Over the years, countless notable players have come through the North Carolina high school scene. While many of these prospects were born or raised in the state, there are typically several transfers who make noise in their own regard. Take Josiah Parker, for example. The 6-foot-7 forward transferred to Combine Academy last year after completely transforming his body and blossoming as a prospect. It didn’t take long for him to solidify himself as one of the top prospects in North Carolina, yet didn’t receive appropriate attention from the masses and national media outlets. Fast-forward to now, and he’s clearly trending up for the Owls…
It’s clear that Parker just needed some time to get adjusted to the college game. This season, he’s averaging 8.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 1.2 APG, and 0.6 SPG while shooting 50.7% from the floor. While those raw numbers might not pop off the page, it’s worth noting that he’s come off the bench in every contest thus far. In terms of his progression, it’s evident in the numbers. Let’s look at his numbers by month:
November (6 games)- 2.7 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 1.0 APG, and 1.2 SPG with 33% FG
December (5 games)- 10.2 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 0.8 APG, and 0.6 SPG with 57% FG
January (8 games)- 11.0 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 1.1 APG, and 0.5 SPG with 67% FG
His long game in February was a one-point loss to East Carolina, but he still posted 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and a block. Highlighting his last five games, and it’s clear that Parker is trending upward. In 24.4 MPG, he’s averaging 15.6 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 1.4 APG, and 0.8 SPG while shooting 56% from the floor.
It appears that Parker is starting to pick up where he left off. He’s a strong, powerful, physically imposing athlete with an exceptional combination of length, fluidity, and two-way versatility. The fact that he’s finding such consistent success off the bench only speaks to his highly malleable identity as a player. Although his perimeter shooting is still being developed, he’s had legitimately no issue establishing himself as a contributor for the Owls. Again, we should remind ourselves that Parker has drastically elevated his ability and upside over the last 12-18 months. If he continues to develop at this rate, we could be talking about his status in the professional ranks.