The 6-foot-9 Parsons has been working out at small forward and shooting guard this fall. On Thursday, red scratches were draped across his hands.
“You should see my arms,” Parsons said. “Guys are getting after it. I’ve had my shot blocked more times the last two weeks than I did in the previous two years of practice.”
Parsons had a terrific stretch in late January of last season. Including a career-high 27 point game against Vanderbilt, Parsons averaged 14.5 points and eight rebounds in five straight Southeastern Conference games. But he struggled down the stretch, reaching double figures in scoring just three times in his final nine SEC games. By the end of the season, Parsons had lost his starting job to freshman Erving Walker.