Jabari Parker “Doesn’t Feel Comfortable” Answering Question About Mormon Mission
In my interview with Jabari Parker, I was highly intrigued by his religious background, because it was spotlighted in an excellent Sports Illustrated article. (The article also a bit unfairly called him the “best high school basketball player since LeBron James”; I personally think his game is a bit more perimeter oriented at the moment and his game reminds me more of Carmelo Anthony than LeBron.) A Mormon church is actually where Jabari Parker played the most basketball growing up, staying up late at the church, shooting hoops with his brothers below a painting of Jesus Christ. “That’s where Jabari became Jabari,” says his brother, Christian, 24. “His first dunk was in that building.” The article also mentioned how eventually Jabari will have to choose between going on a mission or possibly entering the NBA draft.
President of the Mormon Chruch Thomas Monson calls missionary service “a priesthood duty—an obligation the Lord expects of us who have been given so very much.”
When I asked Jabari when he anticipated making a decision about attending a Mormon mission and how early he has to get up for morning bible study, he responded politely, but sensitively:
“Well, if it’s OK with you, I don’t feel comfortable with the first question. But I have to get up at 5:00 o clock in the morning, and my ride picks me up at 5:30, and it starts from 6 to 7. I wished I lived in Utah, so I would be able to have that as a class. and I wouldn’t have to take it so early, but I think everything is given for a reason, and that’s helped me excel in school.”
That he is not comfortable answering the question I believe means two things. One: it is a decision that is incredibly important to him, and tipping his hand one way or another at this point is not something he wants to do; Jabari still has a year of high school classes, games, church, and seminary(early morning bible study) left and probably already has undue pressure from all those fronts potentially swaying his decision one way or the other. He has a full year of college until he really has to make a decision whether he will go on a mission, go back to college, or enter the NBA draft. Secondly, I think he honestly doesn’t know right now and doesn’t want to make a comment that he will end up going back on. The SI article mentions Parker’s older brother Christian saying, “”I told Jabari that if you have a desire to serve God, there is nothing that can replace a mission.” Those are the type of words that stick with a young man, especially when they are coming from his older brother.
“When he came home from his mission, we talked a lot about it,” Jabari says. “I want to go. But I have doubts. The NBA is the biggest dream of basketball players, and I’m no different.”
Jabari has also delayed making his college decision, so(according to his high school coach) that recruiters can see some more of his teammates next year. I asked Jabari if there was anyone on the team that he’d like to spotlight.
“Right now, I would like to spotlight Kendall Pollard. I think that he has just as much talent as me, but obviously I get a lot more opportunity. He’s very good; I hope he goes and finds himself at a really good college. Just for his mother, because I’m not sure he’s lived with his dad much. Just want him to be in the best situation possible.”
Parker’s religious beliefs only make him more humble, and seem to put things in perspective for him so that he avoids the pitfalls of ego; you get the sense hearing him speak that he knows he is a role model to many people and carries himself with humility, because of that. Parker is a very sharp young man, and if he is able to overcome his foot injury and lead Simeon Academy to their 4th straight Class 4A Illinois State Title, then I anticipate him winning Gatorade Boys’ Basketball Player of the Year in 2013 as well as Gatorade National Athlete of the Year.
You can listen to the audio of my interview with Jabari here
