Meet Justin Parham, serious shooter, interested in the ACC

I dropped by the Substance, Style, Swagger Showcase this weekend in Winston-Salem. I was not able to watch all of the games but I did get to meet and watch several excellent players. I’m going to be writing more about these players over the next few days, including:

Krishawn Noble (SF, 6’5″, 2010)
Kameka “Chip” Walls (SG/SF, 6’4″, 2009)
Allen Hauser (SF/PF, 6’3″, 2010)
Cory Gantt (PG/SG, 6’1″, 2009)
Calvin Gamble (PG, 5’9″, 2009)
Camaron Scales (SF/PF, 6’3″, 2010)

Plus a few others, and all of these guys can play, but first I wanted to talk about Justin Parham (PG/SG, 5’9″, 2009), a player who lacks size but plays strong with the ball and can flat out shoot from deep. Justin is not just a spot up jump shooter; he can also pull up in transition or under pressure. Quite frankly, I witnessed at least twice where the defender fouled him during his release and he still sank the shot. Make no mistake about it; his calling card is his long range shooting.

However, while some shooters are content to simply drift outside the arc and wait for the ball, Justin is an active guard. His ability to drive and dish makes him more than a one-dimensional three point specialist. He is not prone to ill-advised shots and will pass off for a better look to a teammate.

Justin’s shot is strong and his form is very good. He can handle the ball well in traffic, and attacks the basket effectively, causing problems for the defense. I would compare his style at this point somewhat to Tyrese Rice, although Justin sees himself as a two guard, he knows he needs to be able to play the point. Like Rice, he is a shooter who will likely have to play a lot of point due to his size. Justin is obviously very serious about his game and it is apparent he has put a lot of work in. He looks like a very coachable player, and displays good awareness and poise on the court. In speaking with him, he seems like a very mature person with a good attitude and realistic expectations. In other words, the kind of player coaches need.

Justin has interest from several schools, most notably Georgia Tech and Boston College, and given the chance, he’d like to play in the ACC. He has an offer from High Point University but is still wide open at the moment. He has garnered interest from Western Carolina, UNC Greensboro and Fayetteville State as well.

I’ll be following Justin’s game and getting his thoughts as he progresses through his senior season, playing for Winston-Salem Prep.