NOTEBOOK : Locke’s Parker Adds to List of Football Honors

Coveted blue chip running back Sirr Parker has yet another high school football award to add to his already impressive resume.

Last week, Parker of Locke High was selected to the Prep All-USA Today Football second team, given to the top football players from across the country.

“I think of it as a real big honor to be named to the All-USA team, considering the fact our team was 0-9,” Parker said. “It gives me a feeling that the preparation and hard work I did during the off season really paid off. I feel I must have caught someone’s eye.”

Nicknamed Mr. Excitement, Parker used his explosive speed and great moves to finish second in the area in rushing during the regular season with 1,129 yards and led in touchdowns with 19.

Parker was first honored as the Southeastern Conference player of the year, and chosen for the All-City Section 3-A team. He later received the City Times’ award as the offensive back of the year.

Parker’s achievements were also impressive in the classroom, where he has a 3.78 grade-point average. He also scored a 780 on the Scholastic Assessment Test to qualify for scholarship considerations.

Among the Division I schools recruiting Parker are UCLA, Notre Dame, Texas A&M;, Arizona and Washington.

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Former Washington basketball standout Charisse Sampson is playing women’s basketball for the Kansas Lady Jayhawks.

Sampson, the City Section 4-A player of the year and winner of The Times’ Cheryl Miller Award in 1992, is a three-year starter for the Lady Jayhawks.

As a freshman, Sampson averaged 11.6 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, then turned it up a notch for her sophomore year. Sampson was the Lady Jayhawks’ second-leading scorer with an average of 13.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, and she also led the team in steals. She was ranked second in the Big Eight Conference in steals.

The 5-11 Sampson is having her best season this year, accumulating double figures in scoring and rebounding five times. She is the third-leading scorer in the Big Eight Conference with a 17.9 average and third in steals with 41.

“Charisse has great work ethics and is an extraordinary player,” Kansas Coach Marian Washington said.

Last season, Sampson was chosen to the All-Big Eight Conference second team and played on the USA Jones Cup Olympic team, where she averaged 12.4 points a game and helped lead the team to a gold medal. She said she enjoys playing more this season now that former Washington teammate and childhood friend Keshana Ladet joined Kansas after transferring from Central Arizona Community College.

The Lady Jayhawks, who have a 12-2 record, are ranked No. 14 in the nation. They play a nationally televised game against second-ranked Connecticut Jan. 28.