The newest Illini basketball coach met the media on Friday.
Assistant Coach Paris Parham mentioned his time at Illinois State (the last five years, he was an assistant there under Tim Jankovich) and his year as a head coach in the Chicago Public League (at Morgan Park). He oohed, aahed, and gushed about walking into the Ubben every morning. He’s still pinching himself.
Parham’s top job is to recruit the CPL, and the state generally. On day one he was asked specifically about Jahlil Okafor. The green reporter didn’t know it’s illegal, per NCAA rules, to comment on prospective student athletes by name.
Parham demurred.
So we know he’s conversant with the rules. That’s a good start. (Offered a similar opportunity on day one, Bruce Weber committed a secondary violation.)
The next step for Parham is to engage The Recruit Who Doesn’t Even Need To Be Named. Parham said he hasn’t yet begun studying The Book of Mormon, but it’s on his to do list.
The July recruiting period is in high gear. Expect Parham, along with John Groce, Jamall Walker, and Dustin Ford to be everywhere, all the time.