Recruiting Report: Gregory “Alden” Parham (2017)
There’s nothing better than a real life comeback story in sports, especially when it has all the makings of a Hollywood film. To those who knew what Monacan guard Alden Parham had been through the year before leading them to…
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Continue ReadingThere’s nothing better than a real life comeback story in sports, especially when it has all the makings of a Hollywood film. To those who knew what Monacan guard Alden Parham had been through the year before leading them to the state championship last season, it was almost too good not to be a movie.
The 6’3” lead guard almost didn’t play the 2015-2016 season after battling back from a torn ACL his sophomore season. Less than a week before the Chief’s first game, Parham broke his wrist on his shooting arm and had to miss six weeks. The experience was frustrating, but Parham knew he could make it back because he’d already rehabbed from a worst injury.
“I was upset because I knew my sophomore year was going to be a breakout season for me,” Parham said. “The recovery process was long, stressful and mentally tough because I stayed around basketball the majority of the time I was injured and it made me very anxious to get back on the court.”
When Parham did get back, he wasted no time jumping right into the leadership role for a talented Monacan team that had underachieved in the past. With Parham at the helm, the Chiefs completed a magical run to the state championship game, despite entering the tournament as the lowest seed in 4A.
“My junior season is one that I will never forget,” Parham said. “Winning the school’s first state championship in boys basketball and becoming the second team in Chesterfield County to ever win a state championship for boys basketball feels so surreal.”
Alden Parham is a smooth and skilled guard with a winning background.Not only was his team successful, but Parham was recognized as the catalyst for the turn around, earning him Conference 20 co-player of the year and First Team All State honors. Not only did high school coaches start to recognize his solid play, but coaches from all levels of college basketball have started to notice too. Much of the ODAC and CAC have Parham as a must-get priority, but he’s also received interest from Cornell, Central Connecticut State, Kent State, VMI, Longwood and Sacred Heart.
Along with his steady play at both guard positions, Parham brings a number of intangibles that make him very recruitable. He’s a leader both on the floor and in the community, he’s a well spoken kid, he’s a good student and he’s a student of the game as well. As for colleges, he’s not picky and would rather stay concerned with the matters at hand.
“I will take into consideration location, facilities, classroom size and graduation rate,” Parham said about what he wants in a school. “Right now, I just want to focus on getting better so we can win another conference and state championship.”
He may be a relatively quiet kid, but you’ll hear a lot about his game as the summer drags along and we get into the high school season.