A growing number of NBA scouts believe Duke star Jabari Parker will return to college for his sophomore year. ESPN's Chad Ford reports some scouts are already claiming Parker won't declare for the 2014 NBA draft.
Ford answered a question on Wednesday about whether Parker and Kansas center Joel Embiid would enter the draft.
"Both are weighing their options. Both are seriously considering returning ... with Parker so much so that several scouts are claiming he's coming back to school," Ford wrote. "... Parker is really NBA ready. He could obviously improve if he stayed, but he's a NBA starter from Day One. He'll get minutes and playing against the best competition is the best way to improve.
"The only good reason for him to stay is because he loves college, wants to lead Duke to a NCAA Championship and is OK just waiting."
As early as January Parker had been reported as leaning toward staying in college. Duke's roster will be vastly improved next season with incoming freshmen Jahlil Okafor, Tyus Jones and Justise Winslow, an added incentive to return.
"...The growing view among NBA executives seems to be Jabari Parker will not leave Duke this year," Sam Smith of Bulls.com wrote on Jan. 21. "Chicagoan Jahlil Okafor, a Parker friend and big man, is going to Duke next season. Parker is a bright young man with a strong family and the feeling is he understands both the importance of education and feels he owes Duke and the chance to have a great Duke team, which more than likely is the next two seasons.
"Plus, Parker has seen what staying in school has done for other greats compared with the tough starts for even stars like Kobe Bryant."
The Blue Devils' early exit from the NCAA Tournament would seemingly give Parker more reason to return.
The deadline to declare for the NBA draft is April 27.
