Brett Pierce
Here is a Bruinsball.com exclusive interview with 2012 UCLA Center recruit, Tony Parker. Parker is rated as the number 33 overall player in the country according to Rivals.com.
How has your high school season been so far?
Tony Parker: It’s been going pretty well. We just lost. That’s three straight. We gotta right that. We just have to commit to being a team and we’ll be fine.
Was your loss to Oak Hill the first loss in that streak?
Tony Parker: Yes, sir.
You guys were very close to winning that game and had a lot of momentum in the closing minutes. Did you feel like the game was yours to win?
Tony Parker: Yes, we came out strong. We just lost control. They just really made some key shots.
Individually, you really looked like you were dominating that game. Did you feel like that was just one of those game where you could simply impose your will on your opponent?
Tony Parker: I was feeling like that the whole game. I was picking my spots pretty well.
Jordan Adams was even recruiting you to come to UCLA during that game when you were at the free throw line. Has he been that aggressive recruiting you throughout the whole process?
Tony Parker: Yes, sir.
Has that been influencing you at all knowing that he and Kyle Anderson are going to UCLA?
Tony Parker: I mean, it is and both those players are great, but I really just think about what they’re saying now. Those guys have been playing with me since I was really little. All I know going in is that those guys will be with me or whatever. But, those are just two great guys that can really change the program and to play with them is a big thing to me.
UCLA got off to a pretty rough start this season. They are playing a little better now, but did that shaky start decrease your interest in the Bruins at all?
Tony Parker: No because they were recruiting me to change their program, so I just know the difference I could make if I go there.
Have you mostly been talking to Coach McKray or Coach Howland?
Tony Parker: No, it’s basically everybody.
There are not that many late signees left and you and Shabazz Muhammad are two of the most sought after. I know you both have UCLA on your list, so have you two been talking about possibly singing there together with Kyle and Jordan to possibly change the program?
Tony Parker: I mean, me and Bazz talk, but we don’t really talk about that. But, I mean we talk about it every now and then.
So who would you say are your top schools?
Tony Parker: UCLA, Ohio State, Duke, Memphis, Georgetown, and Kansas.
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