Chandler Parsons
Encyclopedia
Chandler E. Parsons is an American professional basketball
power forward
with the Houston Rockets
of the National Basketball Association
(NBA). Parsons played college basketball
at the University of Florida
, and was drafted by the Rockets in second round of the 2011 NBA Draft
.
. He attended Lake Howell High School
in Winter Park, Florida
, with future fellow Florida Gator Nick Calathes
. Together, Parsons and Calathes helped the Lake Howell Silverhawks high school basketball team advance to the Florida Class 5A state basketball championship final four in 2005, 2006 and 2007, and win the state championship in 2007. As a senior, Parsons was a first-team all-state selection, and was recognized as the most valuable player of the state championship game after scoring thirty points and grabbing ten rebounds.
to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida
, where he played for coach Billy Donovan
's Florida Gators men's basketball
team from 2007 to 2011. During his freshmen season, Parsons played in 36 games averaging 8.1 points per game and 4.0 rebounds per game, but the Gators failed to make the NCAA Tournament.
During the 2008-09 season, Parsons saw more playing time and his scoring, rebounding and assists all improved. The Gators once again failed to make the tournament though.
In Parson's junior season, he averaged 12.4 points per game, 6.9 rebounds per game and 2.6 assists per game. The Gators made the NCAA Tournament, but lost to BYU
in the first round.
During the 2010-11 regular season, Parsons averaged 11.4 points and 7.8 rebounds in 33 minutes a game while leading the Gators to the best regular season record in the SEC. On January 3, 2010, Parsons hit a seventy-five foot shot with no time left on the clock in overtime to give the Gators a one point victory over North Carolina State. Later in the season on January 23, the Gators trailed South Carolina by 1 when Parsons hit a three-point shot to give the Gators the win. On March 8, 2011, he was named the 2011 SEC Player of the Year, the first Florida Gator to win that honor.The Gators also made the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row. In the first three rounds of the tournament, the Gators beat UC Santa Barbara, UCLA
and BYU
. In the Elite Eight, the Gators lost to Butler
. Parsons was picked to the Fifth Team All-America by Fox Sports.
selected Parsons in the second round (38th pick overall) of the 2011 NBA Draft
.
Due to the NBA lockout
, Parsons signs with Cholet Basket
(France
) in the 2011-12 Pro A season for a short term contract. In three games, he averaged 10 points and 2.3 steals.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
power forward
Power forward (basketball)
Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low...
with the Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
of the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
(NBA). Parsons played college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
at the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
, and was drafted by the Rockets in second round of the 2011 NBA Draft
2011 NBA Draft
The 2011 NBA Draft was held on June 23, 2011 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The draft started at 7:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time , and was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball...
.
Early years
Parsons was born in Casselberry, FloridaCasselberry, Florida
Casselberry is a city in Seminole County, Florida, United States. The population was 22,629 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S Census estimates of 2009, the city had a population of 24,792...
. He attended Lake Howell High School
Lake Howell High School
Lake Howell High School is a comprehensive four-year high school located in Central Florida, USA. Home of the Silver Hawks, it has been designated a "B" High School by the Florida Department of Education in 2009. It was previously an "A+" high school in 2008...
in Winter Park, Florida
Winter Park, Florida
Winter Park is a suburban city in Orange County, Florida, United States. The population was 24,090 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2006 estimates, the city had a population of 28,083. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, with future fellow Florida Gator Nick Calathes
Nick Calathes
Nicholas William "Nick" Calathes is an American-born Greek professional basketball player. Calathes played American college basketball for the University of Florida. He currently plays for Panathinaikos, the Athens, Greece affiliate of the EuroLeague.-High school career:Calathes was born in...
. Together, Parsons and Calathes helped the Lake Howell Silverhawks high school basketball team advance to the Florida Class 5A state basketball championship final four in 2005, 2006 and 2007, and win the state championship in 2007. As a senior, Parsons was a first-team all-state selection, and was recognized as the most valuable player of the state championship game after scoring thirty points and grabbing ten rebounds.
