Bobby Parks

From Hoopedia

Bobby Ray Parks is an American professional basketball player. He was a college standout for Memphis State University during the 1980s but never played in the NBA.

College Career

Bobby Parks, a lithe smooth shooting guard from Grand Junction, TN, came to the University of Memphis in the fall of 1980 under head coach Dana Kirk and over the next four seasons, helped the Tigers to an 86-34 record, two Metro Conference Championships and three appearances in the NCAA Division I Men's Tournament. The Middleton High graduate appeared in 27 games as a freshman and totaled 238 points. During his second season with the Tigers, 1981-82, Parks upped his scoring average to 11.4 points per game in leading the team to a 24-5 record. As a junior, Parks received All-America honors from The Sporting News after scoring 488 points and helping his team to an NCAA Midwest Region invitation. He capped his Memphis career by again averaging in double figures in scoring and finished his senior season with a Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Parks is now ranked 15th in his alma mater's career scoring with 1,266 points.

Professional Career

Parks was picked in the third round by the Atlanta Hawks in the 1984 NBA draft, the 58th player of 228 chosen in the draft. Wearing his trademark No. 22, Bobby played for the Hawks in the NBA preseason but was cut before the regular campaign started.

Parks began a career overseas in France in 1986 and 1987, played in the Philippines where he would become a legend.

He made his PBA debut for San Miguel Beer in 1987 then saw action for Formula Shell up to 1998, finishing his 12-year career with nearly 9,000 points, over 3,000 rebounds and more than 1,000 assists in 220 games. In 1989, he averaged a whopping 52.6 points in 23 games with a high of 72. Parks won a Philippine Basketball Association record of seven Best Import awards and led his team to five championships. In addition to his basketball, Parks has appeared in several Filipino movies.

During the 1989-90 season, Parks played for the Rockford Lightning in the Continental Basketball Association.

Retirement

Parks returned to University of Memphis in 2005 to finish his degree at the invitation of coach John Calipari. He was inducted into the M Club Hall of Fame in 2004.