Simeon: Still the Big Brother

Was it not being named Chicago Player of the Year? Was it the quest to win four state championships in a row? Whatever it was, senior forward Jabari Parker showed why he is considered one of the top players in the country and led Simeon to a 69-51 win over rival Whitney Young in the Argo sectional finals. Back in January when Whitney Young was looking like the most impressive team in the city of Chicago and getting national recognition, Parker said that “they (Whitney Young) are the younger brother and we will always be the top dog in Chicago.” With a spot in the Illinois state finals on the line, Parker backed up his words with 29 points and 13 rebounds in his most impressive outing of his final high school season. 

Parker dominates on his way downstate

Parker started off the game firing threes and mixing it up down low to score nine first quarter points. To go along with Parker’s aggressive offensive mind frame, Simeon employed their standard 2-3 zone in an attempt to slow big man and current Chicago player of the year, Jahlil Okafor. While Okafor dominated throughout the season, Simeon is the one team that knows how to slow him down. With their zone defense, Simeon previously kept Okafor in single digits the past two match-ups. Despite the zone, Okafor managed five first quarter points while junior guard L.J. Peak continued his hot streak from the night before with six. For Simeon, Parker hit a three from the left wing to go with three baskets down low to give Simeon an 18-16 first quarter lead.  

In the second quarter, the rest of Simeon’s talented seniors stepped up especially point guard Jaylon Tate and shooting guard Kendrick Nunn. Nunn started the quarter off with a basket, while Tate hit a short jump shot to key a 5-0 run. Whitney Young’s junior guards were sloppy with their passes against the zone which led to turnover and easy baskets for Simeon as a close game was quickly stretched out to a 31-24 lead. 

Just like the second quarter, Simeon’s seniors outplayed Whitney Young’s junior class during the second half as well. Despite getting Okafor more touches down low, Whitney Young struggled to get the deficit down to a two possession game. With the third quarter clock winding down, Jahlil Okafor made a monster block but despite the block Simeon regained possession and Nunn nailed a dagger three from NBA range at the buzzer to give Simeon a 46-34 lead. 

With Whitney Young unraveling, the game turned into a highlight show for Parker. During the second half, Parker went 5-5 from the field and 7-8 from the free throw line. Some of Parker’s baskets included a one-hand tip dunk to go with a fast break wind mill. Parker did not want his season to end before taking a trip downstate and his performance throughout the game showed that determination. 

Both Simeon and Whitney Young have been regarded as the top two teams in Illinois all year long and with the win Simeon will enter the final stretch as a heavy favorite to claim their fourth consecutive state championship. While it has been a turbulent season for Simeon, the senior laden squad stepped up when it counted while showing the poise of a three time state champion. 

Okafor finished with 13 points and 5 rebounds while L.J. Peak went for 20 points and 7 rebounds in a losing effort for Whitney Young, but it was Parker who reminded everyone that it wasn’t too long ago that he was the one appearing on a Sports Illustrated cover. While he might not be the best player since Lebron, he is still the top dog of Chicago and the state of Illinois.