three years, the UCLA basketball team continued its impressive offseason haul by picking up the commitment of Scout.com's No. 20-ranked prospect, Tony Parker of Miller Grove High in Lithonia, Ga., on Monday.
The 6-foot-9 Parker announced his intentions in front of a packed audience in a 45-minute ceremony and chose the Bruins over Ohio State, Georgia and Duke.
Parker became the fourth member of a monster recruiting class for Howland and joined No. 2-ranked Shabazz Muhammad, No. 4 Kyle Anderson and No. 76 Jordan Adams, enough to secure UCLA either the No. 1 or No. 2 ranking from most top recruiting services.
"It is icing on the cake today to have Tony Parker join this recruiting class," Howland said. "He is a great player that has an unbelievable work ethic.
"I'm so excited for our program to have a quality big man like Tony join our team and Bruin family. "
Parker will be in a crowded frontcourt that includes returning juniors Joshua Smith, Anthony Stover and David and Travis Wear, but Howland insisted he would battle for playing time early.
With a backcourt that returns Tyler Lamb and Norman Powell and adds North Carolina transfer Larry Drew Jr., the Bruins could jump into the preseason top 10.
"(Parker) is going to come in and compete right away for a starting position," Howland said. "This thing is wide open. We have 11 on scholarship and each position will be contested. He's competing for major minutes right away as a freshman."
Parker's commitment comes on the heels of Muhammad's selection of the Bruins over Kentucky and Duke, and he's now the second signee largely credited to assistant coach Korey McCray.
Parker and Adams played on McCray's Atlanta Celtics AAU team, and Howland gave McCray, whom he hired before last season, his due.
"No question, Korey McCray has done an incredible job recruiting both Jordan Adams and Tony Parker from his home state," Howland said. "Were he not on staff we wouldn't have gotten either one of those kids."
Howland highlighted the foursome's winning ways in high school as the group combined to go 128-13 last season. Adams led Oak Hill Academy to a 44-0 record, Muhammad guided Bishop Gorman to a Nevada state title, Anderson went 65-0 in his final two seasons at famed St. Anthony's in New Jersey and Parker became the first player to win four Georgia state championships. He also took home the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's "Mr. Basketball" honors this past season.
Howland knows with the star-studded lineup comes increased expectations. He almost sounds relieved they're back.
"What's the alternative to that?" Howland said. "That's my answer to that. These are the kinds of problems we want to have. High expectations, we have those anyway.
"We've failed to meet the high expectations we've had for this program two of the last three years."
Parker chose the Bruins over Ohio State, Kansas and Georgia.
"It is icing on the cake today to have Tony Parker join this recruiting class," Howland said. "He is a great player that has an unbelievable work ethic. I'm so excited for our program to have a quality big man like Tony join our team and Bruin family.
"He has all of the intangibles to go with being a very talented player. He is a driven and motivated talent that plays with physicality, toughness, enthusiasm and passion. He's the first player in the history of the state of Georgia to play in and win four straight state championships. He is a winner and has an unbelievably bright future."
Parker led Miller Grove to four consecutive Georgia 4A state titles. He averaged 16.8 points, 11.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks a season, and posted 21 points, 13 boards and three blocks in the state title game.
Parker won a gold medal with the U.S. national team at the 2010 FIBA Under-17 World Championships. He also was a member of the winning U.S. squad at the 2009 FIBA Under-16 Americas championships. He had a game-high 12 rebounds for the East at the 2012 Jordan Brand All-American Game earlier this month.
_______________
UCLA adds center Tony Parker to round out stellar recruiting class
Tony Parker, a 6-9, 280-pound center from Georgia, commits to UCLA, joining Shabazz Muhammad, Kyle Anderson and Jordan Adams in a basketball recruiting class that Scout.com ranks No. 2 in the nation.
By Chris Foster
The Times of Los Angeles
9:05 PM PDT, April 23, 2012
Tony Parker, last of the blue-chip high school seniors on UCLA's basketball recruiting wish list, gave three reasons Monday after announcing that he had chosen the Bruins.
Shabazz Muhammad, Kyle Anderson and Jordan Adams.
Parker, a 6-foot-9, 280-pound center from Lithonia, Ga., was in the spotlight alone in making his choice later than most, but the moment he signified his decision by putting on a UCLA cap, he became part of a foursome.
"I thought I would go somewhere where I could really succeed with the freshmen that came in with me," Parker said. "I have three great guys coming there with me, Shabazz, Kyle and Jordan."
Parker was the last piece to a recruiting class that will be expected to reinvigorate a program that has meandered the last three seasons. The Bruins, beset by turmoil, finished 19-14 last season and missed the NCAA tournament for the second time in three years.
Parker joins Muhammad, the Las Vegas Bishop Gorman High forward considered the No. 2 player in the nation; Anderson, a 6-8 guard from Jersey City (N.J.) St. Anthony, and Adams, a forward from Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill Academy.
