Jabari Parker- Simeon Career Academy

            The University of Kansas. The University of Kentucky. The University of North Carolina. What do these schools all have in common? First of all, they are all known for having three of the most elite college basketball programs of all time and consistently signing the top recruits each year. What these schools also share is that none are on Jabari Parker’s list of the top five schools he is considering attending next fall which includes Brigham Young, Duke, Florida, Michigan State, and Stanford.

            Parker is one of the most sought after recruits of his class, ranking second in the nation for the class of 2013 according to ESPN. He was formerly ranked number one before the reclassification of Andrew Wiggins from Huntington Prep in Huntington, West Virgina. Yet, there is much more to Jabari Parker outside of his basketball talent.  When Parker is on your team, not only do you get an extremely gifted athlete, but also a faith-devoted, family oriented, leader.

            A devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Parker says that his faith has greatly structured the well-rounded person that he is today.

“[My faith] has impacted my life so much,” says Parker, “It helps me outside of the court and helps me master the things I want. [It also] helps obtain a good image because a lot of people look at that, and I want to make good decisions throughout my life.”

Although Parker recently announced that he will go to college in 2013 as opposed to immediately pursuing his Mormon mission following high school, it is “still in the clouds,” he says as to what he plans to do after his freshmen school year.

“I still haven’t decided, but you usually go [on a mission] at age 19.”

            In addition to his faith, Parker also credits his family and friends at church for being there to support him and help him develop both on and off the court.

“My parents and other family members are who I look up to. They’re always there for me. People at church have also helped in my spiritual growth. My brother has helped me by training me and getting my body together. He’s been helping me a lot.”

Previously injuring his right foot, Parker played in his first game in four months at the Chicago Elite Classic held at the UIC Pavilion on December 1st. After playing about half of the game due to a high score margin, Parker confidently stated, “The foot is good. Around my injury, like the ankle, it’s kind of sore because I’m not used to running. This is my first time running a lot, so it’s good.”

Attending the Classic were Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo, DePaul head coach Oliver Purnell, and University of Illinois head coach John Groce. Out of those three, Izzo is the only man left standing in the race for Parker. However, this may not have been the case at this time last year when Bruce Weber was still coaching the Fighting Illini and Illinois was still on Jabari Parker’s list.

“Our relationship’s been real good,” Parker says of Weber, “He’s [known] me longer than any of these head coaches in college basketball. I feel like we had a relationship. He knew me. I knew him. I liked his style, and I would have probably considered him if he [hadn’t left Illinois.]”

Parker says that he has only spoken with Weber once since he made the move to Kansas State.

“I’ve talked to him one time. That was in the spring, but the recruiting process kind of went down, and it just went off the wall as soon as I made my decision.”

As for his awaited decision regarding where he will attend school next fall, Parker says, “It’s just a lot of things that I have to worry about, and I’m trying to focus on things that are going to help me [in the future]. [My family] makes it my own decision. They don’t base it off anybody else. I don’t base my decision off anybody else.”

Parker does base one thing off of somebody else, and that is Chicago Bulls and former Simeon superstar Derrick Rose. 

“I compare myself [with Derrick] as far as just trying to impact Simeon in the best way I could. Everything that he had I want it --- state championships, individual accolades. I just want to beat him because that’s my competitive nature. I just want to leave Simeon with almost being the top dog.”

Those are high expectations for Parker coming out of a school with such a profound basketball history as Simeon Career Academy. With at least four alumni having NBA experience, Parker has had some big shoes to fill.

“It’s been good playing at Simeon. You look at a lot of people, and I look up to them. They went to your school, and it gives you another reason to play just as hard.”

Simeon is also the home to former high school basketball star Ben Wilson. Wilson, who was shot to death just prior to his senior season, was the first Chicago basketball player to be named the top high school basketball player in the country. Parker had Wilson’s iconic number 25 stitched to the team’s sneakers as a sign of respect for the Simeon great and was featured in the ESPN 30/30 special “Benji”.

Parker says of the “Benji” experience, “It was good. I just wanted to be there to support him. I know he’s not alive, so every time I get an opportunity I want to pay homage.”

Giving back and giving service to others is a very important part of Jabari Parker’s life. If he was not playing basketball, Parker says that he’d “probably be giving back to [the] community,” he says, “I’ve always wanted to be a community activist because there’s a lot of people that made it and supported me and are the reasons why I am succeeding today.”

Parker is expected to make his big college decision before the end of winter. Until then, he will be focusing on his goals for this season at Simeon.

“The most important goal for this year is winning the state championship. That’s what I want to win. All of the other individual accolades can handle itself, but I just want to anticipate every game like it’s my last.”

Ty Isaac- Joliet Catholic Academy

          Draped with offers from schools holding prestigious football traditions such as the University of Georgia, the Ohio State University, and the University of Oklahoma, in addition to many more, Joliet Catholic running back Ty Isaac has decided that next season he is going to take his talents to Los Angeles and play for the renowned Trojans of the University of Southern California.

“After my first visit, I kind of had my mind made up. I just had to wait for my family to come out and visit with me and see what their [opinion] was on everything,” says Isaac. Adding, “It’s a really good group of guys [on the team]; they play hard. I’m excited to get out there.”

At 6’3”, 217 pounds and one of the top running backs in the nation, Isaac has played at the varsity level for the Hilltoppers and head coach Dan Sharp since his freshmen year.

