Four-star prospect Dai-Jon Parker (Alpharetta, Ga./Milton), the top uncommitted shooting guard in the nation, announced he has committed to Vanderbilt and coach Kevin Stallings over Georgia and Oregon State. He joins fellow ESPNU 100 prospect PG Kedren Johnson (Lewisburg, Tenn./Marshall County), making a scary 1-2 backcourt of the future in the SEC. Parker will have an immediate impact and be a terrific weapon as he becomes more familiar with Stallings' motion offense, which may be the hardest system for freshmen to learn.
"Vandy is a great fit for him as a player and student," Milton coach David Boyd said.
Parker is one of the most explosive scorers in the 2011 class because he finds ways to get the ball in the basket. He is very good in transition, has a solid mid-range jumper and can open a game up by knocking down three or four 3-pointers in a row. The 6-foot-2, 185-pounder is essentially a 2-guard in a 1-guard's body, but what he doesn't have in height, he makes up for with his effort and strength.
"Dai-Jon is almost too unselfish," Boyd said. "He averages 14 points per game and could get more, but he cares too much about winning."
Defensively, Parker takes pride in guarding an opponent's best player and is one of the best defenders in the 2011 class. Parker has off-the-charts athleticism and has spent this offseason sharpening his skills at the Nike Global Challenge Games, LeBron James Skills Academy and the Paul Pierce Basketball Skills Development Program.
In time, it would be good to see him make a transition to the point, but that's easier said than done. While he has a very good basketball IQ and is a very smart kid, he would have to continue to enhance his point guard IQ and ballhandling in order to change positions.
The addition of Parker is just one more step in the right direction for Stallings and the Commodores.
Paul Biancardi, who has been a head coach and assistant on NCAA tournament teams, is the national director of basketball recruiting. He is also one the voters for the McDonald's All-American Game and Gatorade Player of the Year. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter.