Published: September 28, 2009
Typically the lone white kid on New York City’s hardscrabble courts, Mark Parisi is a baller who pales by comparison.
In Brooklyn, he’s known as “soul man.”
Spectators at these rugged parks have him pegged as a “white boy with rhythm.”
Others simply know Parisi as “ATM,” as he’s long carried the tag of moneyball shooter.
In some parks he’s referred to as “white chocolate,” the same moniker that stuck to former NBA guard Jason Williams.
“31 flavors” is another unique nickname that has surfaced lately.
Call him as you’d like, the lights-out 3-point assassin has certainly toured New York’s hoop hot spots.
The Queens native is starting to blossom, with his reputation burgeoning across the metro area’s basketball landscape.
From Brooklyn’s Starret City to “the cage” at West Fourth St. (the old stomping grounds of Ron Artest and Anthony Mason Sr.),
the 5′10″ guard has put his fingerprints on high-pressure games.
A man of a few words, coaches describe Parisi as an introvert. While his shyness is evident, Parisi announces his presence loud and clear by sticking three-pointers from the parking lot.
His body is still growing, but Parisi is starting to attack the tin.
He’s beginning to throw down sledgehammers with both hands, though dialing in from a different area code is Slim’s true calling card.
Despite his sizzling summer, Parisi has been slept on by many a coaches throughout the area. There was one AAU coach who had him take a backseat to some of his mainstream players. Another coach relinquished a 10-point lead in two minutes and did not utilized Parisi the way folks envisioned.
Parisi doesn’t care. His workmanlike, non-vocal style — albeit it could and it most definitely should change as he gets older — has kept him going, going, going. Like the energizer bunny.
He made waves at Syracuse Camp recently, impressing former Syracuse shooter and now-assistant coach Gerry MacNamara with his perimeter presence. Alongside big time target DaJuan Coleman — another class of 2011 recruit — Parisi stood out like a white chick at The Source Awards party. He dialed in from NBA range. He distributed the ball to his teammates and ran the show, winning meaningful minutes on former NBA forward and Syracuse alum John Wallace’s squad.
And to think this is only the beginning.
Shaped by a hoop junkie father — coach Mark Parisi Sr. — the young gun has become the walking definition of a gym rat.
“Mark’s definitely one of the best shooters I’ve ever seen,” said coach Eric Deemas (Brooklyn Ballers AAU), who coached Parisi on the Brooklyn USA AAU team. “He adjusts to whatever level he’s playing at. If he needs to shoot and score 40, he’s going to do that. He can stick it from anywhere.”
Running with the Abyssinian Church (Harlem, N.Y.) on the AAU circuit, the combination guard has scorched the nets.
He’s got handle that he doesn’t fall in love with or self-boast. Becoming too handle-happy has proved problematic for many of
New York’s young guards.
Not Parisi.
He’s the opposite of a flashy player. He changes speeds, draws defenders in and delivers a precision pass to an open big.
His basketball IQ is high, his ego nonexistent.
Watching the kid play, you’d think he sat through yoga instruction and meditation all morning. Never forcing the issue, Parisi is cooler than Snoop Dogg under nail-biting pressure.
He’s already getting love from Louis Orr at Bowling Green, Ron Everhard at Duquesne, and coaches at St. John’s. The University of Hawaii has also expressed interest in the slim sniper.
Oh, and by the way, he just turned 15.
One Comment on "Mark “ATM” Parisi"
NYCSCOUT on Thu, 28th Jan 2010 4:06 pm
What AAU Team does Mark Parisi play for now.I know he used to play for the Gauchos ,Sponge Tech and the Abyssinian Church (Harlem, N.Y.).Also Brooklyn Usa with Coach Ziggy and coach Eric Deemas before he started to coach the Brooklyn Ballers AAU.But what aau team is he running with this season.