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Parker adjusting quickly as Bucks prep for camp

By WTOP Staff

GENARO C. ARMAS
AP Sports Writer

ST. FRANCIS, Wis. (AP) — Milwaukee Bucks rookie Jabari Parker is learning quickly about how to ingratiate himself to his new fans.

The second overall pick in the draft welcomes the responsibility that comes with being a cornerstone of a franchise in transition. He wants to stay in Milwaukee, which has had a reputation as an NBA outpost.

He is even offering unsolicited praise for the Green Bay Packers, even if they’ve just handed Parker’s hometown team, the Chicago Bears, a humbling loss.

“I give credit where credit is due. Aaron Rodgers tore us apart into little pieces,” Parker lamented Monday at Bucks media day.

Sounds like the kid will be just fine living in Wisconsin.

The outlook is pretty good on the floor, too, judging by his one-and-done season at Duke. But it might take a while for a young team with a new coach, Jason Kidd, to make waves in the NBA.

Really, the Bucks can’t be much worse after a franchise-worst 15-67 record last year.

“The question is, ‘Where are we two or three years from now?’ It isn’t where we are today,” said co-owner Marc Lasry, who bought the team with Wesley Edens in the spring from former U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl.

“When you’re rebuilding — as long as we’re progressing — I think you’re going to find we’re going to keep demanding more and more,” Lasry said.

But that’s a ways away, it seems. The first day of camp on Tuesday is about getting acclimated to Kidd, who came to Milwaukee following one year leading the Brooklyn Nets.

Defense will be the focus for the first few sessions of camp, which includes a couple of two-a-days.

“This is the first day of school,” Kidd said as players went through photo shoots and interviews in other corners of the practice gym.

He may be teaching more than he was accustomed to with the Nets, who had an older roster.

The Bucks are building for the future with a nucleus that includes Parker and fellow forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, both 19. Milwaukee guard Brandon Knight, the team’s leading returning scorer at 17.9 points per game in his third year in the league, is just 22.

Asked for a rebuilding timetable, Kidd said that “analytical, they say it’s 4.3 years.”

But that is not the estimate he is following.

“We’re going to take it one day at a time. There is no expectation for us to win a championship, but for us the expectation is for us to get better each time we take the floor,” Kidd said.

Parker seems prepared for the long haul, at least mentally. He knows the losses are coming, and he’s determined to learn from them.

A little fidgety to start in front of a microphone, Parker nevertheless spoke in a calm and determined demeanor as if he had been in the league for years.

He acknowledged he was nervous about the grind of an 82-game NBA season, which is far longer than any season he has played.

Parker spoke proudly about how he has heard others compare his game to Carmelo Anthony and Paul Pierce, two jump-shooting NBA veterans.

“I do model my game after them. Coming to play against them is going to be interesting. There (are) certain moves that I want to pull off that I took from them, and see what they say about it,” Parker said.

He seems willing to accept the responsibility of leadership that comes with being a high draft pick, though he stresses that “it starts out with not being bigger than the team.”

And so begins the delicate process that any rebuilding franchise must undergo with a potential star in the making — building up the rookie to a success-starved fan base, while being careful not to apply so much pressure that it may hinder his development.

“Again, we’re not putting a whole load on him offensively or defensively to save this franchise,” Kidd said about Parker. “It takes a team to win, and he can also make his teammates better.”

___

Follow Genaro Armas at http://twitter.com/GArmasAP

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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