Isaac Parson was one of the best high school players in North Carolina in his graduating class, but the Kinston High School graduate was overlooked by every NCAA Division I program.  He's been on a mission ever since to prove them wrong.
 
Their misfortune was a blessing for Winston-Salem State and Coach Cleo Hill, Jr.'s plan for Rams basketball.  "Coach Hill talked about what he had planned for this organization," recalled Parson about his recruitment.  "He wanted to change the culture.  He said we would win  a CIAA championship."
 
With the dynamic guard duo of Parson and Samage Teel dominating the Rams backcourt and running the offense, WSSU's chances of winning its second CIAA title in three years has never looked better.
 
The Eastern North Carolina high school rivals have melded into one of the best backcourts in the CIAA.  Their stats are almost identical.  Parson averages 11.8 ppg while Teel's average is 12.4.  Parson is deadly from the three-point line, hitting 49.2% of his shots.
 
The loss to Virginia Union in Parson's first CIAA Tournament last February in Baltimore still stings.  It motivated Parson to work harder on his game during the offseason, and the results are paying dividends for the Rams.
 
"I shoot the ball a lot better," said Parson.  "I control the tempo of the game a little better. I'm feeling better about getting my teammates more involved."
He played in two local Kinston leagues last summer and a league in South Carolina.  "It helped a lot," he said.  "I learned some key points that I could use during the season."
 
One of those key points was learning to be more vocal on the court.  "Sometimes when I would get it in a slump, I would go quiet," Parson explained.  "I learned to keep talking to my teammates, and you'll get out of it.
 
"Coach Hill talked about how the point guard needs to echo what the coaches say," he continued.  "We need to stay together on the court as a team. It came easy for me.  When it's somebody else's night you've got to be able to trust your brother."
 
That communication with Hill can be nearly impossible in the deafening environment of game night at the C.E. Gaines Center.  Parson said he and Hill will discuss the game plan earlier in the day.  "I'll talk to him before the game to see what the game plan is," said Parson.  "I'll talk to him during free throws and ask what he wants to run."
 
Parson deflects praise to his teammates more than he discusses his accomplishments.  "It can be anybody's night to take over the game," he said.  "During game time for me, I have to step up because my teammates need me.  One of the things I've learned from last year is whenever we need a basket I go to a certain play on a mismatch."
 
Ironically, his high arcing, net stripping three-pointers, which sends the Gaines Center fans into a rabid frenzy, are not his favorite shots.  "I like breaking down my man, having him collapse on me and making the right read for a pick-and-roll or fast break layup," he said.  "You've got so many options on the pick-and-roll.
 
'I like playing defense," he added.  "I get my energy on offense from playing defense."
 
 
An All-CIAA Rookie team member last year and a preseason selection to this year's All-CIAA Backcourt team, has not satisfied his goals.  "I want to win the CIAA Tournament, I want to go as far as possible in the NCAAs, and I want to make All-CIAA."
 
His daily routine is more than the typical 4 p.m. practice.  "I get up at 6 a.m. and get my classes out of the way," said the Accounting major who is also a Dean's List student.  "I get study halls hours to try and stay a week ahead on classes so I'm not bummed out on work.
Around 2 I'll go lift.  Some days I'll be in the gym shooting free throws."
 
He loves the Gaines Center atmosphere.  "It's a great feeling," Parson said.  "There's no other team in the CIAA that has it. It just shows how strong the Ramily is."
 
Parson knows there's no such thing as a guaranteed win in the CIAA.  "Just because you're winning is no guarantee," he said.  "You've got to be ready to play every night.  We have to stay together as team and keep executing, not as individuals."
 
Academically, Parson is a junior, but he still has two years left on the court because of the lost season during Covid.  And that's great news for Rams fans.  "I plan to play both years at Winston."