Tony Parker picks UCLA over UGA, which needed him more
This isn't football. Georgia doesn't get everybody it wants. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
The most accomplished player in the history of Georgia high school basketball announced Monday that he would play collegiately three time zones away. He’d been recruited hard by the flagship university of the state he’d dominated, but Tony Parker declined to remain, to use his phrase, “a hometown hero.”
Then Parker said this: “That would have been the easy way out.”
If you’re Mark Fox, who coaches the Georgia Bulldogs, you’re surely wondering if there will be an easy way. Fox has signed two of Parker’s Miller Grove teammates, and through force of will he elbowed his way onto a short list that was essentially a Mount Rushmore of college hoops. And still: No sale.
“They got in there,” said Norman Parker (no relation), who’s president of the AAU Georgia Stars, for whom Tony Parker played summer ball. “Just to be in that lineup sends the message that Georgia is getting there.”
Trouble is, recruiting comes with no consolation prizes. When Parker is teaming with fellow freshmen Shabazz Muhammad and Kyle Anderson and Jordan Adams to restore the UCLA Bruins to national eminence, who lifts Georgia? And if the Bulldogs can’t convince a gifted and determined young man who grew up 60 miles away that the road to glory can run through Stegeman Coliseum, what hope is there?
We’re constantly reminded that this state produces top-shelf basketball talent. On Monday we were reminded why coaching basketball at this state’s flagship university is among the more difficult jobs in the land. To have signed Tony Parker would have put UGA on the map. In the end, Parker chose a school where his chosen sport isn’t considered a nerdy little brother.
The caps on display on the stage at Miller Grove told the tale: UCLA( 11 national titles); Duke (four titles); Ohio State (one title, plus two Final Four runs in the past six season) … and Georgia, which has won seven NCAA tournament games in its history, one this century. (Kansas, with three NCAA titles, was apparently eliminated before the caps were arrayed.)
And the world of college basketball is changing in a way that doesn’t augur well for a program trying to establish its bona fides. The big-name recruits are bonding around big-name schools. Said Norman Parker, whose Georgia Stars have sent 11 players to the NBA: “These young men gravitate to each other and are going with each other – maybe not to become the next Fab Five, but [in UCLA’s case] a Fab Four.”
Georgia’s hope was that Tony Parker would want play near home, but for an athlete who steeped in the AAU system distance has become less of a determinant. “He’s so oriented to travel,” Norman Parker said. “If he had to get on a plane and fly to Germany tonight it wouldn’t bother him.”
Don’t think that friendships forged along the AAU circuit can’t override physical mileage. All the best players know one another, and they’ve taken to clustering in search of an NCAA title. (Kentucky’s recent championship is already the new model.) Nor did it hurt that UCLA hired Korey McCray, who was CEO of the AAU Atlanta Celtics, last summer as an assistant coach.
Said Norman Parker: “I’m sure that connection helped. [McCray] was a pipeline directly to the [Tony Parker] family – that’s my guess … They didn’t hire [McCray] for his looks.”
But here’s the cruel part: UCLA would have had a splendid recruiting class without Tony Parker. Georgia needed him badly. To have paired one McDonald’s All-American (guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who just completed his freshman season) with another in the massive Parker would have suggested that Fox is becoming a major player in a majorly bountiful state. Moot point now.
Said Tony Parker: “I’ve done a lot for [the state of] Georgia, and Georgia has done a lot for me. It’s time for me to broaden my horizons.”
As for the flagship university of the state Parker will leave: How should it feel? Proud to have come so close in a field of heavy hitters? Or frustrated to see a big-timer walk away?
“It’s a little bit of both,” said Sharman White, who coached Parker to four state championships at Miller Grove. “You hate to see talent leave the state, but Georgia came a long way. It was not in this conversation six months ago, even three months ago.”
Someone suggested that Parker bore the look of a player who could have had a transforming effect on the Bulldogs. “Coach Fox is a great coach, and he’s going to get that guy [eventually]’” White said. “It’ll come real soon.”
