EXCLUSIVE chat with De'End Parker, new UCLA commit
It's a little after midnight, and I just got off the phone with new UCLA commit De'End Parker. Quite frankly...wow. What an interview, what a bright, energetic kid. Little did I know, my mom lived a block from him in San Francisco for the last five years, so we probably ran into each other once or twice. You'll enjoy this interview. Part two coming up...
Jon Gold: So today is your birthday and you commit to UCLA. Pretty big day...
De'End Parker: "Wow, I commited to UCLA on my birthday (laughing). I'm really excited. I talked to the coaches, after going to my family for information, for support, and everybody is all in with this one. When I committed to Cal, a lot of people were like, "Weeeell..." Once I said UCLA, though, everyone was just going crazy. They love it."
JG: You committed to Cal only recently, how did the process change so quickly for you?
DP: "I didnt have all the information on the whole situation with UCLA. Cal was recruiting me since the beginning of the summer, and when UCLA came in the picture, I was talking to my uncle - he's the one who helped with the process - and I said if UCLA offers, I'm definitely picking them. Then Arizona State comes to a game, and they offer me, and I'm stuck between ASU and Cal, because UCLA didn't offer. There was a miscommunication; I told them I was going to wait until the end of the season, and they thought they had time. When I committed, it was in the sense that UCLA wasn't going to offer me. Once they did, for me, it was kind of a no-brainer."
JG: What made it a no-brainer? The 11 championships? The Final Four run? Wooden? Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook? Coach Howland?
DP: "You kind of sumed it all up right there. With Coach Howland and the history of the program, producing, getting people to the pros - I dont know a lot of people in D1 trying to play basketball for fun. I'm trying to make it a career. I think Coach Howland is a great coach, a great person, a great person to be around. I talked to him and Coach Matthews, and they're good people. There's nothing wrong with Cal or the coaches at all, I really like them and they're good people, too."
JG, you are the only on a Bruin site that has news about this, much less a full on interview. You rule, keep up the great work. Thanks.
Thx for the interview Jon.
An exclusive interview with the new commit after midnight--now that's what I'm talking about! Great work, Jon!
BTW he really does sound like a great kid and I love the fact that he appreciates the tradition at UCLA. Really looking forward to having him join the team!
Hmm.
Wierd.
Just got off the phone w/ Jimmy Calhoun.
He said TheEnd was going to change to the Huskies, once we offered him early next week.
wow. first Cal, then Ucla then Uconn?
When Alan Crabbe committed to Cal I went crazy... when Parker committed to Cal my friends said, "Weeeell."
I heard he didn't wanna go to Cal because the academics are too tough. He'll have a much easier time at UCLA for sure.