Sonny Parker (basketball)

Robert S. Parker, known as Sonny (born March 22, 1955 in Chicago, Illinois) is a former college basketball forward for Texas A&M University who was a first-round draft pick for the Golden State Warriors. After retiring from basketball, Parker created the Sonny Parker Youth Foundation in Chicago to help inner-city students.

Early years

Parker attended Farragut High School in Chicago, Illinois, where he was received All-City, All-State, and All-Public League honors. In appreciation of his efforts on the school's basketball team, he has been named to the Farragut Hall of Fame, the Chicago Public Schools Hall of FAme, and the Illinois High School Hall of Fame.cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = ABout Sonny | work = | publisher = Sonny Parker Youth Foundation | date = | url = http://www.thesonnyparkeryouthfoundation.org/about_sonny.php | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2007-02-13 ]

After graduating from high school, Parker spent two years at Mineral Area College. In both of his seasons, Parker was named an All-American, as well as Conference Player of the Year and Region Player of the Year. He was an All-Conference and All-Region pick, and is the Mineral Area College's Leading Career Scorer. He has been inducted into the Junior College Hall of Fame.

Texas A&M University (1974-1976)

Although Parker was recruited by many of the top college basketball programs, he chose to attend Texas A&M University, primarily to learn under legendary coach Shelby Metcalf.cite web | last =Huffman | first = Holly | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Mourners Gather to pay homage to A&M Basketball Legend | work = | publisher = Bryan College Station Eagle | date = February 13, 2007 | url = http://www.aggiesports.com/stories/021307/mbasketball_20070213003.php | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2007-02-20 ] The lonely Parker, over 1000 miles from home, was quickly embraced by Metcalf and his family, often accompanying his coach on fishing trips. The men became close enough friends that after Parker was named the most valuable player in one of the many college tournaments in which A&M participated, he gave his reward, a nice watch, to Metcalf as a gift. Metcalf treasured the watch for twenty-five years,cite web | last =Zwerneman | first = Brent | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Friends, players remember Metcalf as a fisher of men | work = | publisher = San Antonio Express-News | date = February 12, 2007 | url = http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/college/stories/MYSA021307.05D.Metcalf.funeral.1809e34.html | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2007-02-20 ] , before giving it to Parker's son Christian at the ceremony inducting Parker into the Texas A&M Athletic Hall of Fame. At Metcalf's funeral in February 2007, Parker gave a eulogy and served as one of the pallbearers.

In his two years at Texas A&M, Parker led the Aggies to back-to-back Southwest Conference titles, earning himself first-team All-Southwest Conference honors both years as well. The team reached the NCAA Tournament in 1974-1975. As a senior, Parker averaged 20.7 points per game, a feat that only two other Aggie players have achieved in the 20 years since he left.

Honors

*Newcomer of the Year
*SWC Player of the Year
*All Conference
*All Defensive Team
*Texas A&M MVP
*SWC All Decade Team
*All American
*Pizza Hut-Slam Dunk Award
*All Star Game
*Texas A&M Hall of Fame

Professional basketball career

Parker was a first-round draft pick, chosen by the Golden State Warriers as the 17th overall pick in the 1976 NBA Draft. For 29 years, Parker held the record as the highest an Aggie had ever been drafted, until in 2005 Antoine Wright was chosen as the 15th overall draft pick by the New Jersey Nets.cite web | last = Pedersen | first = Eric | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Drafted: Wright chosen by New Jersey | work = | publisher = The Battalion | date = June 29, 2005 | url =http://media.www.thebatt.com/media/storage/paper657/news/2005/06/29/News/Drafted-959939.shtml| format = | doi = | accessdate = 2007-02-16 ]

In his rookie season, Parker played in 65 games, scoring a total of 379 points (5.8 points per game), with 2.7 rebounds per game and .9 assists per game. His team reached the playoffs, with Parker contributing 4.2 points per game and 2.8 rebounds, and .9 assists per game.cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Sonny Parker | work = | publisher = DatabaseBasketball.com | date = | url = http://www.databasebasketball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=PARKESO01 | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2007-02-20 ]

The following season, Parker played in 82 games, averaging 11.4 points per game, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.9 assists. He ranked 16th in the NBA for Field Goal Percentage, with .519 field goals (406 out of 783).cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = NBA Season in Review 1977-1978 | work = | publisher = Razulu's Street | date = | url = http://www.rauzulusstreet.com/basketball/nbarecords/nbastandings1978.htm | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2007-02-20 ] His best season, however, cam in 1978-1979, where he averaged 15.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game, with 144 steals and 33 blocks.

In a thrilling game in November, 1981, Parker led the Warriers to a 102-100 victory over the Houston Rockets. At the opening of the final quarter, the Warriers trailed by 10 points before Parker and teammate Joe Hassett combined to score 13 points and give the Warriers their first lead with 3 minutes left to play. The game was tied at 100 when Parker rebounded a shot by his teammate Lloyd Free with two seconds remaining and completed a reverse layup to give the Warriers their victory.cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Warriors 102, Rockets 100 | work = | publisher = New York Times | date = February 14, 1981 | url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B05E0DD1F39F937A25752C1A967948260&n=Top%2fNews%2fSports%2fPro%20Basketball%2fNational%20Basketball%20Association%2fGolden%20State%20Warriors | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2007-02-20 ]

After a disappointing 1981-1982 season, where Parker averaged only 3.9 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game, in September 1982 the Warriers waived Parker, ending his NBA career.cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Transactions | work = | publisher = New York Times | date = September 29, 1982 | url = http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F6091EFA355C0C7A8EDDA00894DA484D81&showabstract=1 | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2007-02-20 ]

For the six years that he played professional basketball, Parker averaged 9.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game.

Youth Foundation

In 1990, Parker established the non-profit Sonny Parker Youth Foundation (SPYF) in his hometown of Chicago, Illinois. The foundation is designed to provide year-round educational, recreational, and multi-cultural programs for inner-city children from kindergarten through 12th grade. Through after-school and weekend programs, the foundation provides tutoring, ACT/SAT preparation, parents' workshops, job training, mentoring, career planning, and physical education in the hopes of improving the reading and writing skills of the students and preparing them to become more productive citizens.cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = About Us | work = | publisher = Sonny Parker Youth Foundation | date = | url = http://www.thesonnyparkeryouthfoundation.org/about_us.php | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2007-02-13 ] Parker is the president of the organization and is active in its daily activities.

Family

Parker and his wife, Lola, have seven children.cite web | last =Burson | first = Rusty | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = PARKER'S PRESENCE: Former A&M basketball star continues to score points with Aggies, youth of Chicago | work = | publisher = Texas A&M 12th Man Foundation | date = | url = http://www.12thmanfoundation.com/mag/Vol5/vol5no18/InsideAggies.html | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2007-02-20 ] One of their sons, Jabarri, is following in his father's footsteps. As a nine-year old in 2005, the boy showed enough talent to earn a spot on his school's eighth-grade basketball team, but the school would not let him play with the older children due to liability issues. He now plays with an elite youth travel team.cite web | last =Carroll | first = Jeff | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = A difference in Philosophy | work = | publisher = NWITimes.com | date = Jan, 3, 2005 | url = http://nwitimes.com/articles/2005/01/03/sports/region_sports/3ec0baf988fb66fa86256f7d007f9524.prt | format = | doi =
accessdate = 2007-02-20 ] Parker's eldest son is a graduate of the University of Oregon and plays professional basketball overseas.

References

External links

* [http://www.thesonnyparkeryouthfoundation.org/ Sonny Parker Youth Foundation]