Then White said: “If he’d have gotten Tony, it would have been monumental.”
By Mark Bradley
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162 comments Add your comment
I dropped my fried twinkie
April 24th, 2012
12:36 am
Cindy you do understand I am calling out UGA fans for Slamming the kid for leaving the state. You need to read my post again. I hate how the dwag fans not hate the kid when they loved him a Noon today.
ROLLSnMOLES
April 24th, 2012
12:37 am
You stand corrected. Miss my twinkies.
herschel squawker
April 24th, 2012
12:41 am
Cindy you do understand I am going to slam the Bulldogs……
milk
April 24th, 2012
12:46 am
here’s why TP didn’t pick uga… http://www.basketballreference.com/players/bycollege.htm?sch=University+of+Georgia
honey
April 24th, 2012
12:49 am
Do better than that dumbace…Quality pros in that lineup…Clearly a troll and not a basketball fan. Gnight…sanchize
I dropped my fried twinkie
April 24th, 2012
12:51 am
herschel I really want that SEC tennis trophy.
honey
April 24th, 2012
12:51 am
lmao..non basketball boy!
milk
April 24th, 2012
12:51 am
and what about shaq goodwin. he picked a school in a practically neighboring state. YOU’RE A FOOTBALL SCHOOL!
herschel squawker
April 24th, 2012
12:52 am
malcontent
honey
April 24th, 2012
12:54 am
Dawg hater…lol
UcantCLA
April 24th, 2012
2:35 am
UCLA has more players in the NBA than any other college,re-designed Pauly Pavillion, LA weather/women, a top recruiting class coming in and a fan base that supports basketball. And more banners (we only hang championships) in the rafters than any other school. That’s why he went to UCLA. UGA should be ashamed to pull in the revenue they do (top 3 in college) and play basketball in that barn, support ur product before u point fingers.
BravesFan79
April 24th, 2012
5:28 am
Can we stop calling this kid a “georgia legend” already. He will be quickly forgotten in Atlanta and Ga!
dean
April 24th, 2012
6:37 am
The only thinig I don’t like about his quotes is this “I’ve already done alot for the state of Georgia”. I wonder what he thinks qualifies as alot for the state. Good luck to him but that’s quite an attitude I’m not sure that any team needs. Besdies, if he goes pro afterone season it would not have helped UGA. With him UGA wouldn’t vie for a NCAA title next season. UGA is going to have to build in a different way.
dean
April 24th, 2012
6:40 am
Are UCLA fans actually saying negatives about UGA. YOur football program is an absolute joke. Your basketball program somehow finds itself in slimy controversy on a routine basis. Your a second cousin to USC and that’s the ugly truth.
GT
April 24th, 2012
7:03 am
UCLA once again has pimped itself out.
ozzfest
April 24th, 2012
7:17 am
WHO CAN BLAME A KID FOR WANTING TO LEAVE THE SOUTH?
….BEEN TO WESTWOOD LATELY?
….THE GETTY CENTER AT THE TOP OF THE HILL.
….SANTA MONICA 15 MINUTES AWAY
UH…YEAH, HE MADE THE RIGHT MOVE.
GO DOGS!
Buzz2011
April 24th, 2012
7:23 am
Parker needede to play in a big time basketball conference. I am surprised he didn’t go to Duke or North Carolina though. In regards to Dawgs, I didn’t even know they had a basketball team..
BravesFan79
April 24th, 2012
7:33 am
Both Derrick Favors and Jarvis Crinnenton were both kids rated higher than this kid. So was Gani Lawal. Go Jackets! And wouldnt Dwight Howard be the best player out of Atlanta? Hes FAR from the best Ga has ever produced!
WTF
April 24th, 2012
7:43 am
This isn’t about what you guys want. It isn’t about what UGA ‘needs’ .
It’s about what the kid wants to do. In this case it IS all about him…and his family. Leave it be. Knowing this sport and the ne’er-do-wells that play itl, he’ll be back in the state soon anyway…or off to the senior ne’er-do-well league – the NBA.
