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Duke’s Parker enters NBA draft; Hood to follow
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
Duke All-American Jabari Parker entered the 2014 NBA Draft, announcing his decision in a thoughtful self-authored piece published by Sports Illustrated.
Teammate Rodney Hood followed not far behind. According to reports on Thursday, Hood also opted to leave Duke to make himself available for the NBA Draft in June.
Parker said the tug of good friend and No. 1 overall recruit Jahlil Okafor joining him in Durham next season was legitimate, but Parker opted on Tuesday to thank coach Mike Krzyzewski for helping develop as a person and player in what will be his only season in college basketball.
“Ultimately, I boiled my decision down to two simple questions,” Parker writes.
“Which environment — college or the NBA — offers me the best opportunity to grow as a basketball player? Which environment — college or the NBA — offers me the best opportunity to grow and develop off the court? The answer to both questions is undeniably the NBA.”
Parker was the No. 2-ranked recruit out of Chicago and is projected as a top-three pick in the 2014 draft. Kansas freshmen Joel Embiid and Andrew Wiggins and Kentucky freshman Julius Randle are also considered locks to be drafted near the top.
“My father, Sonny, played in the NBA. I know firsthand that the career span of a pro basketball player is finite,” Parker wrote. “The lucky ones play until their mid-30s. With that perspective, I shrink my professional career with each year that I remain in college. It’s ironic, but true. I have lived with great expectations ever since I dunked for the first time at age 14. I take losing very personally because I don’t like letting people down. Not fans. Not teammates. Especially not Coach K. That’s another reason why this decision has been so tough. I wanted to go out on a winning note.
“Growing up, I couldn’t afford the newest gym shoes or the latest fashion fads. But I always had my milk crate nailed to a light post in the alley near my home in Chicago. That’s where I fell in love with the game that has brought excitement and passion to my life. I am now ready to take the leap to the NBA. It’s a dream come true.”
Yahoo! Sports reported Hood’s intentions on Thursday afternoon. He averaged 16.3 points and 4.2 rebounds and shot 40.8 percent from 3-point range this past season as a sophomore. Hood sat out the 2012-13 season after playing at Mississippi State as a freshman.
Draft projections list Hood as a being selected somewhere in the 20s during the first round on June 27.
