Lilly Parke '22 Recruiting Profile

I  began playing basketball when I was 12 and instantly fell in love with the game and the training behind it.

I am currently in year 13 in New Zealand which is my last year of high school, but would be considered as a junior in the United States. I am a 6 foot 1 swingman, I can post up but can also shoot the 3. I love handling the ball in transition and making assists for my team mates along the way. Defensively, I love getting after it and rebounding hard.  

Academically, I am not too sure on what my updated GPA is as yet but I passed our national curriculum, NCEA level one and two with excellence endorsed  putting me in the top 20% of students in my year in all of New Zealand. I am also looking to start preparing for my SAT's. 

Basketball wise, I was selected to represent the New Zealand u17 National team to play in the Asia Cup in 2020 which was unfortunately cancelled due to Covid-19. However, I have just restarted the selection process for the next national team looking to play in the Oceania cup in Samoa at the end of the year. I was also fortunate enough to spend 3 months, November 2019 through to March 2020 attending Castle View High school in Castle Rock, CO. I absolutely just loved my experience here, training 6 days a weeks, playing JV games and meeting so many cool people and embracing the USA way of life. This has fuelled my fire even more of attending a college in the USA, and can’t wait to go back

My work ethic has got me to where I am at today and not only do I work tremendously hard in team trainings but individually as well. Individual shooting along with strength and conditioning is all part of my weekly regime. I feel as though I am a great communicator and leader which shows as I have been selected as captain for multiple teams over the years. I do feel I am a massive asset to any team as I set high goals for myself but understand that I will not achieve these without my teammates. I always take accountability for my mistakes and only want to work harder to be the best I can be. I have also grown up playing multiple sports and still do which has given me the ability to develop exceptional time management skills, having to balance sport, school and a social life. 

I have aspirations to go play professional basketball in Europe once my college career has finished and again I totally understand what I need to do in college to obtain this goal.

I can't wait to carry out one of my biggest passions in life, all while receiving the best education I can get and making lifelong friendships and memories on and off the court.