But I do like the auto spell-check thingy (it puts a red squiggly line under ‘UGA’)…now get rid of that Meebo thing.
ty
April 24th, 2012
7:49 am
Most accomplished player in Georgia History??? I doubt that.
msd
April 24th, 2012
8:02 am
why do people get all crazy over this. are they not looking at kentucky. the entire 5 starters are leaving. if this kid had a breakout year, he’d leave too. and def by his sophmore year. so bfd.
Bluesbrother
April 24th, 2012
8:06 am
Georgia is better off “Let him Go!!!!!!!”
RT
April 24th, 2012
8:08 am
What made this such an emotional disappointment was we were made to believe we had a real shot to only be left at the alter for someone else. Had we never been in his top 5 it wouldn’t have stung as much. He would have been remember forever had he come to Georgia and would have worked under a great coach but it just wasn’t meant to be.
RCB
April 24th, 2012
8:23 am
The “good guys” (ie those who do not offer a one year trip to the NBA-a la Kentucky and now UCLA) will finish last as long as there are bad guys who are willing to cut the corners. Here’s my recommendation. If you want to play college ball, you have to actually attend college (ie not just long enough to play in the NCAA tournament your freshman year).It is hard for UGA to have to compete against the bad guys. But it is worse for the NCAA. Effectively college programs are now competing against NBA preseason programs which start in high school and end freshman year. I say take away the freshman year and let those guys choose the NBA and be clean about it.Don’t give a good basketball player the prestige of a college admission or the stage of a NCAA final.
Jimmy Crack
April 24th, 2012
8:26 am
Nothing will ever change with this state. Talented hoops kids leaving in droves. Georgia’s best player would even rather go 3000 miles away to a school sitting in the middle of a war zone like Los Angeles with race riots and gangs running the streets, than stay in his home state where his family lives.
I am beginning to think that some old gypsy woman who hates basketball has put a curse on the state of Georgia.
WhinnyDawg
April 24th, 2012
8:46 am
The top high school players should all attend the illustrious University of Georgia. We have it all tobacco chewing, beer drinking, snuff dipping, hundreds of bars, a woman and miles of red clay.
urban redneck
April 24th, 2012
9:21 am
who cares? it’s basketball.
GFY
April 24th, 2012
10:13 am
Non Story…..time to move on….who cares what he does as it is his decision….might be broke in a few years like the majority of professional basketball players.
Bruins Rule!!
April 24th, 2012
10:23 am
tony wanted to play for a big time program in a 24/7 party city, LA!!!! With parker and the other studs on the roster, the bruins will be a force in the NCAAs — a final 4 run is coming.
PMC
April 24th, 2012
10:27 am
College Sports is Minor League for the pros. Not really sure why people expect otherwise?
flagboy?
April 24th, 2012
10:54 am
AAU basketball. There are so many crooks in that whole deal it’s unbelievable. Throw in summer “travel ALL-STAR baseball teams” (which parents pay for. . . you pay money to be an “All-star”. . .riiight) while you’re at it. Two organizations that are really a pain in the butt of any decent high school coach who doesn’t want to kiss their behinds. . .
Good luck to this kid. From some of his quotes, he seems to think a lot of himself, and why wouldn’t he when he’s been told how great he is for the past 5 to 6 years.
Go Dawgs.
ARdawg
April 24th, 2012
11:28 am
Good Luck to Parker on his decision. UCLA is having a great recruiting class but, that doesn’t equate to wins. UGA football is an example. Seems Parker weight most of his decision on joining an established winner. Hope it works out like he thinks it will
LHarding Dawg
April 24th, 2012
11:39 am
The kid probably should have talked with Jarvis Jones before heading to California. Anyways best of luck out on the left coast.
bluebru
April 24th, 2012
11:45 am
@Jimmy, get your facts right Westwood is no where near where the LA Riots were. And also Georgia has gangs as well, so stop acting like you guys are just saints down there ie beginning on the KKK.
