Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
Kevin Parrom enjoyed his official visit to Arizona so much he made up his mind about college.
“I committed just now,” Parrom said Sunday by phone. “It was a great visit. I got to see the campus and see the fans and meet the academic advisors. It’s a great place to be.”
A New York native playing at South Kent (Conn.), Parrom chose Arizona over Pittsburgh, where he visited last Sunday. He previously eliminated Xavier and Virginia Tech.
The 6-foot-6, 200-pound Parrom, the No. 25 small forward in the Class of 2009, initially signed with Xavier, but obtained a release after Sean Miller left Xavier to take the Arizona job, bringing his whole staff, including New York native Book Richardson.
“He can be a terrific player,” recruiting analyst Tom Konchalski said of Parrom when he committed to Xavier in September. “I don’t think he’ll ever be a primary scorer, but his strong suit is his versatility. He’s a terrific offensive rebounder. He can pass the ball, he can handle the ball. He’ll hit an occasion moonball three, but he’s not a consistent perimeter threat. He does so many things. He has so many little wins. He’s an all-court player, he can can handle the ball, he can pass, he can rebound.”
Parrom joins 6-6 small forward Solomon Hill of Los Angeles Fairfax; 6-7 and 6-10 centerKyryl Natyazhko of Bradenton, Fla., in Arizona’s 2009 recruiting class.
Parrom said he wasn’t certain what he would do after Miller first took the Arizona job.
“I was a little confused in the beginning [after Miller left for Arizona] because I didn’t know if I wanted to go out West,” Parrom said. “Coach said to follow your heart.
“He said the Xavier and Arizona situation is like going from a Buick to a Lexus and I completely understand what he’s talking about.”
Parrom’s parents, Kenneth Parrom and Lisa Williams, made the trip with him, even though his mother hasn’t flown in 20 years. They were with him when he committed toMiller.
“My mother hasn’t flown in 20 years,” Parrom said. “She wanted to come out here and see it. My mother enjoyed it.”
Asked what his role at Arizona will be, Parrom said: “My role is simply to come in as a freshman and be ready to score, play defense, rebound, do a little bit of everything as a freshman.”
He added: “I’m going to bring some energy and a little bit of East Coast flavor, just score, defend, do whatever coach needs me to.
“I like to win so whatever it takes to win.”
Parrom will move to Arizona for summer school, either the first (June 8th) or second session (July 13), but hasn’t decided which.
“Coach [Miller] is trying to get me to 215 [pounds] during summer school,” Parrom said.
There is no news on the Lance Stephenson front as of Saturday night. Sources at Arizona, Memphis and St. John’s reported no updates.
The 6-6 Stephenson reportedly crossed longtime suitors St. John’s and Maryland off his list and Arizona and Memphis have both reached out but no visits have been set.
“I’m not a recruiter,” Parrom said of Stephenson. “I’m just a player. If he wants to come, he can come.”
Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle.
A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013.
He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.
Kevin Parrom enjoyed his official visit to Arizona so much he made up his mind about college.
“I committed just now,” Parrom said Sunday by phone. “It was a great visit. I got to see the campus and see the fans and meet the academic advisors. It’s a great place to be.”
A New York native playing at South Kent (Conn.), Parrom chose Arizona over Pittsburgh, where he visited last Sunday. He previously eliminated Xavier and Virginia Tech.
The 6-foot-6, 200-pound Parrom, the No. 25 small forward in the Class of 2009, initially signed with Xavier, but obtained a release after Sean Miller left Xavier to take the Arizona job, bringing his whole staff, including New York native Book Richardson.
“He can be a terrific player,” recruiting analyst Tom Konchalski said of Parrom when he committed to Xavier in September. “I don’t think he’ll ever be a primary scorer, but his strong suit is his versatility. He’s a terrific offensive rebounder. He can pass the ball, he can handle the ball. He’ll hit an occasion moonball three, but he’s not a consistent perimeter threat. He does so many things. He has so many little wins. He’s an all-court player, he can can handle the ball, he can pass, he can rebound.”
Parrom joins 6-6 small forward Solomon Hill of Los Angeles Fairfax; 6-7 and 6-10 center Kyryl Natyazhko of Bradenton, Fla., in Arizona’s 2009 recruiting class.
Parrom said he wasn’t certain what he would do after Miller first took the Arizona job.
“I was a little confused in the beginning [after Miller left for Arizona] because I didn’t know if I wanted to go out West,” Parrom said. “Coach said to follow your heart.
“He said the Xavier and Arizona situation is like going from a Buick to a Lexus and I completely understand what he’s talking about.”
Parrom’s parents, Kenneth Parrom and Lisa Williams, made the trip with him, even though his mother hasn’t flown in 20 years. They were with him when he committed to Miller.
“My mother hasn’t flown in 20 years,” Parrom said. “She wanted to come out here and see it. My mother enjoyed it.”
Asked what his role at Arizona will be, Parrom said: “My role is simply to come in as a freshman and be ready to score, play defense, rebound, do a little bit of everything as a freshman.”
He added: “I’m going to bring some energy and a little bit of East Coast flavor, just score, defend, do whatever coach needs me to.
“I like to win so whatever it takes to win.”
Parrom will move to Arizona for summer school, either the first (June 8th) or second session (July 13), but hasn’t decided which.
“Coach [Miller] is trying to get me to 215 [pounds] during summer school,” Parrom said.
There is no news on the Lance Stephenson front as of Saturday night. Sources at Arizona, Memphis and St. John’s reported no updates.
The 6-6 Stephenson reportedly crossed longtime suitors St. John’s and Maryland off his list and Arizona and Memphis have both reached out but no visits have been set.
“I’m not a recruiter,” Parrom said of Stephenson. “I’m just a player. If he wants to come, he can come.”
