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RUTGERS MEN’S BASKETBALL
Knights get top recr uit in 6-2 guard Kwe Parker
JERRY CARINO
@NJHOOPSHAVEN
Eddie Jordan’s 2016 recruiting class just opened with a bang. Make that a kaboom.
Kwe Parker, an explosive guard who is widely regarded as one of the top pure athletes in all of high school basketball, tweeted his verbal commitment to Rutgers Sunday. The North Carolina native, who was considered a Rutgers lean since he visited the campus in June, picked the Scarlet Knights over Wake Forest.
The 6-foot-2, 165-pound shooting guard with a 45inch vertical leap is ranked as the No. 90 player in the Class of 2016 by Rivals.com. His high-flying, acrobatic dunks have made him a YouTube sensation.
Parker averaged 14 points per game last season for national power Wesleyan Christian Academy (N.C.) before suffering a broken foot in early February.
“He’s an explosive athlete, lighting quick,” said Kevin Graves, who coached Parker for five years with the Karolina Diamonds of the AAU circuit. “The kid really gets after it. We probably won’t see another 6-2 athlete like Kwe in North Carolina for another 10, 15 years.”
Graves said the highlight videos don’t tell the whole story.
“They don’t show the chase-down blocks, the ball screens, all the intangibles,” he said.
Here are two evaluations:
ESPN.com: An extremely athletic wing player who is a little undersized for the 2 right now. He’s a slasher who can get to the basket at will and thrives above the rim. A true highlight reel player who embraces that aspect of his game.
Scout.com: Parker ranks among the most explosive guards in the Class of 2016. He utilizes excellent quickness and leaping ability to make spectacular plays above the rim. Meanwhile, he’s also a versatile defender who has worked hard to round out the rough edges in terms of skills.
So how did Rutgers land a player with such upside? Assistant coach Van Macon laid the groundwork, and when Parker broke his foot, the Scarlet Knights continued to make him a priority while other suitors backed off.
It also helped that Parker has a chance to pair with another high-octane guard — incoming playmaker Corey Sanders — in Rutgers’ backcourt. Jordan has yearned to implement an up-tempo, free-flowing scheme since his arrival in 2013, and this pair suits his vision.
“He really likes the (Rutgers) staff, and he knows Corey Sanders good,” Graves said, noting that the pair hit it off as contestants in the Jordan Brand dunk contest. “They’re both unbelievable athletes. They should be great together.”
Graves said Parker started playing again on Memo
See KNIGHTS, Page jcarino@gannettnj.com.
's the article from Jerry Carino
RUTGERS MEN’S BASKETBALL
Knights get top recr uit in 6-2 guard Kwe Parker
JERRY CARINO
@NJHOOPSHAVEN
Eddie Jordan’s 2016 recruiting class just opened with a bang. Make that a kaboom.
Kwe Parker, an explosive guard who is widely regarded as one of the top pure athletes in all of high school basketball, tweeted his verbal commitment to Rutgers Sunday. The North Carolina native, who was considered a Rutgers lean since he visited the campus in June, picked the Scarlet Knights over Wake Forest.
The 6-foot-2, 165-pound shooting guard with a 45inch vertical leap is ranked as the No. 90 player in the Class of 2016 by Rivals.com. His high-flying, acrobatic dunks have made him a YouTube sensation.
Parker averaged 14 points per game last season for national power Wesleyan Christian Academy (N.C.) before suffering a broken foot in early February.
“He’s an explosive athlete, lighting quick,” said Kevin Graves, who coached Parker for five years with the Karolina Diamonds of the AAU circuit. “The kid really gets after it. We probably won’t see another 6-2 athlete like Kwe in North Carolina for another 10, 15 years.”
Graves said the highlight videos don’t tell the whole story.
“They don’t show the chase-down blocks, the ball screens, all the intangibles,” he said.
Here are two evaluations:
ESPN.com: An extremely athletic wing player who is a little undersized for the 2 right now. He’s a slasher who can get to the basket at will and thrives above the rim. A true highlight reel player who embraces that aspect of his game.
Scout.com: Parker ranks among the most explosive guards in the Class of 2016. He utilizes excellent quickness and leaping ability to make spectacular plays above the rim. Meanwhile, he’s also a versatile defender who has worked hard to round out the rough edges in terms of skills.
So how did Rutgers land a player with such upside? Assistant coach Van Macon laid the groundwork, and when Parker broke his foot, the Scarlet Knights continued to make him a priority while other suitors backed off.
It also helped that Parker has a chance to pair with another high-octane guard — incoming playmaker Corey Sanders — in Rutgers’ backcourt. Jordan has yearned to implement an up-tempo, free-flowing scheme since his arrival in 2013, and this pair suits his vision.
“He really likes the (Rutgers) staff, and he knows Corey Sanders good,” Graves said, noting that the pair hit it off as contestants in the Jordan Brand dunk contest. “They’re both unbelievable athletes. They should be great together.”
Graves said Parker started playing again on Memo
See KNIGHTS, Page jcarino@gannettnj.com.
's the article from Jerry Carino
