NBA executives are increasingly growing convinced that Duke freshman star Jabari Parker will forgo the 2014 NBA draft return to school for at least his sophomore season.

In a draft that's being hailed as having the chance to be one of the best in years, many scouts project Parker as the potential top overall pick, ahead of other highly rated underclassmen such as Andrew Wiggins, Joel Emblild and Julius Randle.

According to NBA.com, many scouts now feel Parker will hang around the Duke campus for the chance to team with fellow Chicagoan Jahill Okafor, a close friend of Parker's and a 2014 Blue Devil freshman recruit.

Many also believe Parker, the son of former NBA journeyman Sonny Parker, places such a premium on education he may be leaning in that direction. Parker reportedly dreads the thought of struggling early on his career and thinks getting more seasoning is the best way to avoid early missteps that plagued young stars like Kobe Bryant.

Parker is averaging a team-high 19 points and seven rebounds for the Blue Devils and at one point netted at least 20 points and six rebounds in seven straight games.