Course correction

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(Photo credit: Spin.ph)

Well, someone has to say it.

Bobby Ray Parks, Jr. is NOT NBA material. Not yet, anyway.

We won't follow other writers who have nothing but good words to say about Parks, Jr. from the sacrifice that he made in playing in the Philippines to help his late father, to his time at National University. Instead, we will give interested readers an honest take on Parks, Jr. the basketball player and NBA hopeful.

He suited up for NU from 2011 to 2013, was recognized as the "face" of its basketball (and probably, at the time, its overall sports) program and averaged a stellar 20 ppg 7rpg 3apg 1spg 1bpg in his UAAP run wherein he was the MVP in seasons 74 and 75. He was that gifted. He was also featured on offense. A lot. NU basically ran everything through and by Parks, Jr. which is and was a far cry from all the stellar and creative offensive sets they ran post-Parks, Jr. en route to a UAAP crown just a few seasons ago.


From where we watched, Parks, Jr. is a point guard whose only real advantage over the competition is his height. When matched against guys of equal size and caliber (shoutout to Kevin Ferrer), he struggled. Hard. He's skilled, sure, but he wasn't exactly a sight to behold ala Calvin Abueva or even Kiefer Ravena.

Parks, Jr. has shaky range. His defense is spotty and only works versus smaller players. He isn't Jayson Castro quick, Calvin Abueva strong and relentless or even Kiefer Ravena clutch.

He can do a lot of things well, but he is not a master of anything.

But that was when we saw him last. In the UAAP.

Since then, he has earned a PBA D-League MVP award, and moved on to the US to chase that NBA dream. He landed a spot in the NBA D-League and averaged 13mpg 5ppg 2rpg 1apg.

Out there he looked normal. Nothing special. Just another rotation guy.

Because he can't control the floor like a true point guard. He isn't as quick as the competition. He doesn't have confidence in his range, so that's another minus in him playing that position.

Shooting guard? That's a wash.

He is a true blue PBA-level small forward. An all-around guy. Gabe Norwood with plus on offense, minus on defense. Chris Newsome plays a lot more aggressively than Parks, Jr., but we do feel that they are equals somehow.

Which brings us to his recent return. This time, he is practicing with the Gilas pool in hopes of landing a FIBA OQT final roster spot. We feel that Parks, Jr., now a bit bigger, can come in right away and help out. Not as some savior like Jordan Clarkson was supposed to be. A role player. Another versatile defender who can make shots. Basically, the spot JC Intal played for Coach Tab Baldwin in his Gilas stint.

We have been blocked from following Parks, Jr. for calling him out on this one before, but who cares?

Here is what we said before: work on his game, get tougher, focus on a certain area and really, truly, master it.

It could be defense. Shooting. Speed. Rebounding. Anything. Focus on one area, since he already has most of the basic, fundamental basketball skills down pat.

Now instead of wasting your youth in the NBA D-League with no one watching-- dominate the domestic competition. Be the name that bolsters Philippine basketball the way Tony Parker is for France and Dirk Nowitzki, Germany. Be the face of this country and let us rally behind your greatness as it should be.

Go the PBA route. Follow Junemar Fajardo, who is collecting rings and MVPs like it is going out of fashion. Be dominant enough to get noticed by international scouts-- now that basketball is a global, social media-powered game. Imagine if Parks, Jr. went to Ginebra, got the country behind him, won so many titles, suited up for Gilas and had a bunch of stellar games?

Wow.

LeBron James ng Pinas for sure.

Come home. Stay home. And wait for their call. And even if they don't, you'd still be considered a legend when it is all said and done.