The University of Memphis offered Union City (TN) guard [db]Parker Stewart[/db] late in 2014. This past Thursday, they visited him for the first time. Assistant Coach Robert Kirby made the trip up Highway 55, and Stewart understandably was excited about the meeting.
"Memphis offered me last November when I attended Memphis Madness," said Stewart. "I was a little surprised because I was only a sophomore, but they thought I had an upside and I would improve since I was so young."
The two parties have been in touch ever since. Union City High School also attended the Tigers' Team Camp this past June.
Stewart has a reputation as a deadly deep range shooter, and Josh Pastner and staff have taken note of this. "My strength is my shooting ability. The Memphis coaches tell me they value shooters. They also like it that I can play point guard. At 6-foot-5, I have height at that position. They told me I am a great fit for what they do."
The Class of 2017 combo guard already has several scholarships on the table. Memphis, Kansas State, Wyoming, Santa Clara, and South Carolina-Upstate have offered.
Stewart gave his thoughts about some of the schools recruiting him.
Kansas State - "I have a good relationship with Coach (Chris Lowery). It is a good program, and they have great facilities. They also say I would be a very good fit in their program."
Stewart's dad served on the Southern Illinois staff where Lowery was the Head Coach.
Wyoming - "I also have a good relationship with Coach (Jeremy) Shyatt. My dad used to coach at the University of Wyoming, so I am very familiar with it. I understand a lot has changed, but I still like it there,"
Santa Clara - "I like them. They have already visited me twice, and that means a lot that they would come all the way from California to see me. I have talked to two coaches there, and they tell me I could come in and help right away."
Stewart is also getting recruited heavily by Purdue, Virginia Tech, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Iowa, and West Virginia. He says he is expecting visits from the Boilermakers and Hokies.
Some might think the close proximity from Union City to Memphis might be a big advantage for the Tigers, but this isn't necessarily the case with Parker. He has only lived in Tennessee for the past two years. His father, Anthony Stewart, is an assistant coach at Tennessee Martin. Prior to his stint with the Skyhawks, he worked on the staffs at Ohio University, Southern Illinois, Wyoming, and Long Beach State.
Needless to say, Coach Stewart has been very helpful to his son on and off the floor. "Dad helps me a lot. He taught me how to play. He's not going to push me to a certain school, but I ask his opinion. He wants me to make the best choice for myself."
So in all of his travels, who is the school Stewart has always wanted to get recruited by?
"I'm from Ohio originally, so I've always been an Ohio State fan. I definitely look at them as an option."
Stewart's Union City squad made a strong run last season, finishing runner-up in Tennessee's 1A classification. They lost several key contributors, but Parker is still expecting similar results.
"We're young. We have two starters back, but we have lots of talent and play hard. We've been picked third or fourth in our league, but I think we can surprise some people and go back to the state."
Meanwhile, the junior who already has over a dozen schools talking to him, is still hungry to work.
"I've got lots of time to get faster and stronger. I'm going to continue to work on that every day."
"Memphis offered me last November when I attended Memphis Madness," said Stewart. "I was a little surprised because I was only a sophomore, but they thought I had an upside and I would improve since I was so young."
The two parties have been in touch ever since. Union City High School also attended the Tigers' Team Camp this past June.
Stewart has a reputation as a deadly deep range shooter, and Josh Pastner and staff have taken note of this. "My strength is my shooting ability. The Memphis coaches tell me they value shooters. They also like it that I can play point guard. At 6-foot-5, I have height at that position. They told me I am a great fit for what they do."
The Class of 2017 combo guard already has several scholarships on the table. Memphis, Kansas State, Wyoming, Santa Clara, and South Carolina-Upstate have offered.
Stewart gave his thoughts about some of the schools recruiting him.
Kansas State - "I have a good relationship with Coach (Chris Lowery). It is a good program, and they have great facilities. They also say I would be a very good fit in their program."
Stewart's dad served on the Southern Illinois staff where Lowery was the Head Coach.
Wyoming - "I also have a good relationship with Coach (Jeremy) Shyatt. My dad used to coach at the University of Wyoming, so I am very familiar with it. I understand a lot has changed, but I still like it there,"
Santa Clara - "I like them. They have already visited me twice, and that means a lot that they would come all the way from California to see me. I have talked to two coaches there, and they tell me I could come in and help right away."
Stewart is also getting recruited heavily by Purdue, Virginia Tech, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Iowa, and West Virginia. He says he is expecting visits from the Boilermakers and Hokies.
Some might think the close proximity from Union City to Memphis might be a big advantage for the Tigers, but this isn't necessarily the case with Parker. He has only lived in Tennessee for the past two years. His father, Anthony Stewart, is an assistant coach at Tennessee Martin. Prior to his stint with the Skyhawks, he worked on the staffs at Ohio University, Southern Illinois, Wyoming, and Long Beach State.
Needless to say, Coach Stewart has been very helpful to his son on and off the floor. "Dad helps me a lot. He taught me how to play. He's not going to push me to a certain school, but I ask his opinion. He wants me to make the best choice for myself."
So in all of his travels, who is the school Stewart has always wanted to get recruited by?
"I'm from Ohio originally, so I've always been an Ohio State fan. I definitely look at them as an option."
Stewart's Union City squad made a strong run last season, finishing runner-up in Tennessee's 1A classification. They lost several key contributors, but Parker is still expecting similar results.
"We're young. We have two starters back, but we have lots of talent and play hard. We've been picked third or fourth in our league, but I think we can surprise some people and go back to the state."
Meanwhile, the junior who already has over a dozen schools talking to him, is still hungry to work.
"I've got lots of time to get faster and stronger. I'm going to continue to work on that every day."
