He’s More Than a Great Name : Marina’s Cherokee Parks Has Game Worthy of Note

Cherokee Parks already is the greatest name in the history of Orange County high school basketball. Now, he’s setting out to be the best player in Orange County.

Parks, a center at Marina High School, has developed from an admittedly intimidated, gangly 6-foot-9 freshman to a confident, muscular 6-10 1/2 junior. He has become more polished and poised since last season, and Steve Popovich, Marina coach, believes Parks’ improvement will continue unabated.

“He’s not like some 6-5 guy who’s peaked out, who’s not going to get any better,” Popovich said.

Indeed, Parks said he’s still learning, still experimenting with new moves and fakes to befuddle opposing centers.

As a freshman, he was just a bit player on a veteran team. There was little or no pressure on him and the experience was beneficial. As a sophomore, he became the team’s star, averaging 20.7 points and 10.3 rebounds a game.

Parks’ steady improvement continued in the Servite summer tournament, which concluded Sunday. He scored 29 points, had 18 rebounds and blocked three shots in an 80-63 victory over Mater Dei in the consolation game. It must be pointed out that he did it against reserve Mark Montgomery, a 6-10 junior, and the Monarchs’ second stringers--the starters had the day off--but it was an impressive showing nevertheless.

Certainly, Parks had a more difficult time at the Nike Camp last week at Princeton, N.J. During one game, Parks decided to try a turnaround jump shot. He got the ball in good enough position, turned quickly, released the ball and got his shot swatted away.

The lesson?

Don’t try turnaround jumpers against 7-4 players named Shawn Bradley from little towns in Utah called Huntington. Bradley, as Parks quickly learned, is one of the top high school players in the nation.

“You learn by playing,” Parks said. “Not that you mean to, but you try different things you wouldn’t ordinarily. It might work other times.”

It was the second summer Parks attended the camp, which invites only the best players in the nation. This year, Parks said he was a little more comfortable and played better.

“Going back to that camp, playing against all those high-profile players really helped him,” Popovich said. “From all the reports I heard, he did very well.”

Both player and coach are encouraged by the improvement.

Parks’ inside game, once a weakness, is now one of his strengths. He used to get pushed around by shorter but bulkier players, but Parks now can hold his ground. And that’s made him doubly tough to defend.

Sunday against Mater Dei, he made one strong move after another inside, working free for easy baskets. He also showed a little finesse. Once, he caught the ball too far underneath the backboard, but quickly spun away from defenders into an opening and unleashed a rim-rattling, one-handed dunk.

“I learned a lot of things at Nike,” he would say later. “How to get better position on the boards. Little tricks like if you get your elbow up in the guy’s armpit they won’t call a foul.”

Still, Parks hopes to get stronger, become a tougher rebounder, a better dribbler and better passer. There are just a few rough spots to smooth out over the course of the next two seasons at Marina.

“He’s a much better rebounder than last year,” Popovich said. “And he was a better rebounder last year than the year before. He has greater strength and confidence. He handles himself very well.

“He’s got the size combined with the mobility and coordination, which makes him a prized recruit.”

Parks has a name to remember, now he’s trying to develop a game few can forget.

Tournament Notes

In the championship game, Long Beach Poly defeated Lakewood, 82-63. St. Monica defeated Western, 77-66, in the third-place game, and Brea-Olinda defeated Los Alamitos, 74-71, in the consolation final. . . . Earlier in the day, Keith Walker of Brea scored 49 points as the Wildcats defeated Loyola, 97-76. . . . In other consolation games, Los Alamitos defeated Long Beach Millikan, 82-74, and Servite defeated West Covina, 67-61.