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Tim Parham

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PARHAM PREPARING FOR BIGGER THINGS

By Michael Kosman

(Chicago, Il.) Tim Parham knows the feeling of having a aura of skepticism surround him. He has experienced doubt from others all through his playing days, going back to his high school years at Hillcrest (Il.). "I turn the tables on people who say I can't do what I know I can do", the 6'9" power forward from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore recently said. "It just makes me more hungry".

After his upcoming senior season at UMES, Parhams appetite may soon get quenched. Having already entered and than withdrawn his name from the recent NBA draft, Parham knows that a year deferred from his dream will only help him more in the long run. With his massive physical features and definitive attitude that extreme accomplishment is coming his way, Parham seems like a sure thing to be making pro money somewhere after this school year is completed.

Parham grew up on the south side of Chicago and knows it's rough and tough streets very well. His last name is synonymous with a rich basketball heritage in this city. Parham's are all about hoops around 35th. street from Western avenue east to the lake. Tim Sr., the father of Tim Parham, still is working for the Chicago Public School system. A distinguished and principled gentlemen, Mr. Parham can be credited for installing the honorable values now evident in his basketball playing son. However it's a cousin, Paris Parham, who can be attributed for helping Tim get to where he is close to being today. Seems that cousin Paris was an assistant coach at UMES a couple years back when Tim was playing at a pro-am tournament in Chicago. Parham just completed a junior college sentence at Ellsworth Community (Iowa City, Iowa) and was showing out big time at the tournament. As Paris was preparing for a move to UMES, a Historical Black College and University, he managed to get his younger cousin Tim a deserved spot on the roster.

Parham attended high school in far south suburban Country Club Hills at Hillcrest, a school with perennially strong teams. While at Hillcrest, he played alongside some exceptional players, like Reo Logan and Shelby Jordan. But getting on those elite teams was not so simple, as the skepticism and doubt from others that shadows him reared its head. Parham was dealt what to some would have been a crushing blow when he did not make his team as a sophomore. But after a killer summer of hard conditioning and playing, as well as growing three inches and bulking up more than twenty pounds, a non-doubter saw the light. That individual is varsity head coach Tom Cappel, who took a hard interest in Parham's sizeable body and athleticism and gave him a shot. The rest is history as Parham excelled on a team that always won nearly thirty games a season

Last season and this upcoming senior season have and will define where exactly Parham is headed. The numbers he put up last year may have justified his entering his name in the NBA draft (He did not hire an agent, allowing him to return to finish school after pulling out of the draft), but it needs to be solidified with even gaudier numbers this season He averaged nearly 12 points per game and nearly 9 rebounds overall last season, but it was in conference play where he excelled. There he averaged a double-double , 13 points and 10 rebounds per game. Parham ended up reeling off 13 double-doubles last season, which included a game where he scored 28 points and pulled down 19 boards. He finished nationally overall for division 1 play in the top 50 class for rebounding.

On the outside Parham is care free and fun loving. A pleasing to the visitor child like innocent smile and demeanor greets all. Proud and confident, yet without ego, Parham lets all that innocence escape him once those large sneakers are laced up. There's a chance Parham may have to do the CBA thing or an overseas stint to solidify his positioning in the league. However if he stays on the track he's on of a consistent high level of play, look for good old Hillcrest high school to have a proud member of the National Basketball Association.

Tim with his dad, Tim Sr. Tim in action at UMES from last year

Special thanks to the athletic department of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore for their assistance and to Assistant Director of External Affairs George Bradley.

University of Maryland Eastern Shore action photo courtesy of the university.


	WEB SPORTS CHICAGO \| home Tim Parham2 Tim Parham MORE PHOTOS...SEE BELOW PARHAM PREPARING FOR BIGGER THINGS By Michael Kosman (Chicago, Il.) Tim Parham knows the feeling of having a aura of skepticism surround him. He has experienced doubt from others all through his playing days, going back to his high school years at Hillcrest (Il.). "I turn the tables on people who say I can't do what I know I can do", the 6'9" power forward from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore recently said. "It just makes me more hungry". After his upcoming senior season at UMES, Parhams appetite may soon get quenched. Having already entered and than withdrawn his name from the recent NBA draft, Parham knows that a year deferred from his dream will only help him more in the long run. With his massive physical features and definitive attitude that extreme accomplishment is coming his way, Parham seems like a sure thing to be making pro money somewhere after this school year is completed. Parham grew up on the south side of Chicago and knows it's rough and tough streets very well. His last name is synonymous with a rich basketball heritage in this city. Parham's are all about hoops around 35th. street from Western avenue east to the lake. Tim Sr., the father of Tim Parham, still is working for the Chicago Public School system. A distinguished and principled gentlemen, Mr. Parham can be credited for installing the honorable values now evident in his basketball playing son. However it's a cousin, Paris Parham, who can be attributed for helping Tim get to where he is close to being today. Seems that cousin Paris was an assistant coach at UMES a couple years back when Tim was playing at a pro-am tournament in Chicago. Parham just completed a junior college sentence at Ellsworth Community (Iowa City, Iowa) and was showing out big time at the tournament. As Paris was preparing for a move to UMES, a Historical Black College and University, he managed to get his younger cousin Tim a deserved spot on the roster. Parham attended high school in far south suburban Country Club Hills at Hillcrest, a school with perennially strong teams. While at Hillcrest, he played alongside some exceptional players, like Reo Logan and Shelby Jordan. But getting on those elite teams was not so simple, as the skepticism and doubt from others that shadows him reared its head. Parham was dealt what to some would have been a crushing blow when he did not make his team as a sophomore. But after a killer summer of hard conditioning and playing, as well as growing three inches and bulking up more than twenty pounds, a non-doubter saw the light. That individual is varsity head coach Tom Cappel, who took a hard interest in Parham's sizeable body and athleticism and gave him a shot. The rest is history as Parham excelled on a team that always won nearly thirty games a season Last season and this upcoming senior season have and will define where exactly Parham is headed. The numbers he put up last year may have justified his entering his name in the NBA draft (He did not hire an agent, allowing him to return to finish school after pulling out of the draft), but it needs to be solidified with even gaudier numbers this season He averaged nearly 12 points per game and nearly 9 rebounds overall last season, but it was in conference play where he excelled. There he averaged a double-double , 13 points and 10 rebounds per game. Parham ended up reeling off 13 double-doubles last season, which included a game where he scored 28 points and pulled down 19 boards. He finished nationally overall for division 1 play in the top 50 class for rebounding. On the outside Parham is care free and fun loving. A pleasing to the visitor child like innocent smile and demeanor greets all. Proud and confident, yet without ego, Parham lets all that innocence escape him once those large sneakers are laced up. There's a chance Parham may have to do the CBA thing or an overseas stint to solidify his positioning in the league. However if he stays on the track he's on of a consistent high level of play, look for good old Hillcrest high school to have a proud member of the National Basketball Association. Tim with his dad, Tim Sr. Tim in action at UMES from last year Special thanks to the athletic department of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore for their assistance and to Assistant Director of External Affairs George Bradley. University of Maryland Eastern Shore action photo courtesy of the university.