How NC State freshman guard Trey Parker emerged as a rising star

Trey Parker is used to cameras rising from photographers’ laps, ready to capture the moment when the ball is in his hands. He’s become accustomed to the bated breath of those in the gym as he makes his way to the rim. The reactions after he finishes with an elaborate dunk? Those never get old.  So when he hit the floor for NC State’s annual preseason dunk contest to conclude its Primetime with the Pack festivities inside Reynolds Coliseum, Parker felt at home.  The freshman guard knows how to put on a show, which he did in his first impression in front of NC State’s fan base.  Parker lined up a 6-foot-10 Brandon Huntley-Hatfield behind junior forward Ismael Diouf and added NC State’s mascot, Mr. Wuf, to create a three-man line right outside the restricted area under the basket. Yet again, the bouncy guard made it look like he was hitting a layup. Parker cleared all three with ease as he finished with the ball in his right hand as it powered through the rim.  While Parker brought the Old Barn to its feet — a skill set that David “Skywalker” Thompson would have likely done in his prime if dunking was legal at the time in that very building four decades ago — it isn’t the first-year player’s entire identity.  Yes, he put himself on the global stage with viral dunks growing up, but Parker entered the year determined to prove he’s more than that. He showed it as a top-150 recruit out of high school, and now Parker is doing the same at the collegiate level with NC State.  “When you see him play, he’s not as flashy as he is when you see him on the internet,” NC State coach Kevin Keatts said during the preseason. “He’s a good basketball player. What I wanted from Trey is to be more of a basketball player than to be a guy who’s about Instagram and Snapchat.”  “He’s a freshman, but he’s a talented basketball player that will bring a lot of value to our program.”