McDawg
April 24th, 2012
11:46 am
don’t let the door hit ya on your……….
next
Cindy
April 24th, 2012
11:56 am
Hey JDawg That articel was written by a LIAR. All of the things in that article where LIES. Maybe thats why no one is talking about it anymore.
Cindy
April 24th, 2012
11:58 am
I ment to say Article. I get so mad when someone says they believe that morons article that I can’t think straight.
Frank Lane
April 24th, 2012
12:29 pm
We don’t want anyone who would keep his friends and local supporters waiting for 57 minutes so he could announce he was dumping on them and defecting to UCLA has a problem attitude.
Frank Lane
April 24th, 2012
12:30 pm
He has a problem attitude.
charles s.
April 24th, 2012
12:32 pm
College basketball is a joke and will remain so until the NBA does away with the 1-year rule.
LOL
April 24th, 2012
1:02 pm
OK Twinkie, what did you not understand. Parker press conference 1 hour Crowell with the dog and another teammate about 20 min. The dog was a bit much but not near the level of garbage at this “lets pay homage to me” press charade.
Otis My Man
April 24th, 2012
1:16 pm
I wouldnt want this goofball anyway. An hour to tell us UCLA- SEE YA Loser!
Let me try to make a point about one player not being the entire team
April 24th, 2012
3:15 pm
I Love H Walker and actually met him and his sister and his wife, in Miami Airport about 28 years ago with my wife. When Walker left UGA for the Pros, I did not fault him at all.
The year after Hershal left UGA, we went to the Cotton Bowl and DEFEATED # 1 Texas 10-9. Walker was gone, That day UGA played hard nosed old time D and we won and ended up #4. He was gone but UGA played D all year long and ended up playing # 1 Texas with Fred Akers as their coach.
Dominick Wilkins rightly left UGA for the NBA and the very next year UGA went to the Final Four and that is our lone Final Four shot. See? One guy doe snot make a team, then or now. Good luck Young Parker !! UCLA is a great school and BB program.
CMF needs to keep building and recruiting and UGA can claim to be a respectable BB program within two or three more years. UGA would be happy to always go about 23-10 or 22-11 year in and year out and have shots in the SEC Tourney and get reg invites to the Big Dance. THIS IS OUR GOAL.
If CMF does this ……………he will have built UGA into respectability …………..THAT is what UGA grads seek, not MNCs in BB.
Goooooooooooooo Dogs.
Robert L
April 24th, 2012
3:23 pm
TO ALL YOU GEORGIA BULLDOG FANS….WELCOME TONY PARKER TO WESTWOOD, HOME OF 11 NATIONAL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS. SMART YOUNG MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
Matt from MN
April 24th, 2012
4:40 pm
59 minute press conference/announcement? Please.
“Said Tony Parker: “I’ve done a lot for [the state of] Georgia, and Georgia has done a lot for me. It’s time for me to broaden my horizons.”
Really? Give me a break. You are a 17, or so, year old bball player, it’s not like you’ve cured cancer.
This is just ridiculous on all levels.
Jim
April 24th, 2012
4:52 pm
Considering the ’show’ Parker orchestrated I think this is one kid UGA did not need. When the big fish in a small pond comes packed with attitude it’s trouble. Terrell Pryor ring any bells?
chuck
April 24th, 2012
5:14 pm
What have you done for the state of Georgia, Tony? He will be gone after his first year anyway. So, who cares.
UKISSECKING
April 24th, 2012
8:20 pm
UK is The King of Basketball…UGA is a Football school…Do what you do best..
rugbydawg79
April 24th, 2012
10:30 pm
i know i should not care–but I hope he falls-good luck in never never land kid–could have been a hero
Hollywood Hugh
April 24th, 2012
11:20 pm
Another superstar that wants to play in LA for ucla and party 24/7 in the crazy wild hollywood clubs—what else is new? Ga had no chance to get this star.