"This was icing on the cake today, having Tony join this recruiting class that is really special," UCLA Coach Ben Howland said.
As to whether it expunges the bad taste from the 2011-12 season, Howland said, "It doesn't change anything. The past is done. The whole key is to learn from it."
UCLA's recruiting class was ranked third in the nation by Scout.com before Parker committed. His presence pushed the Bruins' class to No. 2 — past Arizona but still behind national champion Kentucky.
The influx of freshman talent in Tucson and Westwood improves the Pac-12 Conference's reputation after the league sent only two teams — Colorado and California — to the NCAA tournament.
Howland knows well the pitfalls that can scuttle a recruiting class. UCLA had the nation's No. 1-ranked recruiting class in 2008. Yet Jerime Anderson was the only one of the five recruits who remained four seasons, and UCLA never advanced further than the NCAA tournament's second round.
"These are the problems you want to have," Howland said of renewed expectations. "I have no doubt this class will turn out to be a great class when people look back on it."
Parker was eager to face the expectations after winning four Georgia state high school titles. He had narrowed his choices to Ohio State, Kentucky, Kansas and Georgia, which hoped staying home would be appealing.
Parker wanted more.
"To stay home and just be a hometown hero, I don't think that's pressure," Parker said. "I think that's kind of the easy way out. If you go someplace far away, that's pressure. I'm a piece of coal. I'll be a diamond when I leave UCLA."
Parker joins his former AAU coach, Korey McCray, now a UCLA assistant. Parker told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that McCray is "like an older brother to me, and he has been looking out for me for a long time."
Howland said that McCray was key to landing Parker and Adams, who is from Lawrenceville, Ga..
"If he weren't on staff, we wouldn't have gotten either of those kids," Howland said.
How long any of the four will remain is to be seen. UCLA has had nine players jump to the NBA early, three after their freshman seasons.
"We'll see what happens," Howland said. "What I have to worry about is not getting caught short-handed, like we did this year. I have to try to anticipate."
On Monday, Parker was talking about arriving, not leaving, and he was already in anticipation mode.
"UCLA is where I can succeed and improve," Parker said. "Especially with the guys I'll be coming in with."
__________________
Parker puts Bruins near head of the class
By Jon Gold jon.gold@dailynews.com
twitter.com/insideucla Staff Writer
The Los Angeles Daily News
Posted: 04/23/2012 11:06:31 PM PDTUpdated: 04/23/2012 11:10:31 PM PDT
If that's the case, get Ben Howland some shades because things are looking pretty bright in Westwood.
After missing the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three years, the UCLA basketball team continued its impressive offseason haul by picking up the commitment of Scout.com's No. 20-ranked prospect, Tony Parker of Miller Grove High in Lithonia, Ga., on Monday.
The 6-foot-9 Parker announced his intentions in front of a packed audience in a 45-minute ceremony and chose the Bruins over Ohio State, Georgia and Duke.
Parker became the fourth member of a monster recruiting class for Howland and joined No. 2-ranked Shabazz Muhammad, No. 4 Kyle Anderson and No. 76 Jordan Adams, enough to secure UCLA either the No. 1 or No. 2 ranking from most top recruiting services.
"It is icing on the cake today to have Tony Parker join this recruiting class," Howland said. "He is a great player that has an unbelievable work ethic.
"I'm so excited for our program to have a quality big man like Tony join our team and Bruin family. "
Parker will be in a crowded frontcourt that includes returning juniors Joshua Smith, Anthony Stover and David and Travis Wear, but Howland insisted he would battle for playing time early.
With a backcourt that returns Tyler Lamb and Norman Powell and adds North Carolina transfer Larry Drew Jr., the Bruins could jump into the preseason top 10.
"(Parker) is going to come in and compete right away for a starting position," Howland said. "This thing is wide open. We have 11 on scholarship and each position will be contested. He's competing for major minutes right away as a freshman."
Parker's commitment comes on the heels of Muhammad's selection of the Bruins over Kentucky and Duke, and he's now the second signee largely credited to assistant coach Korey McCray.
Parker and Adams played on McCray's Atlanta Celtics AAU team, and Howland gave McCray, whom he hired before last season, his due.
"No question, Korey McCray has done an incredible job recruiting both Jordan Adams and Tony Parker from his home state," Howland said. "Were he not on staff we wouldn't have gotten either one of those kids."
Howland highlighted the foursome's winning ways in high school as the group combined to go 128-13 last season. Adams led Oak Hill Academy to a 44-0 record, Muhammad guided Bishop Gorman to a Nevada state title, Anderson went 65-0 in his final two seasons at famed St. Anthony's in New Jersey and Parker became the first player to win four Georgia state championships. He also took home the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's "Mr. Basketball" honors this past season.
Howland knows with the star-studded lineup comes increased expectations. He almost sounds relieved they're back.
"What's the alternative to that?" Howland said. "That's my answer to that. These are the kinds of problems we want to have. High expectations, we have those anyway.
"We've failed to meet the high expectations we've had for this program two of the last three years."
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