College career
Parsons accepted an athletic scholarshipAthletic scholarship
An athletic scholarship is a form of scholarship to attend a college or university awarded to an individual based predominantly on his or her ability to play in a sport...
to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
, where he played for coach Billy Donovan
Billy Donovan
William John "Billy" Donovan, Jr. is an American college basketball coach and a former college and professional basketball player. Donovan is the current head coach of the Florida Gators men's basketball team of the University of Florida...
's Florida Gators men's basketball
Florida Gators men's basketball
The Florida Gators men's basketball team represents the University of Florida in the sport of basketball. The Gators compete in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and the Southeastern Conference...
team from 2007 to 2011. During his freshmen season, Parsons played in 36 games averaging 8.1 points per game and 4.0 rebounds per game, but the Gators failed to make the NCAA Tournament.
During the 2008-09 season, Parsons saw more playing time and his scoring, rebounding and assists all improved. The Gators once again failed to make the tournament though.
In Parson's junior season, he averaged 12.4 points per game, 6.9 rebounds per game and 2.6 assists per game. The Gators made the NCAA Tournament, but lost to BYU
BYU
-Education:* Brigham Young University, a university located in Provo, Utah, USA administered by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.**BYU Salt Lake Center, a satellite center in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA...
in the first round.
During the 2010-11 regular season, Parsons averaged 11.4 points and 7.8 rebounds in 33 minutes a game while leading the Gators to the best regular season record in the SEC. On January 3, 2010, Parsons hit a seventy-five foot shot with no time left on the clock in overtime to give the Gators a one point victory over North Carolina State. Later in the season on January 23, the Gators trailed South Carolina by 1 when Parsons hit a three-point shot to give the Gators the win. On March 8, 2011, he was named the 2011 SEC Player of the Year, the first Florida Gator to win that honor.The Gators also made the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row. In the first three rounds of the tournament, the Gators beat UC Santa Barbara, UCLA
UCLA Bruins men's basketball
The UCLA Bruins men's basketball program, established in 1920, owns a record 11 Division I NCAA championships. UCLA teams coached by John Wooden won 10 national titles in 12 seasons from 1964 to 1975, including 7 straight from 1967 to 1973. UCLA went undefeated a record 4 times, in 1964, 1967,...
and BYU
BYU Cougars men's basketball
The BYU Cougars men's basketball team represents Brigham Young University in NCAA Division I basketball play. Established in 1902, the team has won 30 conference championships and 2 NIT Tournaments , and competed in 26 NCAA Tournaments. It currently competes in the West Coast Conference...
. In the Elite Eight, the Gators lost to Butler
Butler Bulldogs men's basketball
The Butler Bulldogs men's basketball team represents Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. The school's team currently competes in the Horizon League, of which it has been a member since 1979...
. Parsons was picked to the Fifth Team All-America by Fox Sports.
Professional career
The Houston RocketsHouston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
selected Parsons in the second round (38th pick overall) of the 2011 NBA Draft
2011 NBA Draft
The 2011 NBA Draft was held on June 23, 2011 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The draft started at 7:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time , and was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball...
.
Due to the NBA lockout
2011 NBA lockout
The 2011 NBA lockout is the fourth lockout in the history of the National Basketball Association . The owners began the work stoppage at 12:01 am EDT on July 1, 2011. The main issues dividing the owners and the players are revenue sharing and the structure of the salary cap...
, Parsons signs with Cholet Basket
Cholet Basket
Cholet Basket is a professional basketball club that is based in Cholet, France. The club plays in the French Pro A League. Their home arena is La Meilleraie.- Establishment :...
(France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
) in the 2011-12 Pro A season for a short term contract. In three games, he averaged 10 points and 2.3 steals.
See also
- Florida GatorsFlorida GatorsThe Florida Gators are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida. The "Lady Gators" is an alternative nickname sometimes used by the Gators women's teams...
- List of Florida Gators basketball players