DURHAM, N.C. – Former North Carolina Central University men’s basketball forward Jordan Parks received the call of a lifetime on July 24, as he was offered a two-year contract with Pallacanestro Trieste in Trieste, Italy.
“It was a surreal moment, I didn’t really know how to react. I was pretty speechless,” Parks said about receiving the contract offer. “I’m super excited. I’ve always wanted to travel the world and now I can do it for free and it’s part of my job, so I’m ready for that.”
Parks played his final two collegiate seasons at NCCU from 2013 to 2015, and logged significant minutes with both Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship teams. The high-flyer led the NCAA in field goal percentage during the 2013-14 season at NCCU, knocking down 65.9 percent of his shots. He was third in the NCAA at 66 percent during the 2014-15 season.
Parks was voted to the All-MEAC Second Team and to the NABC Division I All-District team following the 2014-15 season where he posted 15.6 points per game and 8.3 rebounds per contest. He notched 27 double-digit scoring games, 13 double-figure rebounding games, and 13 double-doubles during that season.
“We connected from day one because of similar backgrounds and I always told him this day would come,” NCCU men’s basketball head coach LeVelle Moton said about Parks. “He exceeded the expectations of many this year. His energy, heart and will to win has left footprints on our program here at NC Central. No one deserves this opportunity as much as Jordan and I'm proud that he leaves with his degree as well as an opportunity to provide for his family.”
“Coach Moton definitely helped me out, I believe everything he instilled in us set us up for basically any obstacle,” Parks said. “Anything that we’ll come across mentally or physically I feel like I’ve been through it, and it gave me the willpower to push myself to be great and now I’m at this level and I’m happy.
“I’m hoping things go very well, and the team just clicks and I can make an immediate impact as soon as I get there.”
Pallacanestro Trieste plays in the Gold Division of Serie A2 Basket which is in the second tier in Italy. Last season the team finished 13-13 and sixth in the standings after the regular season, and advanced as far as the playoff quarterfinals before being eliminated. The winner of the playoff is promoted to Lega Basket Serie A, which is the top-tier league.