BY DEANNE REVEL
Name: Rashad Yamata Parker
Age: 21
Class: Second-year
Major: Illustration
Hometown: Macon, Ga.
Sports team: SCAD Men’s Basketball
Positions: Small Forward and Center
I was slightly terrified when I sat down with the Sun Conference men’s basketball Player of the Week ending in Jan. 18. Rashad Parker’s legs not only bumped the table—they lifted it.
Do you have a player nickname?
Parker: No, it’s Rashad.
What does Rashad mean?
Parker: Very wise or good decisions.
Was transferring to SCAD a wise decision?
Parker: Yeah, it was.
Why were you awarded Sun Conference men’s basketball Player of the Week?
Parker: It has to do with how much progress an athlete has made.
What does the award mean to you?
Parker: Through hard work you can achieve anything.
What do you think about your team?
Parker: They’re great. They love the school. We love each other. Without my teammates, I wouldn’t have gotten the award. They put me in a position to win the award. As far as I’m concerned, the award goes to all of them.
How do your teammates support you?
Parker: Most support comes from the guards. They get the ball and move it around. They’re leaders and they do a great job: Romell Witherspoon (fourth-year, performing arts), Chas Johnson (third-year, architecture), Xavier Blain-Cruz (fourth-year, illustration), Brandon Chambers (third-year, architecture) and Ron Cus (third-year, graphic design).
That’s a lot of guards.
Parker: We switch around a lot.
Other highlights this season?
Parker: I’ve had some defensive highlights. I’m a pretty good rebounder. But this award was for offensive performance.
How many points on average do you score a game?
Parker: I’m usually in the range of nine to 10 points a game.
Do you have a favorite move?
Parker: Turn around jump shot. I got that from Kobe Bryant. It’s where you fake outside towards the baseline and spin back inside towards the lane. Then you take a jump shot. It’s a really quick move.
So, you’re fast?
Parker: Yeah, I’m a pretty fast guy.
Do you have a signature gesture that you do after a shot?
Parker: I’m a really humble player. I don’t have a signature. I always point out the person who gave me the ball to score. To me, it’s important to point them out and let them know I’m thankful.
What do you find artistic about basketball?
Parker: It’s a fast paced game and you have to train your body to keep up, but you have to train the mind to slow down on the court. In that way, it’s very poetic.
Do you apply anything from your art to performance on the court?
Parker: Patience.
What made you narrow down to illustration?
Parker: I like telling a story.
SCAD Athletics lets you be an artist and an athlete, but if you had to choose what would what you pursue professionally?
Parker: That’s a really tough decision. I’d have to say art simply because you have to factor in the amount of time you have to be a professional athlete. You can be an artist forever.
Men’s basketball officially ends Feb. 21. There are three more home games (Feb. 14, 18 and 21) before the Sun Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament begins Feb. 24.
At this point does the team have a chance at going?
Parker: We do have a shot at going. Even though the program is terminating, we’re all fighters. We don’t give up in school or on the court. We’re still going to play hard.
To follow the success of other SCAD athletes and teams, learn about fitness programs, or look up game schedules, visit www.scadathletics.com.
Photo by James Biscardi
