Energy’s Parker returns after pro gig in Germany

I’m hoping to help this team as much as I can on a championship run, and for next year definitely make it back over to Europe.

 

He looks as conditioned as ever, still has the same gregarious personality, but there was something different about Andrew Parker when the Edmonton Energy introduced its roster for the 2009 International Basketball League season last week.

 

The first hint was when he started speaking German.

 

Parker, a former star swingman for the Alberta Golden Bears who played with the Edmonton Chill in 2008, is back with his hometown team after playing last winter with City Basket, a lower-tier pro hoops team in Recklinghausen, Germany.

 

It was an “awesome experience” for the born-and-raised Edmontonian, if not a culture shock at first.

 

“Every night I was eating bratwurst, schnitzel and potatoes,” smiles Parker. “I had to get used to that and the language as well, but I had a family I was staying with, they taught me the language, how to order food, how to call for the ball in basketball. (There’s) just a lot of great people in Germany, I can go there right now and call people family.”

 

After a season full of highlight reel plays with City Basket (check out “Andrew ’A.G.P’ Parker Germany mixtape 2008-2009” on YouTube), Parker travelled to northern France and trained with Le Portel – the team of fellow Edmontonian Jermaine Bucknor – which is part of that country’s top pro hoops circuit. Being among more talented players, says Parker, helped boost his game in preparation for a second season in the IBL playing under Energy coach Paul Sir.

 

“I’m willing to do whatever coach asks of me,” says the six-foot-four Parker, who averaged 6.9 points and 4.0 rebounds in 14 games with the Chill. “If he wants me to go out and be a scorer, I’ll be a scorer. I definitely can score, I proved that in Germany. I can rebound as well, getting loose balls.

 

“Basically I’m going to go out and grab the opportunity and do whatever is needed of me. I’m not going to go having expectations saying ‘I should be scoring this much’, ‘I should be getting this much time’. Whatever I’m given, I’m going to work well with it and make something positive.”

 

“He’s one of our highlight film, high-energy guys,” says Sir, adding he’s excited to have Parker back. “He just gives tremendous energy to our team.”

 

Clearly happy to be home and with the Energy, the self-described “north-Edmonton kid” is already looking forward to another winter overseas, perhaps again in Germany, maybe Switzerland.

 

“I’m hoping to help this team as much as I can on a championship run, and for next year definitely make it back over to Europe,” says the now-worldly 26-year-old. “I loved Europe, I loved to play basketball there. I can’t wait to get back.”