The Most Overlooked Tennessee Prospect: TyLandrius Parks
It happens every year. For whatever reason colleges don’t notice him, or perhaps he suffers a significant injury. Possibly one school earns his commitment early on, and then it falls apart. Difficult as it may be to overlook anybody in the Age of Hype it still happens.
With 24.4 ppg and 12.9 rpg, this season the Most Overlooked Player in Tennessee is unequivocally TyLandrius Parks (Middleton High School). We ranked Parks in the back end of the top 10 in July, but with three transfers out of state (Curry, Moss, Baugh) and an early graduation of Rodgerick Brown, Parks climbed up to #6 a couple of months back.
Why is TyLandrius Parks ranked so highly by @PrepHoopsTN?
Parks’ AAU Coach Vince Overholt began hyping him a few years ago. The last couple years Tylandrius Parks ran with Da House AAU and Coach Overholt started Parks on the wing.
“There is no doubt in my mind he could play at an Austin Peay, UT Martin,” said Coach Overholt. “There is no doubt in my mind. His motor keeps getting better and better and better. I really believe he is that low to mid-major guy.”
At this moment TyLandrius Parks has no interest from UT Martin. Austin Peay never reached out. Coach Overholt just thinks that is an appropriate level for the unsigned senior.
Currently only Division II programs are courting the bouncy wing.
Union University and Delta State are the big pursuers. In fact, Parks visited both schools recently.
Visits
The Union University campus and coaches hosted Parks in November.
“It was pretty good,” said TyLandrius Parks. “It wasn’t too long ago. Maybe two weeks ago. My mom and my dad (went with me).”
Typically families will make campus visits with their sons. It helps everyone get an informed perspective.
“They said it looked pretty good too,” said TyLandrius Parks of his parents’ take.
In addition to Union University (TN) and Delta State, Parks is hearing from Freed-Hardiman.
And these are all fine programs, but how is a player that routinely scores 25+ points, ranks as one of the finest scorers in the state of Tennessee only hearing from a sprinkling of D2 programs?
Does Coach Overholt know why the Parks recruitment is so minimal?
“I truly do not,” said Coach Overholt. “He played in our event (Lighthouse Classic) last weekend. Man, he was awesome. Just off memory he had 28, 15. He was great. They played Darius Hobson. He had 32 and 10 or 12 (rebounds). They are a very athletic team. I don’t know.”
TyLandrius Parks has a strong 3.5 GPA. His ACT score is 18, which is qualifying. Together they allow him to get into most college basketball programs in America.
One possible explanation is Hardeman County’s population is a mere 25,000. None of the state’s largest newspapers truly cover Middleton High and only football really matters to the surrounding population.
Also, the summer was good, but perhaps not as great as it could have been.
“His motor is getting better,” said Coach Overholt. “I think they one thing that hurt him this summer. He had a hurt hand. It hurt him bad. He wanted to play through the injury. he was not nearly as effective as if he had played healthy. They are doing great right now. They played York and Fayette-Ware last week. He ended up with 35 points and 20 rebounds. If Union and Delta State end up it with him would be something.”
Prior to the Union visit TyLandrius Parks visited Delta State. For what it is worth Delta State signed one player from Tennessee already (Will Midlick).
“It was either November or October,” said TyLandrius Parks. “I just got off the phone with Delta State. It is big (campus). It is about two hours away.”
Distance can make or break a recruitment. Is Parks cool with the distance of Delta State from his hometown?
“It is just right to me,” said TyLandrius Parks. “They are pushing me to commit.”
Don’t expect TyLandrius Parks to commit any time soon. He is looking for more offers.
“I am kind of just waiting to see if I get any more options.”