Jabari Dec. 20
 

Dad doesn't think it will be BYU.

I don't think it will be BYU either.

That's what I've said all along. BYU is on his top 5 list just to make him and/or his parents feel good about putting the church so high in his life. The reality is that it will be one of the big boys that he chooses in the end.

I don't think we should be upset about that.

However don't discount a man's ability to think from below the belt. A lot of good lookin' LDS girls at BYU.

I won't be upset, saddened and unsurprised.

I predict he'll select Duke but wouldn't be surprised with Michigan State. Selecting the natural basketball schools is what most bball players would do. Maybe I would have done so at his age. However, without meaning to sound judgmental, his selecting any of the powers is a bit selfish in that it is ultimately about him. He is a talent that could play at Chicago State and still play in the NBA, so he doesn't need a big program. If he some how selects BYU, it will be a victory for his culture, because his play will be about him and his culture. It won't happen as he has been part of big time for so long, and there is nobody counseling him in that direction. Thus, we won't see it happen, but it would be a small miracle.

Romney got clobbered. Now the best LDS high school player of all time goes for the natural, anti-cultural program. It is not a good time for LDS culture. The LDS moment is gone.

The only way he would announce BYU is if he were a politician trying to create a big a splash possible, by leaking out rumors he is choosing Duke or MSU. Surprise element.

Not going to happen. Jabari will be a Blue Devil.

I give BYU less than 5 percent chance.

It could be even lower; South Bend is in his virtual backyard and I think seeing how positive an influence Manti has had might be considered a de facto mission for Jabari.

I'd love to see him at BYU but I know he's not going to be and nor would I advise him to do anything but play for Coach K.

Jabari can play any where and go to the NBA, literally.

He doesn't need Michigan State or Duke. It's just a question of which cultural experience he wants.

Does he want a storied basketball program, such as Duke?
Does he want to play with a basketball program such as MState?

Or does he also want a Mormon cultural experience with a very good basketball program and some good talent in the pipeline?

I don't know what he wants. I sometimes suspect he simply wants to play close to home, which favors MState.

Rose has enough talents at developing players that he will be a top draft pick under Rose if that is his path, which I don't believe it is.