"We know Ty is a great football player. The impact [he] has made on our team and school community goes way beyond his talent. Ty is a great leader and has a strong competitive spirit to be the best. This is contagious; Ty makes everyone around him better,” says Sharp.

His most successful year coming as a junior, Isaac rushed for 2,114 yards with 45 touchdowns in addition to a state record breaking 515 yards with six touchdowns in the team’s loss to Montini in the 2011 state championship. Resulting from his unbelievable season, Isaac was named the 2011 Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year and the ESPNChicago.com Offensive Player of the Year.

Although Isaac hasn’t had as much playing time this season as in the past due to a shoulder injury that he suffered during the season opener against Providence Catholic, he has rushed for a total of 799 yards with ten touchdowns and is hoping to add on to these totals in the playoffs.

As a player, Ty doesn’t “categorize [himself] as anything,” saying, “I just try to do what I need to help the team out.” Personally, Isaac says that he brings to the Hilltoppers “a winning attitude and leadership.”

He has had an obviously impressive high school career, but what made it all come together for Ty Isaac? How did he become the special competitor that he is today?  

            Ty began his football career when he was just six years old as a center in Joliet’s public league. Transitioning to a running back after his first year, he continued in the league through eighth grade.

 “I always wanted [to be] a running back.  [That’s what] my dad played. The first year I wanted to it didn’t work out, but ever since then I’ve been playing.”

Ty had done well during his fifth through eighth grade seasons. However, when the time came for the rankings of the class of 2013, it was evident that Ty was something special.

“After they did the first rankings for our class going into freshmen year, I made the top one hundred. That was when it was like okay maybe you’re really good.”

Ty says that his family has been his biggest support system throughout his life and football career.

“They’ve impacted all of the decisions that I’ve made, my work ethic, and the way I play.”

Ty adds that his coaches have also always been there to support and help him with many of his decisions in addition to building on the work ethic that has been structured by his family.

As for his future coaching staff at USC, Ty has a “good relationship with them, and hopefully can build on it more once [he gets] out there.”

Ty recently had a discussion with a Trojan coach about the number that he will wear next season. Ty is number 32 at Joliet Catholic; the number he has worn for the majority of his life and also the number that his dad wore. Though, in honor of former USC star O.J. Simpson, the number is retired.

“I actually talked to the coach the other day. I want to wear number four when I’m there because I wore that my freshmen and sophomore years. If I can’t get four, I want to wear 2. So, we’ll see what happens.”

We’ll see what happens for sure. That is with the future of Ty Isaac and football. One thing is for sure, he has set himself up for a successful future with USC football and possibly even further than that.

In addition to cheering on the San Francisco 49ers and the Chicago Bulls, Ty’s plans for this offseason include working out and just getting better.

“I think, collectively, my whole game could be a lot better. It’s just going to take time to really pin point what acutely needs to be worked on, but we’ll figure it out and work harder.”

When asked about whether or not he ever feels any pressure on the field having the reputation that he does as an athlete, Ty simply responds, “No, but at the same time if you can’t play with pressure, you’re probably not very good.”

Ore Arogundade- Saint Viator High School

        Abable? Agunada? Arogunblabla? Actually, it’s Arogundade, and this past season, Ore led the Saint Viator boys’ varsity basketball team to a winning season with a school record breaking 25-4 record. But really, who is this guy? What makes him so special? What makes a sophomore guard averaging 14.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2.5 assists per game plus an average of 23 points during the playoffs so special?  “Ore is a great player and a great guy. He produces on the court and is always a great weapon,” says senior teammate Danny Forde, “Ore can do it all. He's a competitor and always wants to win.”

            “I want to be the best. To be the best, you have to put in the work,” says Arogundade on why he is so devoted to the game. “The time you put in to what you do is what you get out of it, and I just want to be the best. That’s what I strive for.”

            As a strong, 6’3, 16 year old whose dream is to play in the NBA, Arogundade models his game after Miami Heat forward Lebron James. Ore wears number 23, James’s previous number, as a replacement for number 6 due to the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) rule of no digit of a jersey surpassing 5. Arogundade looks upon James as a motivator. “The way he came from nothing and how he got to where he is now is inspiring,” says Arogundade of the superstar.

            Born in Nigeria, Arogundade moved to the United States when he was just three years old. “I started playing basketball when I was six. It was just a small park district league. I wasn’t that good,” says Arogundade of his early playing career.

            Ore credits his family with being the most supportive and encouraging throughout his life. “They are really a big impact. They help me and encourage me and are proud of me and my achievements and what I’ve done. When I got all conference and all area they were really supportive of me. My family is a big part of why I play basketball because I want to make it easy for them and go to the NBA so they don’t have to struggle anymore.”

“It’s great to have Ore on the same team as me because we connect well on the court,” says Mayo Arogundade, Ore’s brother and teammate.  “We have played on the same teams in the past, and we have always known how to play with each other and read what we’re going to do.” Ore’s views on having his brother as a teammate, “[Mayo] used to be better than me. I used to always be in his shadow, but this year I just wanted to break out of that and make a name for myself.”

This offseason you will catch Ore working out in the gym as much as possible. “I’m working more on my ball handling this spring and summer to get it to where it needs to be. [It’s] more of my weakness right now.” Ore adds of his efforts, “We make it look easy in the games, but you don’t know how much hard work we put into it outside.”