ANALYST

You are correct, I'm Bootsy's father and coach, I've been a assistant at Hillcrest since 1994 when Bootsy was 9yrs.of age and team waterboy. There are several DI schools and a couple of DII mixed in that are recruiting Bootsy but at this time I can't divulge their names. There have been coaching changes at a couple of the schools where he has taken official visits and Bootsy is still very much open to the recruiting process. Bootsy has three more official visits to take. As a matter of fact I spoke to a school on today, that played in this years NCAA tourney, they said that they have been tracking Wayne all season and became even more interested when they found out that he was already registered with the NCAA clearing house and found out that he has a 3.50 average in 13 core subjects even though he has not finished his senior yr of high school. As a matter of fact they might be coming to Memphis in the next week or so to maybe visit with him. Bootsy will make the final decision on where he wants to go to school, it will be his decision only, with input from me and his mom. When he decides to sign, Coach T will be one of the first to know. I listed some of the schools that were in on him early on in this web site. At this time I don't think it would be fair to Bootsy give out more info, because he is still very much open. E-mail me at wpackercat@aol.com if you want to talk.

Thanks Ego, as you know I've been talking about Bootsy before the season even started. It's no doubt that he could've played for White Station, Ridgeway, East, Hamilton, Fairly, BTW and on and on. He was even approached by a couple of those schools coming out of middle school. As we all know hind sight is 20 20, but Bootsy would have been just another good player at those schools. Playing at Hillcrest gave him a chance to be a leader. The route that he chose proved that he could be a leader on a team that didn't have as much talent, I do believe that he'll be successful at what ever he decides to take on in life.

Opperman, I forgot to rebutt you on another point you made in your comments. You probably doubted that Bootsy would make Honorable Mention All-State, LOL. Keep on doubting and maybe he'll be better than Shane one day.

Like I said Opperman, JUST MY OPINION, Battier wasn't born 6'8". Who knows what the future holds, Scotty Pippen was only 6'2" when he went to school at Central Arkansas to be a trainer. Bootsy has a chance to grow, he wears a size 14 shoe and is only 17, won't turn 18 until September. I know you have a right to your opinion, but I have a right to mine also, we'll see what happens. Have a BLESSED DAY!

I want to congratulate Bootsy Parks on his being selected Honorable Mention AP All-State. Parks led the Hillcrest Vikings to a 17win 12loss season, highlighted by a 2nd place regular season finish in 16AA and 3rd place 16AA tourney. Parks and the Vikings closed out their season with a 78 to 71 loss to Raleigh Egypt, a game that Parks scored 25pts., in the Region 8AA tourney. Other highlights of Bootsy's season are as follows: All District 16AA, All Region 8AA. Final season stats: 17pts. 6.1 assists 4.5 rebs. & 2steals per game. Game Highlights: 27pts on Fairley in overtime loss, 34 pts on Sheffield, a game where he hit 8 of 11 three pointers, 26pts on Carver, 20pts on BTW all wins. Bootsy had 8 games where he scored 20 or more points, 6 of which were wins. Bootsy has a 3.8 grade point average, has passed the ACT and is in the running for Salutatorian at Hillcrest. He is a member of the National Honor Society and is being offered scholarships from several schools in academics as well as atheletics. Bootsy, to me, is a "Shane Battier replica" with a better jump shot and better ball handling skills. When he gets to be Shane's age he'll have a chance to be better. Just my opinion, once again congrats!!!!!

Hillcrest defeated Carver at Carver last night in an exciting game that had a tournament atmosphere. The Vikings were led by Wayne "Bootsy" Parks with 26pts. 6assists, 7rebs and 3 steals. 6'7" soph. Calvin Williams scored 18pts 12rebs before fouling out with 6 mins. to play. 5'10" Anterrio Glover pitched in with 14pts, 7assists and 5 steals, Marticus Morgan had 15rebs 5blocks and 6steals, along with 8 pts. As I stated earlier, this team will be extremely dangerous at tournament time, if the Vikings make it to the region tournament they will make some noise. Hillcrest has a record of 14-11 overall 8-3 district. So far in 2003 Hillcrest has posted a 10-3 record. Bootsy Parks is captain and leader of this team, but has played in the shadows the previous 3 yrs of Nick Stigger & Tyrone Scott. This is Hillcrest's best district record in the last 4 yrs, remember Parks is the only 4 yr starter on this Viking squad. Note: Wayne "Bootsy" Parks has scored more than 1000 pts in his career at Hillcrest.

Getting 25pts from the free throw line will give anybody 37pts.

Opperman & Ego, you guys are correct with your info, in a matter of fact Stigger was failing when he left Hillcrest.

Gomab Wayne "Bootsy" Parks has scored 327 points in 19games. He missed two games because of injury, his per game average 17.2 pts per game.

