Aaron Parks Looks to Make His Mark in His Final Season with CSUN

NORTHRIDGE, CA---

Over his three seasons at the helm of the CSUN Men's Basketball team, head coach Reggie Theus has often leaned to a specific member of his team to provide energy, hustle and hard-nosed play. Despite playing alongside some of the all-time greats in Matador history including Josh Greene (2010-14), Stephan Hicks (2011-15), Stephen Maxwell (2011-15) and Tre Hale-Edmerson (2012-16), guard Aaron Parks has managed to somehow stand out among the rest.

A senior from Baltimore, MD, Parks over his career has averaged 9.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.6 rebounds. With 770 career points, Parks enters his final campaign in 2016-17 within reach of a 1,000-point milestone only achieved by 18 other Matadors in team history. A career 75.6 percent free throw shooter, his 316 made free throws are 12 short from 10th place all-time in CSUN history.

"Aaron was my first recruit when I got here," said Theus. "I wish I had 12 other guys like him. He is someone that I trust as a person and as a player. He's never not been an upstanding teammate. Years from now, he's someone that I will be telling kids about regarding his work ethic and mindset."

Holding the distinction of being the only senior on the 2016-17 team and the only Matador to play his entire collegiate career at CSUN, Parks expects to take on more of a leadership role as a senior. On a team with nine newcomers, Parks is eager to take on the responsibility put in front of him.

"I feel like you are born as a leader," said Parks. "For me I was put on this Earth to be a leader and guide people in different directions. This year, I need to be more of a leader because we have different players from different teams with different expectations so I have to get guys ready and make sure we hold each other accountable."

Stepping into more of a leadership role is just the next step Parks is expected to make in his basketball journey.

Before he dazzled Matador fans with his play on the court, Parks enjoyed a prolific prep career where he was a member of two state championship teams from two different schools in Baltimore. As a sophomore, Parks helped guide Dunbar High School to a Class 1A State Championship and two years later Parks led Lake Clifton to a Class 2A State Championship. In the state championship game in 2012, Parks scored 22 points to help Lake Clifton defeat Largo High School. Parks earned State MVP Championship Tournament honors in 2012 as well as all-state accolades.

Looking to gain more exposure on the court, Parks concluded his high school career in Fitchburg, MA at Notre Dame Prep. Averaging 17 points, five assists and four rebounds per contest, Parks was recognized by Hoops Dreams as one of the top 30 prep players in the nation.

The Baltimore native was recruited by newly appointed CSUN assistant coach Chris Pompey in 2013. A former assistant coach with Seton Hall, Pompey made the move out west to join the Matador staff after Theus took over as head coach. With the connection made out in the East Coast, Parks eventually made the journey to the West Coast to play collegiate basketball at CSUN.

Despite the long trek across the country, the move was never an issue for Parks as he was eager for the opportunity to play for Theus in a Matador uniform.

"For me, I always adapt to wherever I am," said Parks. "It was a good experience for me to come out to the West Coast. Being able to see different opportunities and also just seeing the sun all the time and clear skies was great. I didn't know much of Reggie when I first came here. So before my visit, I did my research on him. When I got here, I liked everything. I liked him and what the team had to offer. I was just ready for the next step in my career."

Over his career, Parks has provided solid play on both sides of the court while he has given the Matadors production in different facets of the game. Used primarily as a reserve earlier in his career, Parks excelled in a sixth-man role averaging 6.6 points as a freshman as he helped CSUN reach the finals of the Big West Conference Tournament. A season later, Parks increased his production on the floor as he scored 10.6 points per game and averaged 3.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists to go along with 10 blocks.

"As a sixth-man, I was able to watch guys in front of me like Josh Greene so I could take a step back and observe what was going on," said Parks. "I knew, when I got in the game, what to do and I knew to not make the same mistakes. You have to come in and pick up the energy as a sixth-man."

Providing energy has always been a strong suit for Parks. A tough and physical player, Parks played football and ran on the cross country team at Dunbar High School, which has helped him with his style of play on the court. Not afraid to take the ball in the paint and mix it up with players bigger and taller than him, Parks attributes his toughness not only to football but to his upbringing.

"Football has helped but my father helped me as well because he taught me to be aggressive and to be tough," said Parks. "My father was like that and it stuck with me and my game. Football helped me with the contact I receive in basketball. Getting to the paint, creating fouls was not hard and it became second nature. Cross country helped also because I learned the different ways to run and it gave me good wind."

After two strong seasons with the Matadors, Parks set new career highs as a junior in multiple categories. In just 15 games, Parks managed to post new personal bests in starts (14), points (13.3), minutes (31.1), field goal percentage (.403), free throw percentage (.805), rebounds (4.2), assists (1.9) and steals (1.5).

"Nobody really knew, but I was going through an injury last season," said Parks. "And by missing 15 games, it really helped in a way. Even when I was out, I was still working. I noticed what could make the team better and when I started playing I already knew what the team needed. When I came in, I wanted to bring everything I could like offense, defense and communication on the floor. I came off the bench the first game but at halftime coach put me in the starting lineup and then I was ready to rock and roll."

"I noticed last year when he was out, as soon as he got back, it elevated the team because he has the contagious energy and it's consistent," added Theus. "It's not for show and it's not because he's trying to be the guy. It's just who he is. It's the making of someone that's going to be a really successful person."

Looking ahead to his final season in a Matador uniform, Parks feels his team has the talent to make a run at the Big West Conference crown. With the addition of six transfers including four upperclassmen within the group and the return of seven total letterwinners, Parks knows this season has the potential to be a special one.

"I feel like if you go by talent, we have a really good team," said Parks. "If you put that aside, with the work we've been putting in it should speak for itself. We can be one of the best in the conference and the sky's the limit for us if we play together. Easier said than done but we've been putting in a lot of time."

On a personal level, Parks is looking forward to giving everything he has and to helping his teammates in any way possible.

"I want to give the university all that I have and help the young guys that are going to continue on after me," said Parks. "Hopefully we can win a championship and pave the way for other guys to want to come to CSUN."

Still several months before he takes off his CSUN jersey one last time, Parks wants to continue his basketball journey at the professional level.

"I'm going to try to play professionally anyway I can and hopefully somebody will give me an opportunity to be on a team to help them win," said Parks. "I would like to use my major (Communications) to help young people in different ways. I like to talk to youth and spread my knowledge to help them in any type of way."

Aaron Parks Looks to Make His Mark in His Final Season with CSUN

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