Updated: 2:35 pm | Published: 2:30 pm
Reported by: Krishna Neupaney
Jabari Parker on Sports Illustrated cover (SI)
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CHICAGO, IL (ABC 4 News) - Jabari Parker is a 17-year old basketball phenom and quite possible the next "must see star" of the NBA.
He was born with basketball genes. His father, Sonny Parker, played for the NBA's Golden State Warriors in the 70's and 80's. And Jabari has already made his own mark on the hardwood, leading his high school team to three Illinois state championships.
He's also a National Honor Society student with a 3.7 GPA.
He's even made the cover of Sports Illustrated.
And now, he's been on Good Morning America.
Jabari met Good Morning America's Katie Couric at an LDS ward house in Manhattan to shoot hoops and talk about his life and his religion. Jabari told Couric that he defines himself not by fame, academics or even basketball, but by his Mormon faith.
KATIE COURIC: "You're a Mormon. Do people think that's weird?
JABARI PARKER: "Yeah, they do. Once they think of Mormonism, they will look at a white guy. But it's worldwide."
COURIC: "Do you find yourself having to explain your religion a lot to people?"
PARKER: "Well, I do. Many people think that Mormons make their own furniture. And I got that-- that question a long time ago."
COURIC: "Why do you think there are so many misconceptions about Mormonism?"
PARKER: "Because it's not very popular. But the church is growing in so many ways and it's growing rapidly."
Parker has not made up his mind about an LDS mission, but he seems willing to be sidelined -- temporarily -- to pursue something that for him is even bigger than basketball. His mother, Lola Parker, said, "That'll be his choice to make, but we've encouraged him to, you know, be a good person. And that's all we can hope for."
Any LDS mission is still a couple years away. Jabari's more immediate concerns are finishing his senior year at the Simeon Career Academy on Chicago's south side.
He'll also need to choose a college. They all want him.
PARKER: "I'm lookin' at almost every school right now. And it's a evaluation period for me as well. They're not just lookin' at me, I'm lookin' at them."
COURIC: "Well there you go, take that coaches, right?
PARKER: "Right!"
COURIC: "So you're gonna be picky?"
PARKER: "Uh-huh. Well, you have to be. You have to be selfish for yourself because this is the biggest decision of your life."
Just one of many big decisions this 17-year old from Chicago will face in the next few years.
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