Not trying to change your mind but I think that Wayne "Bootsy" Parks should have moved up instead of down from your preseason rankings. Parks has led his team, Hillcrest to a 5&2 district record thus far in the season, and carries a 17.5 pts 6.1 assists 4.5 rebs per game. Parks is the only player on his team that has more than 1 year of varsity experience. Parks could easily average 20 or more points a game, but Parks doesn't worry about average only about wins. His season highs have come against elite teams in Memphis. Against nationally ranked Memphis Fairley, Parks had 27pts 8 assists and 6rebs in a 68 to 66 overtime loss. Against Memphis Sheffield, Parks scored a career high 34pts on 8 of 11 from the 3pt line with 6assist and 5 rebs for a 66 to 48 Hillcrest win. Parks could have easily pad his average against lesser teams, and average 25 pts a game, but his unselfish play and love for the assist, keeps his scoring totals down. If any player in Tennessee means more to his team than Parks does to Hillcrest, I really feel them. Remember Hillcrest has lost all state performer Tyrone Scott and top 100 player Nick Stigger, but thru Parks leadership the Vikings are headed for their best district record in several years. College coaches see a well balanced player that has qualified and can play either the 1 or 2 position. Too bad Parks doesn't play for the Hamiltons, Fairleys, Melroses, Ridgeways, White Stations, etc, etc. There's no doubt that he could play well for any of those schools, but leading a team that doesn't have all the so called superstars on it is a better fit for Bootsy. When signing day comes we'll see who stands tall, Bootsy is definitely a top twenty player in the state of Tennessee.

Bootsy Parks has been steady as a rock for the Memphis Hillcrest Vikings this 2002-2003 basketball season. The 6'3" combo guard is averaging 17.3 pts., 6 assists, and 5 rebs per game. The Vikings carry a 7-9 overall record, with a 3-1 16AA league record after last nite's convincing 66 to 47 win at Memphis Sheffield. Here's the numbers on Bootsy from last nite's win: 34pts, 6assists, 7rebs, and only 1 turnover. Bootsy hit 8 out of 11 three pointers against Sheffield and is now avg. 25 pts agame in 16AA league play. UAB is now showing interest in him along with several other schools that are already in on him. This Viking team is young, but extremely dangerous.

Hillcrest has a record of 4 and 8, but haven't lost to a AA school as of yet. All eight losses have come against AAA schools or higher classifications out of state. Their record could easily be 8 and 4 with a 1 pt loss to Craigmont, a 2 pt overtime loss to Fairly, a 3 pt loss at AAAAA Starkville, (Travis Outlaw), and a 3 pt loss to AAAAA Meridian Miss. in the Poplar Bluff Showdown. This team only had one full time starter that returned from last year's team and his name is Bootsy Parks. Parks is averaging nearly 18pts a game with a season high 27 pts against Memphis Fairly in a 2 pt overtime loss. This team will be better when they get to league play, this is evident by how they've played during an extremely tough pre league schedule. Don't be fooled by the record, if Hillcrest can play thru the mostly one sided officiating that is given to the traditional powers, such as BTW, Carver, etc. etc. the Vikings still have a chance to be one of the suprise teams this year.

His name is Wayne "Bootsy" Parks, he's a 6'3" combo guard that has had a tremendous summer and is one of the most highly recruited players in Memphis this fall. Several schools have been in to see him workout and each one has been very pleased with what they saw. This kid has already passed the ACT and has a 4.0 grade pt avg., he played well in one of the invitation only camps this summer and has increased his stock tremendously. I think I saw where you rated him #28 behind Wiley, but this kid might be a top 10 player when all is said and done. At 16 he is doing what a lot of 19 & 20 year olds can't do, and he is a total team player with great character. This is one kid that people that know talent and upside won't miss. Coach Lebo would love this one!

Coach Shulman was in Memphis recently and is in on a Memphis player that is highly impressed with him. This player will shock the city of Memphis this year, and I truly think that coach Shulman is highly impressed with this player. Coach Shulman is a hard worker and knows talent when he sees it, he doesn't just look at where a player is now, but also where a player will be years from now. Look out for UTC!

I'm glad someone else has noticed Parks other than me. There will be several D1 coaches that will pay him a visit in Sept., his stock has risen tremendously because of a great summer, and it is true that he has the grades. He finished third in scoring in the Memphis Summer Classic at MUS and has been rated as a high mid-major D1 prospect. This will be a steal for some school that knows potential, and upside. He has a great attitude and work ethic to go along with good grades. P.S. Timmie D, watch out what you post about Parks, somebody will accuse you of being kin to him or say that Parks was trying to hype himself. Don't let that deter you from posting about one of the most underrated and least talked about players in Memphis. I for one am happy to post about a kid that's not stuck on himself and is really grateful to have a chance to play the game of basketball. If you attended any of Hillcrest games you had to notice Wayne Parks the combo guard who always draws the task of guarding the other team best player. Allen (BTW),Suggs (Ridgeway),and alot of others know this kid and by the way the school is not going to have to falsify his grades he has a 4.0 and has already qaulified.