HighSchoolElite.com's Player Journals- Parker 1

Frank's notes:
You've heard of LeBron. Now here's the women's version ... only better. She leads her team to an undefeated season and state title, she is the national player of the year and she dunks, but Candace Parker has not even finished her third year of high school. A current junior, the 6'4" Parker from Naperville Central is more than deserving to be High School Elite's first female Player Journal writer.

Whatever there is to accomplish in the game, she's pretty much accomplished it all. Take, for instance, what she is know best for: the dunks.

Midway through her sophomore year, Parker became only the second high school girl to throw-down in a game. For those who didn't see her fast-break flush, it was with authority -- not a lay-in where her fingers grazed the rim. For the nonbelievers, she did it a second time later that season, which is simply unprecedented. She had insane averages of 24 points, 15 rebounds and five assists in what could only be classified as a perfect junior season. How can she top a 35-0 season, where she scored 32 points in a 63-59 overtime win in the championship game over Fenwick and its Purdue-bound star Erin Lawless (22 points)? Fenwick had a nothing-to-scuff-at mark of 34-3 and was nationally ranked. Her Redhawks undefeated mark becomes the first perfect season since Maine West did it in 1988.

For this summer, look for Candace to continue with the Player Journals, chronicling her travels, experiences, past and expectations for the future.

Hey everyone, this is Candace Parker from Naperville Central and here is the first of my Player Journals for the summer that I’ll be doing for the site. I am really excited that Frank asked me to do this!

Naperville Central guard/forward/center Candace Parker has set new standards for women's basketball -- and still has one more year left of high school.

This has definitely been an exciting junior year of mine. We finished 35-0 and captured our first State Championship in school history. Throughout the season we had many ups and downs, but what held our team together was team chemistry. We are in fact the closest team I have ever been apart of. All of us individuals brought something different to the team, thus allowing us to grow and improve throughout the season. My most memorable moment of being downstate and capturing the title was in the closing seconds when I looked up at the clock and realized we were the 2002-2003 STATE CHAMPS!

Since then, my life has been a blur. Capturing the state title enabled us to do a number of really cool things: we appeared on CLTV the following Wednesday, were honored at the capitol in Springfield, took the floor at a Bulls game (note: I met Tyson Chandler and he shook my hand and I think his warm-up brushed my hip!), we sang the 7th inning stretch at the Cub’s game, and have been invited to a number of luncheons and banquets.

During this past spring on April 11, my coach, my parents and I were flown to Atlanta, GA so that I could accept the female Naismith Prep Player of the Year. In attendance accepting the male award was LeBron James, and in attendance accepting the college awards were Diana Taurasi and T.J. Ford. This was a great experience that allowed me to get to know each one of these phenomenal athletes. I had previously met Diana, but this was the first time I had met T.J. and ‘Bron.

When we first arrived we checked into the hotel and got something to eat. I was then taken to a room to sign various items for sponsors. When I walked in, T.J. Ford from the University of Texas was sitting there. As we signed, we talked for a while and I got to know him. He is a really great ball player, but a genuinely nice person. Next, we headed over to the banquet hall and went to the reception. There I was reunited with Diana Taurasi, who had recently captured her second National Championship at UConn, and met LeBron who was touted as the No. 1 draft pick in this year’s NBA draft. All of these athletes when first introduced were done so just by their first names, I desire to have that very same presence, but was just honored to be involved in this function.

At this banquet I was forced to make an acceptance speech. I was so nervous getting up there in front of all those people. What made me more nervous for this speech than any other was the fact that there were roughly 600 people in attendance and I had to go first before all of these established honorees. But I got through it!

Later that night, we all went back to the hotel and hung out. We watched T.V, ate, and just talked. Diana and I scared off ‘Bron and T.J. in spades (we are the best partners, so if we have any challengers, bring it on!). Through talking, I realized that these soon-to-be-multimillionaires are just regular people that enjoy having fun. I really feel lucky to have experienced this and also to have established relationships with not just good athletes, but good people.

Well, I feel that I have gone on long enough. For now, I am so ready to get out of school. My last two days are today and Tuesday. Then, I am geared up to head to Colorado Springs for the Youth Olympic Development Festival. I will be teamed on the North team with four other Illinois basketball players: Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton (Neuqua Valley), Caprice Smith (Trinity), Lauren Lacey (Marian Catholic) and Natasha Williams (Niles North). I am excited to go out there for five days and compete for the gold medal. So until next time, I’ll holla!

PLJ (peace luv jumpshot)
CP#32