By JACOB POLACHECK
Class of 2022 point guard Shyheim Parm has started to emerge as a high-major prospect, picking up his first two offers this summer.
“It’s been very exciting so far,” Parm said. “It’s still early, but I like the way things are going from here.”
Northern Arizona became the first school to offer Parm on May 19.
“Being that first offer, they’ll always have a special place in my heart,” Parm said. “Just the state of Arizona in general is close to home. It’s only a six hour drive for me and my parents.”
Parm says he has spoken with NAU head coach Shane Burcar and has been in regular contact with assistant Tyler Ojanen.
Arizona became the latest school to offer Parm this past Saturday.
“Arizona is in the Pac 12 and everyone knows coach Sean Miller, so that’s what’s appealing,” he said. “They’re a big Pac 12 school. We’ve barely had a few discussions. It’s early, but I like Arizona a lot.”
Parm talked with Miller by phone earlier this week.
“They just said that they like the way I play a lot and hopefully I’ll be able to go on a visit there pretty soon, once everything opens up again,” he said.
Parm says he ‘definitely’ plans on taking visits to both Arizona and NAU at some point.
“I also maybe want to go to schools that are closer to me since it wouldn’t be as far of a drive,” he said. “Schools like Pepperdine, Cal Baptist, San Diego State and schools like that.”
Parm has also been in contact with San Diego and Cal Poly, as well as Rice who he talked with on Saturday.
“They just opened the doors for me,” Parm said. “They wanted to see if I knew anything about their school. They’re in Houston and how their academics are very good. I plan on having more contact with them.”
However, Parm says that Northern Arizona and Idaho State are the two schools that have been in contact the most.
“I’m contact with [Idaho State’s] assistant coach a lot, probably once or twice every week,” he said. “We’re just talking about life. I’m seeing how they’re doing over there.”
When evaluating his options, Parm mentioned a few factors he’s taking into account.
“Just how they treat their players, really,” he said. “I’m looking at the culture of the whole school. I want to go to a school where the team is like a real family, where they have a real bond that isn’t strictly basketball.”
Parm, the 6-foot-1, 165-pound point guard from Cajon (CA), would typically be playing for West Coast Elite on the Under Armour Circuit during this time of year, but has been unable to play AAU this summer due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“It’s all shut down,” he said. “We’ve only been able to have two or three practices and that was a couple weeks ago.”
In the meantime, Parm says he’s been practicing at a nearby park, working on his game, specifically his three point shot.
“I go there with my friend at 7 a.m. to get shots up and I try to get in the gym as much as I can,” he said. “Finding gyms is hard now, but when I’m able to I’m in there for about two hours just doing drills and stuff like that.”
Parm describes himself as an ‘all-around player’ that’s ‘very energetic’.
“I love playing defense,” he said. “I feel like that’s where I thrive, playing defense, getting steals for the fastbreak. I can also make plays for myself and others. I feel like I’m a very good facilitator.”
Off the court, Parm says he’s ‘really into’ fashion and has been designing his own clothes this summer.
“I’m mainly just getting blank t-shirts and through screen printing, designing my own shirts for me and my friends,” he said. “I just started that when the coronavirus stuff started just because of all the free time.”
Said West Coast Elite coach Ryan Silver: ““Shyheim is a terrific point guard. Smart, crafty and a great floor general.”
Photo: Greeneye Photos
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