One of the nation's top recruiting classes got even better Monday when five-star center
Tony Parker of
Miller Grove (Lithonia, Ga.) committed to UCLA.
The Bruins have already signed two of the top three prospects in the 2012 class in
Shabazz Muhammad and
Kyle Anderson. Muhammad and Anderson were finalists for MaxPreps National Player of the Year honors as seniors.
Tony Parker
Photo by Lonnie Webb
of
Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) is the fourth member of the signing class, rated No. 3 nationally by MaxPreps earlier this month.
The announcement itself will go down in basketball recruiting lore, lasting close to an hour and featuring over a dozen speakers. Duke, Georgia and Ohio State were also in the mix for Parker's services.
The 6-foot-9, 270-pound post man is one of the most accomplished players in the 2012 class. He helped Miller Grove capture four Class AAAA state championships and won a gold medal with USA Basketball's U17 team at the 2010 FIBA World Championship.
Parker was the Atlanta Journal Constitution's All-Class Georgia Player of the Year as a senior, averaging over 16 points and 11 rebounds per game. He tallied a season-high 30 points to go along with 12 rebounds in a state semifinal victory over Jonesboro.
The future Bruin earned National Junior of the Year honors from MaxPreps following the 2010-11 season after posting 17.5 points and 15.6 rebounds per outing, leading the Wolverines to a 31-1 record. Miller Grove finished ranked No. 6 nationally.
Entering the day, Parker was one of just four Top 25 prospects in the Class of 2012 yet to make a decision. No. 11
Anthony Bennett of
Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.), No. 16
Amile Jefferson of
Friends' Central (Wynnewoode, Pa.) and No. 19
Devonta Pollard of
Kemper County (DeKalb, Miss.) are the final holdouts among the nation's five-star talents.
