Tony Parker Jordan Brand Classic Diary

The Georgia native gets ready for the JBC.

While he spends the next few weeks preparing for the Jordan Brand Classic, Tony Parker shares his experience with SLAMonline! Check daily to read up on his preparation leading to the April 14 tip-off. For more on the game, including buying tickets, rosters and alumni, visit the game’s official website, JordanBrandClassic.com.

As told to Peter Walsh

It was an amazing feeling when I got the call and found out that I would be partaking in this year’s Jordan Brand Classic in Charlotte. Having the opportunity to play and represent the Jordan Brand on national television is great.

It’s an All-Star game, so I’m going to be trying to get out, run the floor and score. People are so used to seeing me play underneath the basket, but I’ve been working on my outside game a lot during the offseason. I’m going to try and get the ball further away from the hoop and showoff everything I’ve been working on; it’ll be fun to showcase my game on a big stage with so many other talented players.

I’m looking forward to playing with and against Kyle Anderson, Rodney Purvis, Shabazz Muhammad and all the other great players from across the country. I can’t speak more highly of all those guys—they work really hard and were great leaders for their teams this year. All year we’ve been playing either with or against each other, and now that it’s everybody’s last go around at the Jordan Brand Classic, it’s going to be a lot of fun; I think the 2012 game is going to be one of the best ever.

My team (Miller Grove, GA) just won our fourth straight state championship earlier this month. We had a very tough schedule and took some lumps in the beginning, but we had five seniors playing our last year of high school basketball together, so for us to win States was humungous. My first year of high school, I was the only freshman on the varsity team, so to play with all my friends this year and win a ring together was very special to me. To graduate with a ring with all of my friends is an amazing feeling. We were only the second team in Georgia history to win four straight championships; I think that speaks volumes about Miller Grove and our program.

I’m going to spend the next few weeks working on my game and getting ready for the Jordan Brand Classic. I’m excited to get to Charlotte and see all the guys!