Northern Arizona is an area of the state that has almost gone unnoticed by scouts and college coaches, but the there are numerous top performers in the region that deserve major attention. One of these elite prospects and the top overall prospect in the area, according to our Northern Arizona Arizona Preps' contacts, is 6-foot-4 sharp-shooting junior guard Jason Parent. Parent is a very skilled and fundamentally sound offensive weapon that has torched his competition over the years, and is more than worthy of some serious recruiting attention.
Parent has been a steady performer throughout his short high school career, and has shown very well in numerous events in the Phoenix area, so it is only time for this young man to see his recruitment take shape - especially at a time when he really needs it. While his junior season will officially begin this week, it will be just in time for Parent to reel in significant interest, in preparation for his senior season. Our Arizona Preps' staff thought to take the bull by the horns and get to promoting this young man's talent.
According to Arizona Preps' Northern Arizona scout Pete Barnardo, "Parent is not just the best player in his class of Northern Arizona, but he is one of the best in the entire state." Barnardo went on to say, "Jason Parent has all the skills to play at the next level. He can score on all three levels, has great footwork, is quick, athletic, has deep range and will dunk on you every chance he gets. He is one of the class of 2022's elite prospects in the state of Arizona."
Those are very big words coming from our Northern Arizona scout that has been around the game a long time, and is well respected in the business.
I got a strong glimpse of Parent in our Arizona Preps Basketball Academy held in Prescott in November, and I was very impressed with the level of confidence this young man plays at, and his fundamentally sound approach to the game. Parent is a sniper with the basketball, and has unlimited range on the basketball court - capable of shooting the basketball from anywhere on the floor, and with a quick release on his shot. He has a pure shooting stroke and shoots the ball effortlessly. He is also a very good ball handler, that is capable of playing several positions on the floor, and, as a result, has excellent versatility as a player.
Parent will continue to need to get physically stronger and add size to his thin frame to maximize his potential as a player, and continue to focus defensively to improve his overall approach to the game, but he competes hard and has excellent toughness for his size.
Parent averaged impressive numbers as a sophomore - posting 17.1 points and 4.5 rebounds per contest. He should pour in much bigger number this season as a junior. Parent is also an excellent student and carries a 3.9 CUM GPA, which will also improve his overall college recruitment as a result.
I will continue to keep a very close eye on Parent this high school season and late spring, and bring you any recruitment updates on him as they begin to develop.
