Alderson Broaddus University's men's basketball program recently signed 6'6" Parker Dortch from Isaiah Christopher Academy (ICA). There was little knowledge about Parker at the time it was announced that he had signed with the Battlers. But looking at his production on the floor at ICA and hearing the comments from his prep school coach Allen Ragland, Battler fans should be excited about the potential he brings to the program. Dortch played his high school ball at Northern Burlington High School in New Jersey. He decided to go to the prep school route upon graduation from Northern Burlington. He chose ICA as his destination, and it turns out that he has blossomed into quite the versatile player that can help the Battlers at multiple positions for the next several years.Isaiah Christopher Academy played several quality junior college programs throughout the season. ICA played such notable names as Allegany Junior College, Cape Fear Community College, Monroe JC, Richard Bland CC, Niagara CC, Jamestown CC and Genessee CC.Two of those programs made it to the JUCO Elite Eight. Richard Bland JC made it to the junior college national final four and Niagara CC made it to the elite eight round of the juco national tournament. ICA also played top-flight prep academies along the way such as Commonwealth Academy, Massanutten Military School, Scotland Performance Institute and Notre Dame Prep. Most of those prep schools had multiple players that signed on with Division I programs. It was against this type of quality competition that allowed Dortch to showcase his talents to the ABU coaching staff. His production against many older players that he played against is impressive to say the least.
Coach Ragland is not a coach to hold back on what he feels Parker Dortch brings to the Alderson
Broaddus program. "I truly believe he could develop into an All-American by his sophomore season. I feel he is really a Division I player. I don't think he has even scratched the surface on being the type of player that he can be." said Ragland. Those are strong comments and lofty expectations for an incoming player. But one has to like the confidence and mindset that Coach Ragland puts on his players.
One can see why Ragland feels this way about Parker after looking at his production during this past season. Dortch's numbers were very good against some of the top junior college programs in the country. When ICA visited Cumberland, MD to take on prestigious Allegany JC, Dortch put up an impressive 33 points in an overtime loss. He had several other quality performances against junior college programs: 21 points and 9 rebounds against a 24-8 Cape Fear CC team, 23 points and 10 rebounds against Jamestown CC, 19 points against Monroe JC. These are impressive numbers considering that most of the time Dortch was squaring off against players that were one to three years older than he was at the time.
Beyond the numbers lies an important attribute that Dortch possess that will enable him to see the floor immediately upon his arrival to the Philippi campus. "Parker has the ability to guard any one on the floor. He has the ability to give you a doulbe-double every night, but his intensity and ability on defense will be big for Coach Zimmerman," stated Ragland. Any one that has followed the Battler men's basketball program under Greg Zimmerman knows that man-to-man defense comes first before you see the floor in a game. ABU has led the conference on multiple occasions in the category of opponent's scoring average.Coach Ragland also went into detail about Parker Dortch's versatility on the floor which is unique to the Division 2 level for a player with his size. "He is a true 6'6" player that can play multiple positions. He can dribble. We actually played him at times during certain points of games at the one and two position. He has a good outside jumper. He can score inside or outside. He was primarily a back-to-the basket player in high school. Now he can face the basket and has moves to the basket. We got him to play above the rim at ICA."
Dortch's versatility and skill set on the floor led many Division I programs from such conferences as the Northeast, Sun Belt and Big South to contact Coach Ragland about Parker Dortch. He also had multiple offers to continue on with his education and game at the junior college level. But as fate had it, he landed at Alderson Broaddus University with high hopes of continuing on his production and education at the Division 2 level.
Coach Ragland compared Dortch's game to a notable NBA player. He was quick to note that he was
not as good as this player. But he felt his overall game and style of play was very comparable. "He reminds you of a Dennis Rodman like player. Parker's intensity level is incredible on the floor. He runs like a deer.He is a hungry kid, but also a great kid. He was a lanky kid when he arrived to us. He filled out here with muscle by working hard in the program," stated Ragland.
Coach Ragland left us with a little tidbit about Parker. He stated that he is a good singer and even likes to write songs. "He told me that when I come to AB to watch him in a game that he was going to sing the national anthem before the game," said Ragland. "I feel he is leaving prepared to go to AB. He is a great kid." The coach gave the recent ABU signee high praise throughout the interview about his game and about his character. Now things move into Operation 'Show & Prove'.Here is a link to a highlight package of Dortch's play in high school:
Parker Dortch Basketball Highlights
