Bobby Parks
Encyclopedia
Bobby Ray Parks is an American
professional basketball player from Grand Junction, Tennessee
. He played for Memphis State University
(now the University of Memphis) during the 1980s and played internationally in France and the Philippines. One of the most celebrated "import" players in Filipino basketball history, Parks became the second American ever inducted into the PBA
Hall of Fame
in September 2009.
. Over the next four seasons he helped the Tigers
to an 86-34 record, two Metro Conference
Championships and three appearances in the NCAA Tournament. The Middleton High graduate appeared in 27 games as a freshman and totaled 238 points. During his second season with the Tigers, 1981–82, Parks upped his scoring average to 11.4 points per game in leading the team to a 24-5 record. As a junior, Parks received All-America honors from The Sporting News after scoring 488 points and helping his team to an NCAA Midwest Region invitation. He capped his Memphis career by again averaging in double figures in scoring and finished his senior season with a Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Parks is now ranked 15th in his alma mater's career scoring with 1,266 points.
in the 1984 NBA Draft
, the 58th player of 228 chosen in the draft. Wearing his trademark No. 22, Bobby played for the Hawks in the NBA preseason but was cut before the regular campaign started.
Parks began a career overseas in France in 1986 and in 1987, played in the Philippines where he would become a legend.
He made his PBA debut for San Miguel Beer
in 1987 then saw action for Formula Shell
up to 1998, finishing his 12-year career with nearly 9,000 points, over 3,000 rebounds and more than 1,000 assists in 220 games. In 1989, he averaged a whopping 52.6 points in 23 games with a high of 72. Parks won a PBA record of seven Best Import awards and led his team to five championships. In addition to his basketball, Parks has appeared in several Filipino movies.
He returned to Memphis in 2005, partly to finish his degree under the invitation of coach John Calipari and the athletic department. Another motivation for the move was to bring his son Bobby Jr. (also known as Ray), a promising teenage player, to Memphis to expose him to better basketball competition; his son would join him in Memphis in 2006.
Parks also served as the personal assistant to John Paul "Jack" Jones, a wealthy University of Virginia
alum from Memphis who is the namesake for UVA's current basketball arena
.
On 2 June 2010, Parks and his family moved back to the Philippines. Parks accepted a position as athletics director at National University
in Manila. During that time, he was in the middle of a battle with laryngeal cancer; his treatment was reported to be successful in April 2011. In November 2010, Bobby Jr. signed a letter of intent
to play basketball at Georgia Tech
, but then disappeared from the view of both Tech and the American media for several months. Eventually, Luke Winn of Sports Illustrated
tracked the younger Parks down, discovering in April 2011 that he had enrolled at NU and was expected to lead the Bulldogs
in the upcoming UAAP season
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball player from Grand Junction, Tennessee
Grand Junction, Tennessee
Grand Junction is a city in Fayette and Hardeman counties in the U.S. state of Tennessee. The population was 301 at the 2000 census, and is currently 321. Grand Junction runs along Tennessee State Route 57, and is bordered to the west by Tennessee State Route 18 . Approximately ten miles to the...
. He played for Memphis State University
University of Memphis
The University of Memphis is an American public research university located in the Normal Station neighborhood of Memphis, Tennessee and is the flagship public research university of the Tennessee Board of Regents system....
(now the University of Memphis) during the 1980s and played internationally in France and the Philippines. One of the most celebrated "import" players in Filipino basketball history, Parks became the second American ever inducted into the PBA
Philippine Basketball Association
The Philippine Basketball Association , is a men's professional basketball league in the Philippines composed of 10 company-branded franchised teams. It is the first and oldest professional basketball league in Asia and the second oldest in the world after the NBA...
Hall of Fame
PBA Hall of Fame
The Philippine Basketball Association Hall of Fame is an institution that honors selected former players and personalities of the Philippine Basketball Association. It was launched in 2005 during the Reunion Game pitting two teams consisting of the PBA's 25th Anniversary All-Time Team...
in September 2009.
College career
Bobby Parks came to Memphis State in the fall of 1980 under head coach Dana KirkDana Kirk (basketball)
Dana Grey Kirk was an American college basketball coach. He was the head coach for the Memphis State University men's team from 1979 to 1986. His coaching record was 158–58, including a Final Four appearance in 1985...
