Villanova Men's Basketball
Lanky Kris Parker Emphasizes Defense at Guard | Meet the Wildcats

This is one in a series of stories introducing the Villanova Wildcats’ 2024-25 roster.
The fifth and final transfer portal pickup for the Villanova Wildcats during the 2024 offseason, Kris Parker is a lanky guard with potential on both ends of the court.
Parker stands 6-foot-9 and weighs 201 pounds and committed to the Alabama Crimson Tide out of high school. He never set foot on the court, taking a redshirt year during the 2023-24 campaign, then hit the portal. With the Tide looking like a top ten team in the nation once again this season, Villanova might provide an easier way to make his way into the lineup, and he joins the Wildcats with four years of eligibility remaining.
Parker attended Crossroad Academy in Quincy, Fla., averaging a double-double during his senior year with 24.8 points, 14.2 rebounds, and 7.1 assists per game during his senior season. That performance helped him skyrocket up the recruit rankings — as did the three inch growth spurt ahead of his first year with Alabama that turned him into a tower at guard.
A three-star recruit in high school, Parker chose the Tide over offers from DePaul, St. John’s, Georgia, Florida State and half a dozen others. While the Wildcats extended an offer during Parker’s initial recruiting push, the late bid wasn’t enough to secure his talents.
Their effort once he hit the portal proved more successful, and he joined as a late addition in August.
Parker broke his toe during the offseason, an injury that sidelined him for the better part of two months and forced him to miss the team’s annual Blue and White scrimmage… and could contribute to a slow start on the court.
What Does Kris Parker Bring to the Table?
201 pounds is still pretty slim for a player of Parker’s height, but he’s reportedly far from a pushover defensively. Parker bulked up considerably during the time he spent with Alabama’s strength and conditioning team, and has continued to do so since then.
Another weight update from Alabama strength coach Henry Barrera:
Incoming freshman wing Kris Parker (@KrisNooLimit) has added 15.8 pounds. pic.twitter.com/qYfIKXZXJx
— Blake Byler (@blakebyler45) July 30, 2023
That said, it’s been a while since he’s taken the court, much less at his new height.
Alabama raved about his defensive improvement ahead of the 2023-24 season, but an eye injury just before last season began kept him off the court. They then elected to let him take a redshirt year rather than get off to a late start.
Parker has always been on the tall side for a guard, a trait that allowed him to drive in for dunks or loft up contested shots during his time in high school. He’s more than willing to rebound, his 14.2 boards per game during his senior year an impressive clip for a guard, as were his 2.4 blocks per game.
It might take Kris Parker some time to crack Villanova’s starting lineup, with guards Jhamir Brickus, Wooga Poplar and Jordan Longino each looking to start this season (and Tyler Perkins as the first guard off the bench ahead of him)… although a three guard lineup (and the versatility his height affords him) could help him rack up minutes. It’s important to note that this is, in effect, his first season of college basketball, so a smaller share of playing time wouldn’t be out of the ordinary, especially as he continues to build strength.
Through Villanova’s 11 game nonconference slate, Parker is averaging 3.3 points, 1.9 rebounds and 0.9 assists in 11.5 minutes per night. With Brickus, Poplar and Longino each amidst their final year of eligibility, expect Parker to receive a shot at a bigger role starting in 2025, whether as a 3-and-D style wing or as a more consistent scoring option.