Hickory High's standout PG joining 49ers

Trevin Parks is willing to work hard for an opportunity that would not otherwise be available.

The Hickory High standout point guard has opted to join the Charlotte 49ers men’s basketball team as a walk-on and forgo scholarship offers from Division II schools.

“I did have DII offers but ever since I first started playing basketball as a kid, I always saw the North Carolinas and Dukes on TV and I wanted to play on that level,” said Parks, who averaged 22 points and five assists this season for the Red Tornadoes.

“The coaches at Charlotte told me they are giving me an opportunity to earn a scholarship, either before the next season or after next season. They told me I have the ability to play at this level and I want to prove them right.”

Parks, 17, has already been accepted into the school and plans to arrive on campus for the start of the first summer school session. He has made visits to campus and had the opportunity to play against junior forward Shamari Spears and junior center Phil Jones, among others.

“It was good to find a DI school that wasn’t just looking at your height,” said Parks, who is 5-9, the same height as Charlotte starting point guard, DiJuan Harris. “I just wanted to have the chance to show what I can do.”

Parks said his likely destination had he not walked on at Charlotte would have been Division II Lenoir-Rhyne.

While he spent most of this season as a scorer for Hickory, Parks said he relishes the role of point guard.

“I want to do whatever coach (Bobby) Lutz wants me to do so we can be successful,” he said. “If that means zero points and 22 assists – that’s fine with me. I think if I play how I know how, I’ll be OK with the playing time I’ll see.”