Denisha Parks Closes In On Career Milestone

Chris Kendrick (@CKendrick86)

CHICOPEE, Mass. – On the back end of a two-a-day practice schedule, the Elms College women's basketball team straddles the baseline, deciding who will take the free throw to potentially conclude the day's practice, or force the squad to sprint baseline to baseline. From the lineup strolls senior forward Denisha Parks, who calmly picks up the ball, toes the free throw line, and knocks down the free throw. It's only fitting that on the night prior, Parks added Elms' all-time leader in free throws made to her list of career accolades.

"I first played basketball when I was six or seven," said Parks. "I didn't start playing organized basketball until fourth grade. Growing up in Fall River, we have a big basketball culture with names like Chris Herron coming out of the area, and once you're playing in high school, it's a big thing there. I was able to get a taste of what collegiate basketball was like playing in that environment."

When asked about her basketball role models growing up, Parks stated, "I've been compared a lot to players like Charles Barkley. I'm undersized and strong, and that's how [Barkley] played. He was undersized compared to all the big men in the league, but he still played his hard, and worked his hardest to become a great player."

"I think that is a good comparison," said Elms College Head Coach Michelle Proulx. "[Denisha] is tough, she's a feared competitor, and she does a lot of different things for the team. She's a hard worker, and been one of the most tenacious players on the team since her freshman year."

Since walking onto campus in the fall of 2011, Denisha Parks has become one of the women's basketball's program's all-time greats, setting programs records and collecting athletic hardware along the way. A three-time All-New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) First Team selection, and a 10-time NECC Player of the Week, Parks holds ten women's basketball program records in her nearly 100 games play in the green and gold.

"I had offers from many different schools, a few Division II programs, and a group of Division III schools, but I chose to come to Elms because of the environment on campus, meeting my teammates, and I realized that I had the opportunity to make an impact. When I was looking at schools, I wanted to see how I could make an impact and help that team become a better team. This was out of my comfort zone too moving two hours away from home," stated Parks.

As a freshman, Parks led the Blazers in scoring and rebounding, averaging a double-double, with 19 points and 12.7 rebounds. She registered the most points in a single season with 536, and the second-most rebounds in a single season with 358.  Denisha was chosen as the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Rookie of the Week nine times, and the New England Women's Basketball Association (NEWBA) Rookie of the Week seven times during her inaugural campaign. Parks wrapped her first season as the NECC Rookie of the Year, the NEWBA Rookie of the Year, and the ECAC Division III New England Rookie of the Year. Behind Parks, the Blazers advanced to the NECC Championship game, where they defeated Daniel Webster to earn the program's first appearance in the NCAA Division III Championship tournament.

"[Denisha] is a feared player because she does so many things for the team," said Proulx. "If you look at the records she's on pace to break, or has broken, you can see that she provides so much on the court. When she came in as a freshman, she was really raw, and worked really hard and that's why she was so great. Many players would rest on their laurels after a season like that, but [Denisha] has gotten better every year at different things. She was always a scorer and could always rebound, but now she can get in passing lanes, guard different positions, so she's become a lot more versatile over the years."

Denisha guided the Blazers to another NECC tournament berth as a sophomore, behind a 19.5-point, and 12.7-rebound average, en route to breaking her single season scoring mark with 545 points. Parks netted 18.3 points per game as the Blazers advanced to the Championship game against Regis, suffering a 59-33 defeat. Parks garnered an All-NECC tournament selection, along with NECC First Team and D3hoops.com All-Northeast Region Fourth Team honors.

"I feel that my ability to blend in with different styles of play has attributed to my success. Each year, we've had a different team, the environment was different and the players were different. My role with the team has grown over the years, and I've had to step up and be a leader. I normally like to lead by example, but I've had to become more vocal on the court, and put the effort in to be a leader."

Her junior campaign proved to be a banner year for Parks where she set the program's single season milestones in points (616), field goals made (234), field goals attempted (508), and free throws made (143). Parks was recognized as the NECC Player of the Year after leading the league in scoring with 22.8 points and rebounding with 12.7 boards. Denisha netted a career-high 39 points against Southern Vermont College, matching the individual single-game record. Parks was selected to the D3hoops.com All-Northeast Region Third Team, and ECAC Division III Second Team New England All Star.

"The first time I started to look at the school records was after I broke the career scoring record last season," continued Parks. "I wasn't even aware that I was going to break the record, and that was a phenomenal moment, and I was completely in shock when it happened."

In her final season with the Blazers, Parks has helped Elms to a 6-1 conference mark with 21.3 points and 9.1 rebounds per game. Denisha finds herself in a familiar spot, atop the league leaders in points, as she hopes to guide the Blazers to another NECC tournament berth, and maybe another NECC Championship crown.

"[Denisha] will leave here as, obviously one of the best players to ever play here, but more than anything a great leader for our program," said Proulx. "She helped put our program on the map her freshman year, and she's built on that every year. Besides being one of the best players on the court, she did it all off the court as well."

"I think I've grown on and off the court during my time at Elms, as well as became a better player," continued Parks. "I feel like I've put more time and dedication into the sport each season. During my senior year of high school, we had a coaching change, and I felt like I was losing my love for the game. Coming to Elms, it brought back my love for the game, and it's kind of sad that it's coming to an end."

Parks will be graduating in May with a degree in Sports Management, with aspirations of becoming a collegiate athletics director. That doesn't mean her playing days are over though, "I do have dreams of playing overseas, but I don't know how that will work out as of right now since I haven't looked into it yet," said Parks. "I really want to play overseas, but as of right now, I'm focusing on going to grad school to become an athletics director someday." 

"[Denisha] has the potential to play overseas, if she keeps working hard like she has for the last three-plus years," exclaimed Proulx. "I know that's been one of her goals since her freshman season. Academically, and one the sports management side, I think she has the ability to be successful. She works really hard, understands athletics, and just finished an internship at Western New England, where she got some great experience. She has outstanding potential on the court and off the court when she leaves her. But she still has some work to do in the next couple months. I know she wants to finish off her career strong as an individual player, but also as really strong team. She knows she needs to be a catalyst for that."

Next up for Parks is reaching the 2,000 career-point milestone. She sits just 11 points shy entering tonight's tilt with Southern Vermont College. With 99 more rebounds over the final 11 games, Parks could wrap her career as Elms' all-time leader in points and rebounds.

Proulx offered words of wisdom to Parks as she enters the final stages of her senior campaign. "Take every day, and every game as they are. Don't look ahead. Take every day and enjoy it, work really hard, push your teammates, and you'll get to your goal. Just don't rush it over the final months."

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