Center’s visit takes parents down memory lane
Last Saturday’s visit to the University of Arkansas for the Kentucky basketball game was an opportunity for 4-star junior center Parker Jefferson to reconnect with the Razorbacks’ staff, while his parents were able to reminisce about their college days.
Jefferson, 6-10 and232 pounds, of Waxahachie, Texas, is rated a 4-star recruit, the No. 11 center and No. 104 overall prospect in the nation by On3.com industry ranking. He’s also rated the No. 12 prospect in Texas for the 2025 class.
The trip to Fayetteville was his first since an unofficial visit on Oct. 1, 2022. He was able to reconnect with Arkansas Coach Eric Musselman, assistant Keith Smart and recruiting coordinator/assistant Ronnie Brewer Jr..
“I kind was able to talk to Coach Muss before the game and talked to Coach Brewer after the game and Coach Smart,” said Jefferson, who received a scholarship offer from the Hogs in October of last year. “It was a really good game. I feel like they were in most of the game. They were up at halftime. They stuck in it and fought it out for most the game.”
Jefferson also scholarship offers from Florida, Texas Tech, Iowa, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, LSU, TCU, Arizona State, SMU and others.
His parents Mike and Carrie met while attending the UA. His father lettered as an offensive lineman for Arkansas in 1997 and his mother Carrie lettered in basketball for the Razorbacks from 1993-97.
Jefferson and his parents drove around the campus Saturday before making their way to the game.
“We drove around a little bit and they kind of took a trip down memory lane,” Jefferson said. “All the different places they were at, all the frat houses, all that. It was good because my dad hadn’t been back on campus really and seen the Hill and just drove around in awhile. So it was kind of good for him and for my mom to be back to where they played for four years.”
Jefferson’s brother Michael played basketball at Iona, while his sister Kaylee is a redshirt senior forward at Sam Houston State.
Jefferson, who averaged 15 points and 9 rebounds per game as a freshman, averaged 13 points, 6 rebounds and 1 blocked shot per game as a sophomore.
This season, he’s averaging 17 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists while hitting 54% of his two-point field goals and 32% from beyond the three-point line this season. He also shooting 74% from the free throw line. Jefferson recently passed 1,000 points in his career.
Jefferson, who has about 15 family members on his mother’s side in the Greenwood, Fort Smith and Fayetteville areas, said his parents rekindled old relationships while in Fayetteville.
“They met so many people, matter of fact, at halftime we went up and I was just going to the bathroom,” Jefferson said. “Me and my mom, we didn’t get back down to our seats from the beginning of halftime to maybe around 17 minutes into the second half because she had an old teammate she met. My cousin was there. It was lot of old memories.”
Razorback fans suspected Jefferson was a basketball recruit.
“Just because of how big I am, people we’re asking how tall I am,” Jefferson said. “Not many people see a 6-10 guy just walking around a stadium.”
If the Hogs are playing on television, there’s a good chance it’s on in the Jefferson household.
“Every time Arkansas is playing, they’re watching it. Football team is playing even if they’re not doing good, they’re still watching it,” Jefferson said. “It’s kind of like an lifestyle for them even though we’re not near Arkansas a lot. My family is there so we go there every once in a while but to see how connected they still are to the college, is just crazy.”