Glenoak alum Mount Union forward Christian Parker plans to return for 5th year

Parker | OAC Conference top scorer

(Photo Credit: Ed Hall Jr.~ Alliance Review)

ALLIANCE, OH- Mount Union Basketball senior forward Christian Parker has seen some good days playing for the Div. III private school known for being a powerhouse on the football field as far as athletics, over the past few years under Mike Fuline they have seen some highs for the basketball program.

Parker a fourth year senior (Criminal Justice Major) of the program and a graduate of Glenoak High School, has been a workhorse and consistent player who has accomplished a ton while playing for the Purple Raiders. This season has been one of peaks and valleys coming off a NCAA final four and National Championship appearance just one year ago also being named OAC Player-of-the-Year.

"My performance this year definitely had its ups and downs I would say, but overall fairly good," Parker said. Coming from one of the top scorers in the  Ohio Athletic Conference at 20.3 PPG adding 9.1 RPG and a team performance finishing second in the OAC at (12-6) 20-7 overall respectively.

Parker spoke highly of his team down the stretch of the season, "As a team performance this year I feel we really found ourselves at the end of the season, when it was a little to late but going into the next season with some new guys coming in we know what we need to bring to the table for us to have a great season." 

Loss to John Carroll and NCAA tournament heartbreak

One of the biggest games of the season was an overtime loss in the OAC Championship game to John Carroll for the second time this season 88-86, with a foul being called with four-tenths of a second left in the game, all but counted the Purple Raiders out of the Div. III NCAA tournament when they didn't receive one of the 20 at-large berths, a win would have given them an automatic berth. "With us not getting one of the 20 bids this year kinda hurts us with us having a overtime game with a top three team in the country," Parker replied.

What's next for Christian Parker

With another year of eligibility left, the question is what is on the horizon for the high volume scoring forward in the prime of his college career, "Gene what is next for me right now I plan on returning and playing basketball for my 5th year, still a lot of things looking forward to after school and continuing to play," said the 6'6 Parker. 

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