. Over the next four seasons he helped the Tigers
Memphis Tigers basketball
The Memphis Tigers men's basketball team represents the University of Memphis in NCAA Division I men's college basketball. The Tigers compete in Conference USA, in which they have won six regular season and four conference tournament championships. As of 2011, the Tigers have the 29th highest...
to an 86-34 record, two Metro Conference
Metro Conference
The Metropolitan Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, popularly known as the Metro Conference, was an NCAA Division I athletics conference, so named because all of its charter members were in urban metropolitan areas in, or at least on the fringes of, the Southern United States...
Championships and three appearances in the NCAA Tournament. The Middleton High graduate appeared in 27 games as a freshman and totaled 238 points. During his second season with the Tigers, 1981–82, Parks upped his scoring average to 11.4 points per game in leading the team to a 24-5 record. As a junior, Parks received All-America honors from The Sporting News after scoring 488 points and helping his team to an NCAA Midwest Region invitation. He capped his Memphis career by again averaging in double figures in scoring and finished his senior season with a Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Parks is now ranked 15th in his alma mater's career scoring with 1,266 points.
Professional career
Parks was chosen in the third round by the Atlanta HawksAtlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
in the 1984 NBA Draft
1984 NBA Draft
The 1984 NBA Draft was the 38th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held at the Felt Forum at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York on June 19, 1984 before the 1984–85 season. The draft was broadcast in the United States on the USA Network. In this draft,...
, the 58th player of 228 chosen in the draft. Wearing his trademark No. 22, Bobby played for the Hawks in the NBA preseason but was cut before the regular campaign started.
Parks began a career overseas in France in 1986 and in 1987, played in the Philippines where he would become a legend.
He made his PBA debut for San Miguel Beer
San Miguel Beermen
The Petron Blaze Boosters is a professional basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association. The team has been a member of the league since its inception in 1975 and hold the most PBA titles with 19.The team is owned by the Petron Corporation, a subsidiary of the Philippines' largest food...
in 1987 then saw action for Formula Shell
Shell Turbo Chargers
The Shell Turbo Chargers is a former Philippine Basketball Association team under the ownership of Pilipinas Shell Corporation. Shell has been a member of the PBA since 1985 until 2005 when the team filed for a leave of absence after the season. Shell sold its franchise to PBL team Welcoat Paints...
up to 1998, finishing his 12-year career with nearly 9,000 points, over 3,000 rebounds and more than 1,000 assists in 220 games. In 1989, he averaged a whopping 52.6 points in 23 games with a high of 72. Parks won a PBA record of seven Best Import awards and led his team to five championships. In addition to his basketball, Parks has appeared in several Filipino movies.
Retirement
Parks is one of the University of Memphis athletes inducted into the M Club Hall of Fame in 2004.He returned to Memphis in 2005, partly to finish his degree under the invitation of coach John Calipari and the athletic department. Another motivation for the move was to bring his son Bobby Jr. (also known as Ray), a promising teenage player, to Memphis to expose him to better basketball competition; his son would join him in Memphis in 2006.
Parks also served as the personal assistant to John Paul "Jack" Jones, a wealthy University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
alum from Memphis who is the namesake for UVA's current basketball arena
John Paul Jones Arena
John Paul Jones Arena, or JPJ, opened for the 2006–2007 NCAA Division I basketball season and is located at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia...
.
On 2 June 2010, Parks and his family moved back to the Philippines. Parks accepted a position as athletics director at National University
National University (Philippines)
National University is a university in Manila, Philippines.It is a founding member of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines and is a pioneer of the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities...
in Manila. During that time, he was in the middle of a battle with laryngeal cancer; his treatment was reported to be successful in April 2011. In November 2010, Bobby Jr. signed a letter of intent
National Letter of Intent
The National Letter of Intent is a document used to indicate a student athlete's commitment to participating NCAA colleges and universities in the United States. The NCAA Eligibility Center manages the daily operations of the NLI program while the Collegiate Commissioners Association provides...
to play basketball at Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets men's basketball
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets men's basketball team represents the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in NCAA Division I basketball. The team plays its home games in Alexander Memorial Coliseum. Under the tenure of Bobby Cremins, Georgia Tech established itself as a national force in basketball...
, but then disappeared from the view of both Tech and the American media for several months. Eventually, Luke Winn of Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
tracked the younger Parks down, discovering in April 2011 that he had enrolled at NU and was expected to lead the Bulldogs
NU Bulldogs
The National University Bulldogs is the collegiate men's varsity team of National University in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines...
in the upcoming UAAP season
UAAP Season 74 basketball tournaments
The basketball events of UAAP Season 74 are University Athletic Association of the Philippines tournaments for basketball in its 2011–12 season...
.