Caribou basketball star staying in-state
CARIBOU, Maine (BVM) — Caribou High School had a nearly perfect boys basketball season in 2019-20. Led by senior guard Parker Deprey, the Vikings, in back-to-back years, were almost impossible to stop in Class B. Now after an accomplished high school career, Deprey plans to stay in-state when he heads to the next level.
In Deprey’s senior season, the versatile playmaker led the Vikings to a 21-1 record, scoring 22.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. Deprey’s competitive nature along with his ability on the court has set him apart from the competition.
“He’s a really tough cover no matter who is guarding him,” Caribou head coach Kyle Corrigan said. “His ability to hit tough shots and break down the defense opens up opportunities for his teammates, and his ability to rebound the basketball is another great attribute of his as well. He finished with over 10 rebounds a game for us this last season.
“He absolutely hates to lose, and he brings that mentality everyday in practice when our drills get competitive. Other guys feed off of our seniors and captains in practice, that competitiveness carries over into the games for us. Parker brings the energy and hustle every single day.”
With Deprey’s playmaking on both ends of the floor, the Vikings rolled through the 2019-20 season ending up in the state title game against Marancook. In what turned out to be a double overtime thriller, Parker and younger brother, Sawyer, saved their heroics for the final possession.
With 4.6 seconds left, Parker caught the inbounds pass and dribbled up court, drawing the defense towards him. With only a few ticks left on the clock, Parker threw a lob towards the hoop where his brother grabbed the pass in mid-air, finishing it for a layup. With the last second victory over the Black Bears, Parker closed out his final high school game with 15 points, nine rebounds and a state championship trophy.
“That final play didn’t work out exactly the way it was drawn up,” Corrigan said. “Initially we wanted Parker to catch the basketball and we were going to look to try to get it back to the middle of the floor quickly. In just a split second, Parker’s instincts kicked in quickly and realized that wasn’t open and decided to put the ball on the floor. He got by his defender and saw the help side start sliding over. He made the right play and passed it to his brother Sawyer for the state championship.
“The biggest thing that stands out about that play is his willingness to give the basketball up. He’s a senior and had a chance to take the last shot. Instead, he made the right play, the unselfish play. That says a lot about not just the kind of player he is, but the kind of person he is as well.”
During Parker’s last two seasons at Caribou, the Vikings went 40-4, with back-to-back state championship victories. He finishes his high school career off with 1,339 points and 672 rebounds. Parker was a three-sport athlete at Caribou, helping the Vikings soccer team capture the 2019 state championship. To top it off, he also ranked inside the top 10 for singles players in tennis.
“I think Parker’s desire to be great in whatever he does has helped make him as successful as he’s been,” Corrigan said. “He puts the time in the off-season to get better in all aspects of his game. He is the ultimate competitor and he understands that winning, and being successful, is about the preparation you put in as an individual and as a team.”
Parker committed to play basketball in-state at Husson University. The 6-foot-2 guard will look to improve on the Eagles’ 12-15 record heading into the 2020-21 season. His coach thinks he will be able to handle the transition.
“Parker’s going to have a great college career,” Corrigan said. “I’ve said it before, he has a desire to succeed and is as competitive as they come. He’s going to fit in great at the next level and I can see him having an exceptional career.”
