Jabari Parker’s Headed to the NBA, Texas Tech Needs Some Quarterbacks

On Thursday, the early exit to the NBA continued as Duke‘s Jabari Parker said he’d leave school and head to the league. He is expected to be the third or fourth pick along with Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid as the other key prospects.

Parker was the country’s top freshman with his 19.1 points and 8.7 rebound average on Duke’s 26-9 team.

Jabari Parker

The player said in a statement through Duke, “Coming out of high school, I knew that Duke was going to be a great fit for me and it ended up being one of the best experiences of my life. I cannot thank Coach K enough for all his love and guidance. I had the opportunity to pick his brain throughout the year and it really paid off. I have learned how to be a man on and off the court and to be strong mentally going into practices and games. I appreciate him for challenging me to be better each and every day.”

Parker also said via Sports Illustrated that his decision came based up answers to two questions, “Which environment — college or the NBA — offers me the best opportunity to grow as a basketball player?” and “Which environment — college or the NBA — offers me the best opportunity to grow and develop off the court?”

Yep, he answered the NBA. Also affecting his decision is the fact that his father Sonny is a former NBA player and he knows that the career span can be short.

In addition to Parker’s announcement on Thursday, his teammate Rodney Hood said he’ll head to the NBA too. Hood, who played in college for three years, averaged 16.3 points and 4.2 rebounds this season. For 3-pointers, he shot 40.8%.

He is projected at a No. 22 pick.

While Duke is losing these two players, they’ll add two talented recruits, Tyus Jones and Jahlil Okafor, and will have Quinn Cook, Amile Jefferson and Rasheed Sulaimon returning.

And as things happen in threes, James Young of Kentucky also announced he’s headed to the NBA. This last season, he had a 14.3 point and 4.3 rebound average. Draft Express has said he’s projected to be the No. 15 pick.

As they leave college behind, here’s early odds for the 2015 Men’s NCAA Basketball Championship:

Arizona +600
Duke +700
Kansas +1,200
Kentucky +1,200
Wisconsin +1,200
Florida +1,500
North Carolina +1,500

In other NCAA sports, then there was one.

Davis Webb

Texas Tech is down to one quarterback, the starter Davis Webb, as walk-on quarterbacks Mike Richardson and Tanner Tausch have said they’e leaving this week. This spring, Tausch, who oversaw the second team’s offense, will stay at the school but Richardson is leaving it as he hopes to find another program that will allow him to play.

This seems to be the new business as usual for this team as they’ve lost five quarterbacks in six months. But they’ll be adding to their skinny roster soon.

From its recruiting class, Patrick Mahomes will be joining (a three star) as well as some walk-ons including Vincent Testaverde. Yes, he’s the son of Vinny Testaverde, the Heisman winner.

According to CBS Sports, Mahomes was Texas Tech’s only quarterback in its 2014 recruiting class. He could find himself as the team’s backup but he’s also a baseball player (yep, his dad was MLB pitcher Pat Mahomes). There is the possibility the MLB could draft him in the summer.

And from the class of 2015, top quarterback prospect Jarrett Stidham (a four star) has committed.

As for Webb, he won the starting role just last week. The sophomore led his team to a 37-23 Holiday Bowl win last year over No. 14 Arizona State, passing for 403 yards with four touchdowns.

For Texas Tech, they’re not even on Vegas’ radar for the 2015 FBS Championship while Florida State sits at 9/2 to win it, followed by Alabama at 6/1 and Oregon at 13/2.