“I don’t remember exactly when I started playing basketball, but it was about the time I was able to dribble one,” said Mark Parker, a senior at West Johnston with a long and standout basketball career. Parker has been a large part of the West Johnston Wildcat’s success over the last four years, and he recently signed with Division I Longwood University in Virginia.

While at a National AAU tournament in Orlando Florida, Parker was scouted by the coach of Longwood University. “He came to many of my games, and I really felt good about the coach,” Mark said of his draw to Longwood University.

Longwood is an Independent school, which allows them to play great competition every night. They have played both Navy and Virginia in the past. Parker has been a member of the NC Force, the NC Stars, and D-1 sports AAU teams.

At West, Mark is a three year letterman, and he also played a year of varsity basketball his sophomore year at Clayton High School. Parker has played for Coach Shelly Marsh and new coach Kris Bennett, and has enjoyed both coaches and their coaching styles. Parker is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at West and has maintained a 3.1 GPA.

Longwood University is about three hours from Parker’s current home in Clayton. This is good news for his parents and sister Jessica, who also plays basketball at West Johnston, as they will be able to attend his games as they have throughout his career.

“Jessica and I play one on one all the time, and she has beat once or twice when I let up on her,” Parker said.

But there’s still a season at home to finish. West Johnston’s boys’ team is taller this year than teams in the past and also has a deep bench. Parker hopes to achieve his goals, as well as the team’s, of winning the Greater Neuse River Conference title, winning the Christmas tournament, and advancing in the state playoffs.

Look for the Wildcats in action on Dec. 4 at East Chapel Hill High School, and then on Dec. 8 against rivals South Johnston at home.