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Jabari Parker's potential Mormon mission takes new turn

Top high school recruit Jabari Parker now has the ability to go on a Mormon mission following his graduation from high school and before entering college if he so chooses.

By Jeff Briggs
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-US PRESSWIRE - Presswire

Jabari Parker, the top-ranked senior high school basketball player in the country, has a new twist in his road to the NBA, according to ESPN Chicago. Parker, a forward at Chicago Simeon Career Academy, is a Mormon, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recently decided to lower the minimum age for serving a mission from 19 to 18.

Parker had planned on attending college for at least one year before deciding whether to go on a mission or enter the NBA draft. Now he has the ability to go on a mission following his graduation from high school. Parker's father said his son had not decided if he wants to go on a mission or not yet, but they had discussed the matter.

Parker told Sports Illustrated, "I want to go (on a mission). But I have doubts. The NBA is the biggest dream of basketball players, and I'm no different." Parker has narrowed down his college choice to five schools: BYU, Duke, Florida, Michigan State, and Stanford.