Tom Parker (basketball)
Encyclopedia
Tom Parker is a American former standout basketball player at the University of Kentucky
who played for the Wildcats
between 1969 and 1972. As a senior
in 1971–72 he was named the co-Southeastern Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year. As of 2011 he is a teacher
at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School
in Lexington, Kentucky
.
and attended Collinsville High School
. Standing at 6'6" (1.98m) and weighing 215 pounds (98 kg), he played the center
position and dominated his opponents. In three seasons of varsity basketball he scored 2,041 career points and set many school records. These records include his career point total, points in a single game (50), season and career scoring averages (32.9 and 23.7, respectively), field goals made in a game (21), season (359) and career (818), shots taken in a career (1,520), total career rebounds (851) as well as defensive rebounds in a career (559). In all three seasons he suited up for the Kahoks he garnered all-state honors, and as a senior he was named a Parade
magazine All-American.
campaign in 1969–70. Parker was a solid contributor from the start, averaging 10.4 points per game in 25 appearances. He played a key role as a reserve in a season where the Wildcats won their third of what would be six consecutive Southeastern Conference
regular season championships. They advanced to the 1970 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
's Elite Eight before losing to Jacksonville, 106–100. The following season Parker became a prominent player and a regular starter. In 28 games he averaged 17.5 points, which led Kentucky, and the team reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. He was an All-SEC First Team performer as well as a member on the Academic All-SEC Team. Parker's final season in 1971–72 saw him lead Kentucky back to the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight behind an 18.0 points per game average. He was named the co-SEC Player of the Year with Mike Edwards
of Tennessee
and he repeated as a first team all-conference performer.
In 80 career games Parker scored 1,238 points and grabbed 660 rebounds. Parker also unwittingly played a large part in influencing soon-to-be Kentucky star Jack Givens
' decision to attend. Givens was not thrilled with Kentucky as a potential school to play for, but after seeing Parker in action his attitude changed. Givens later said, "Tom Parker could really shoot the ball, a lefty small forward who was a lot like Kevin Grevey
... I loved the way Tom played, so that made me change my thinking towards Kentucky."
After his collegiate career, the Cleveland Cavaliers
of the National Basketball Association
selected him in the sixth round (83rd overall) in the 1972 NBA Draft
, although Parker never played in the league. He eventually became a teacher and now resides in Lexington, Kentucky
.
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
who played for the Wildcats
Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball
The Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team, representing the University of Kentucky, is the winningest in the history of college basketball, both in all-time wins and all-time winning percentage. Kentucky's all-time record currently stands at 2058–647...
between 1969 and 1972. As a senior
Senior (education)
Senior is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the 4th year of study .-High school:...
in 1971–72 he was named the co-Southeastern Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year. As of 2011 he is a teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School
Paul Laurence Dunbar High School (Lexington, Kentucky)
Paul Laurence Dunbar High School is a secondary school located at 1600 Man O' War Boulevard on the southwest side of Lexington, Kentucky, USA. The school is one of five high schools in the Fayette County Public Schools district....
in Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
.
Early life and high school
Parker grew up in Collinsville, IllinoisCollinsville, Illinois
Collinsville is a city located mainly in Madison County, and partially in St. Clair County, both in Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 26,016. Collinsville is approximately 12 miles from St. Louis, Missouri and is considered part of that city's Metro-East area...
and attended Collinsville High School
Collinsville High School
Collinsville High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school in the Collinsville Community Unit School District 10. In 2011, Collinsville High School had an enrollment of 1,985 students.-Academics:...
. Standing at 6'6" (1.98m) and weighing 215 pounds (98 kg), he played the center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
position and dominated his opponents. In three seasons of varsity basketball he scored 2,041 career points and set many school records. These records include his career point total, points in a single game (50), season and career scoring averages (32.9 and 23.7, respectively), field goals made in a game (21), season (359) and career (818), shots taken in a career (1,520), total career rebounds (851) as well as defensive rebounds in a career (559). In all three seasons he suited up for the Kahoks he garnered all-state honors, and as a senior he was named a Parade
Parade (magazine)
Parade is an American nationwide Sunday newspaper magazine, distributed in more than 500 newspapers in the United States. It was founded in 1941 and is owned by Advance Publications. The most widely read magazine in the U.S., Parade has a circulation of 32.2 million and a readership of nearly 70...
magazine All-American.
Kentucky and later life
When Parker matriculated in 1968–69, NCAA eligibility rules at the time prohibited freshmen from playing on varsity teams, thus his official career at Kentucky did not start until his sophomoreSophomore
Sophomore is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the second year of study at high school or university.The word is also used as a synonym for "second", for the second album or EP released by a musician or group, the second movie of a director, or the second season of a...
campaign in 1969–70. Parker was a solid contributor from the start, averaging 10.4 points per game in 25 appearances. He played a key role as a reserve in a season where the Wildcats won their third of what would be six consecutive Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
regular season championships. They advanced to the 1970 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
1970 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1970 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 25 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 7, 1970, and ended with the championship game on March 21 in College Park, Maryland...
's Elite Eight before losing to Jacksonville, 106–100. The following season Parker became a prominent player and a regular starter. In 28 games he averaged 17.5 points, which led Kentucky, and the team reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. He was an All-SEC First Team performer as well as a member on the Academic All-SEC Team. Parker's final season in 1971–72 saw him lead Kentucky back to the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight behind an 18.0 points per game average. He was named the co-SEC Player of the Year with Mike Edwards
Mike Edwards (basketball)
Mike Edwards is a former American basketball player best known for his high school and collegiate careers in the United States rather than his professional career in Mexico. He played for the University of Tennessee between 1970–71 and 1972–73 and was named the 1972 co-Southeastern Conference...
of Tennessee
Tennessee Volunteers basketball
The Tennessee Volunteers basketball team represents the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee in NCAA men's basketball competition. The Volunteers currently compete in the Southeastern Conference...
and he repeated as a first team all-conference performer.
In 80 career games Parker scored 1,238 points and grabbed 660 rebounds. Parker also unwittingly played a large part in influencing soon-to-be Kentucky star Jack Givens
Jack Givens
Jack "Goose" Givens is a retired American collegiate and professional basketball player. Givens led the University of Kentucky to the 1978 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship and was named that year's Final Four Most Outstanding Player due in most part to his 41-point performance in...
' decision to attend. Givens was not thrilled with Kentucky as a potential school to play for, but after seeing Parker in action his attitude changed. Givens later said, "Tom Parker could really shoot the ball, a lefty small forward who was a lot like Kevin Grevey
Kevin Grevey
Kevin Michael Grevey is a retired American professional basketball player. A 6'5" swingman, the left-handed Grevey played for the Washington Bullets from 1975-1983 and the Milwaukee Bucks from 1983-1985...
... I loved the way Tom played, so that made me change my thinking towards Kentucky."
After his collegiate career, the Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
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...
selected him in the sixth round (83rd overall) in the 1972 NBA Draft
1972 NBA Draft
The 1972 NBA Draft was the 26th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on April 10, 1972 before the 1972–73 season. In this draft, 17 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
, although Parker never played in the league. He eventually became a teacher and now resides in Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
.