Spotlight Report: Jacquel Freeman-Parks (2017)
Jacquel “Shaq” Freeman-Parks, is an exceptional player for his size. He stands at about 5’6 and weighs 145 pounds but when you see him play, you couldn’t even tell. He’s always asked about his fatigue he mentioned. He said: “People…
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Continue ReadingJacquel “Shaq” Freeman-Parks, is an exceptional player for his size. He stands at about 5’6 and weighs 145 pounds but when you see him play, you couldn’t even tell. He’s always asked about his fatigue he mentioned. He said:
“People are always asking if I get tired. I just love to play so I am really never tired”.
Jacquel Freeman-Parks (5) battling for a rebound. Photo Credit: Marc PendletonHe is all over the court and isn’t afraid to get in the paint to grab a rebound over a defender. He has a nice handle on the ball and is usually difficult to pressure because he is so quick. He will blow right by you if you’re too close. Although his offensive game is impressive, his ability to play lockdown defense the full length of the court is the best part of his game. He is always assigned to the best player on the other team if he happens to be a guard. He has managed to stop the best of the best from averaging what they normally average a game. He has held players to only 8 points in every game he has played. On the court, he is like an annoying fly that just won’t go away. Players use multiple screens to get some space from him but that does not work.
The senior point guard from Chaminade-Julienne transferred in from Dunbar High School his junior year. He said he just wanted a better fit and a challenge with academics and athletics. Chaminade-Julienne gives him the opportunity to play in a very competitive GCL (Greater Catholic League) conference. He is also a football player. He plays running back, slot back, all special teams, and corner back on defense. He is a starter for basketball and football. That should tell you a lot about his athletic ability.
For AAU, he played for the Dayton Pilots. That team consisted of a few of the top basketball players in the 2017 class. Parks decided to take his senior year off of AAU and go to football camps since the opportunities were there.
Parks is always asked “why do people call you Shaq if your name is Jacquel”? He said:
“The story behind it is very funny actually. But there was never a time I missed any of my older brother’s practices. When he had practice, that meant practice for me. One practice I was just showing out and making older kids look bad and my brother’s coach Robert Moses called me Shaq. I asked him why he called me that and he told me it was because my heart is bigger than my body and Shaq is big.”
Well “Shaq” absolutely matches the way this kid plays. He is active on both ends of the floor and his height is never a problem. He will be one of the senior to keep an eye out for this upcoming 2016-2017 season.