Before Tuesday night, 27 Connecticut high school boys basketball players had reached the 2,000-point milestone in their respective careers.
Holy Cross senior star and CCSU-commit Elijah Parker became No. 28 on Tuesday night in an 86-78 Crusader win at Naugatuck in the Ed Mariano Gymnasium. Parker, who needed 45 points to reach the milestone, got the last one he needed on a free throw with 13.4 seconds to play. The crafty left-hander then came up with a steal and finished his career-high 47-point game with a one-handed slam just before the final buzzer.
Parker became the first city player to hit the 2,000-point mark since former Sacred Heart star, and current professional basketball player, Mustapha Heron, who finished with 2,056 in his storied career. Parker is the first local to do it since former Bristol Central and UConn star, and current Portland Trail Blazer, Donovan Clingan, who wound up with 2,142 points. Parker joined a local list that includes Heron and Clingan, along with Tyshon Rogers (Crosby, 2,292, most all-time in NVL); Phil Lott (Wilby, 2,212); Jerome Malloy (Kennedy, 2,124); and Edmund Saunders (Holy Cross, 2,087). The list includes high school state champions, collegiate national champions, and former pros, both in the NBA and abroad. Parker’s father DeVonne, who played for Wilby and is now the first-year head coach at his Alma mater, had 1,555 points when he played for the Wildcats.
After Heron, Saunders is the next local that Parker can pass. He’s also Holy Cross’ all-time leading scorer. The next Crusader game is Friday at WCA at 7 p.m.
GALLERY: Here are my photos from Tuesday night’s game.
