Hanford star Parrish will join 'Dogs basketball

With sister an assistant, choice was a 'no-brainer.'

Published online on Monday, Oct. 05, 2009

When it came down to it, Madison Parrish knew exactly where she wanted to play in college.

So the Hanford High star -- The Bee's 2009 girls basketball Player of the Year as a sophomore -- has given an early oral commitment to Fresno State, following in her older sister's footsteps.

"I get homesick easy, so I really feel like Fresno is the place for me. I didn't want to look at any other colleges," Parrish said Monday.

Older sister Amy is a Bulldogs assistant coach and former two-time All-Western Athletic Conference post player.

The 5-foot-9 Parrish can't officially sign with the Bulldogs until November 2010. Fresno State coaches are prohibited by NCAA rules from discussing recruits until they receive letters of intent.

"There was no pressure on Madison to go to Fresno State," Hanford coach Tom Parrish said. "The only thing Amy ever told her was to do what she needed to do."

Tom Parrish called his daughter Madison's choice a "no-brainer." He said she has been getting recruiting letters from Cal, Villanova, Saint Mary's, San Francisco and Portland.

"It's a match made in heaven," he said. "My daughter's coaching there, so we have someone who's been through it to advise Madison. It's only 30 minutes from home, we like the coaching staff and it's a good program."

The Bulldogs are coming off back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances after winning the WAC regular-season and tournament championships.

Recruiting a point guard for 2010 was a priority for the Bulldogs. LaShay Fears graduates after this season, and Emma Andrews will be gone the next year. That leaves freshman Taylor Thompson as the only remaining player at that position.

Hanford pressures full court, so Fresno State will getting a floor leader made for its up-tempo system.

Parrish already has led Hanford to two Central Section titles, earning two WYL co-Player of the Year awards, a Bee All-Star honor and all-state awards as both a freshman and sophomore. Last season, she averaged 12.3 points, 7.4 assists, 3.5 steals and 2.7 rebounds for 26-5 Hanford, which finished ranked ninth in the state.