When Kais Parris committed to the Paladins on August 12th, he knew he’d be following a familiar pipeline. Parris plays his high school ball for Pinewood Prep in Summerville, South Carolina, outside of Charleston. Observant Furman fans may recognize Pinewood as the program that produced fellow Charleston native and Furman legend, Jalen Slawson. Another Slawson, Brandon, is an assistant coach at Pinewood. The familiarity with the Dins could only have helped Parris feel more comfortable with his decision.
Parris is a versatile forward with a powerful 6’7 frame. He averaged over 18 points and 2.7 assists per game while flashing moments of dominance defensively: he averaged 1.6 steals and 1.7 blocks along with 8.8 rebounds. Though Parris may come in as more of a project, he truly is a player in a similar mold of Jalen Slawson. His frame should allow him to put on some weight even in year 1 and give the Dins a big strong post presence. He can step out and shoot from time to time, but physicality on defense and his obvious talent for rebounding will be a valuable addition.
“He’s a scrappy, unselfish wing/forward prospect with a high motor and the ability to impact the game without needing a lot of touches. Parris is capable of finishing and filling in the gaps as needed offensively. However, he’s arguably at his best when rebounding and switching across multiple positions defensively.”
via PrepHoops
Comparisons aside, Kais Parris is built to be a Paladin through and through. He’s already been a helpful recruiter, taking his official visit with fellow 2027 recruit Nolan Nelson, who committed soon after.
Give him a follow on IG: @thekaiparris
Highlights below: