Team Parsons, also known as CP 25, has quickly become a high level grassroots program. We caught up with Program Director Anthony Ricks to find out more about this year’s group of players.
“This group is solid and may be as good as any group we have had in the past”, Ricks said. “Our goal is to win, of course, but also get the players maximum exposure in front of college coaches from all levels. We have versatile guys throughout the roster and believe teams will have difficult matchup problems when they play us.”
In the frontcourt, Yussif Basa Ama, a 6’9 junior from Boca Raton St. Andrew’s, will be joined by 6’8 junior Jonathan Aybar from Kissimmee Central Pointe, 6’6 junior Isaiah Adams from Jacksonville Paxon, and 6’5 junior Kario Oquendo from Titusville Astronaut.
“Yussif seemingly improves every moment he is on the court”, according to Ricks. “He’s a long shot blocker that runs the floor, plays with intensity, and scores well around the basket. Aybar is similar but can step out and knock down shots inside the arc. Adams is a long wing that can play different positions. Offensively he has improved his shot, is a good passer, and is a threat to posterize the defense any time he drives to the basket. Oquendo is an explosive athlete that played up on the 17U level last season and acquitted himself well. He’s a tremendous finisher at the rim and plays bigger than his size.”
There will be a lot of perimeter options for Team Parsons this season. Joe Bamisile, a 6’5 junior from VA Monocan, leads a group that includes 6’5 junior Michael Eads from Orlando Edgewater, 6’5 junior Van Wilkes from Winter Park, 6’4 junior Eric Butler from Orlando Christian Prep and 5’10 junior Jordan Sears from Daytona Beach Mainland.
“Bamisile averaged nearly 29 ppg this past season in high school”, Ricks said. “He’s athletic, has a near seven foot wing span, and is a high level scorer. Eads has a highly effective mid-range game. He’s strong, has a high basketball IQ, and is also a very good passer. Wilkes stretches the floor with his ability to make baskets from well beyond the three point arc. He’s crafty with the ball, is a good passer, and rebounds well against bigger players. Butler is a combo guard that does a little bit of everything. He’s solid with the ball, has a high basketball IQ, can score and defend multiple positions. Sears is a tough-minded point guard that does whatever it takes to win. He’s physically and mentally tough, an excellent on-court leader, and can score in a variety of ways.”
Team Parsons will be tackling a challenging independent schedule which includes The Team Parsons Shootout this Saturday at Orlando The First Academy, The Atlanta Jam in Suwannee, GA April 26-28, The Team Parsons Memorial Day Classic, May 25-26, along with the Team Parsons Summer Jam, July 20-21.