Dave Daniels- Rant Sports
Jahlil Okafor has a pretty fantastic junior year, but it didn’t end the way he wanted. Jabari Parker’s Simeon Academy ended up eliminating Whitney Young in the sectional semifinals. The Wolverines were on the way to their fourth straight state championship, which was reportedly a goal of Parker’s as a freshman.
Okafor was named the Chicago Sun Times player of the year, and even said at the time he won it that knocking Simeon off in the state playoffs would mean more to him, but that didn’t end up happening. He also lost out on Mr. Basketball and the state Gatorade award to Parker.
That all changes next year. Many opposing coaches this year said that Okafor was the best player in the country and that you couldn’t really gameplan for his skill set. He will absolutely own Chicago basketball next year and he could even make a run at the Gatorade National High School Boys Basketball Player of the Year Award.
I actually tried to go to the Okafor-Parker game live, but alas it was sold out and I neglected to get credentials. I watched the end of the game though on my computer and as Whitney Young left the court, you could see that Okafor was in tears.
Something tells me he will come out trying to prove something next year, which is a terrifying thought for opposing high school basketball teams.
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