Parker handled his recruitment poorly over the past several months. Dragging out the decision, rescheduling the announcement 2 or 3 times, then a 1-hour press conference with a highlight video and all your teammates giving speeches about you? OSU doesn't need that drama/ego on the team. And for a guy who shot 4-15 on lay-ups in an all-star game? Get real.
I think him going to UCLA is a bad decision if he wants to play a lot next year. They have 3-4 guys at his position already. I'm not sure they will be making a deep tourney run next year, although Shabazz will be a big time player for them. UCLA has had major personnel changes that could help them turn things around, but the players still have to know how they need to play in order to win big games, and I'm not sure they have that needed element. UCLA has been a dumpster fire the past 3-4 years, and you don't change that overnight. If the culture is bad, which it appears to have been lately in Westwood, the team won't live up to their potential. Step 1 is upgrading the talent, which they have done, but if you don't accomplish Step 2 (playing smart, unselfish team basketball), your team isn't going nearly as far as the talent could take it. I'm thinking that's the direction UCLA will go - a talented team that doesn't live up to their potential. But most of their potential isn't tied to Parker - he will have a small role on that team next year. Will be interesting to see how happy he is with his decision a year from now.
