2 Live Crew
Go online to read about Crew's
exciting season which included a Big
Ten championship and a fifth-place MONDAY
finish at the NCAA Tournament. JUNE 5, 2000
michigandaily.com /sports
ood enough to dream
David Parrish anticipates today draft, weighs pro options
By Ryan C. Moloney
uaily Sports Editor
David Parrish is quick to keep his dis-
tance.
Yes, of course in his propensity for
power-hitting - the Michigan Nine's
senior catcher posted impressive num-
bers in average (.356), homeruns (11)
and RBI (41) this spring, though the cav-
ernous, pitcher-friendly Fisher Stadium
isn't the most opportune of venues for a
hitting clinic.
But also in his steadfast preference not
to reveal his future plans to the press
before he is selected today in the Major
League draft.
Not even the most seasoned reporter
can cajole Parrish into revealing his
plans. Ask him and the easy-going, mild-
mannered and soon-to-be-21-year-old
will give you the same courteous, calcu-
lated reply: "There's no final decision,
one way or the other - I should know
within a week.
"It all depends on a ton of variables."
Those variables likely include where
he's selected in the draft, what team
picks him and the money involved.
Parrish, with his gaudy numbers and
maturity, has proven his mastery of the
collegiate level. In the eyes of many, his
spectacular numbers, coupled with the
Wolverines' mediocre season, signed his
ticket to professional baseball long ago.
"He's gone," an anonymous source
close to the team said. "He knows that
there isn't a lot of hope for turning it
around next year."
The Michigan Nine went 20-32-1 in
the 2000 season after winning the Big
Ten Tournament the year before.
Parrish anchored a lineup laden with
freshmen and sophomores last season
and the crop of incoming recruits, no
matter how promising, probably won't
bountifully produce without some grow-
ing pains.
Parrish's power, as well as the
demands of his position and his Major
League pedigree (his father Lance
caught in the Major Leagues from 1977-
1995) boosted his draft status consider-
ably over the course of the season.
Baseball America projects Parrish will
be selected between the second and fifth
rounds.
Regardless of his decision, Parrish has
enjoyed his ventures to all corners of the
baseball map - taking pre-draft work-
outs and batting practice with, among
others, the Anaheim Angels, Cincinnati
Reds and New York Yankees.
"There's a little pressure on you,"
Parrish understated, "all the scouts, the
front office and the GM are watching
you in the stadium.
"I had one bad round of hitting with a
team - you get nervous but that's exact-
ly what you can't do."
Parrish, at 6-3, 215 is uncommonly
lanky for a catcher, but amazingly his
power has increased in spite of using
wood bats in major league parks.
"It's actually easier to hit in the stadi-
ums because they block the wind,"
Parrish said. "At Fisher, the wind is
always blowing in towards the plate.
"Plus you use these new, white balls
just out of the boxes and they can travel."
In terms of fielding, some scouts view
Parrish as adequate at best. The prospect
of a positional switch doesn't concern
Parrish.
"I've had a couple scouts ask me if I
would have a problem switching my
MARJORIE MARSHALL/Daily
David Parrish lead Michigan in the long
ball last season with 11 homeruns.
position," Parrish said. "I told them I
wouldn't mind - if the best opportunity
for advancement is somewhere else in
the field. that's what I'll do.
"Catching is probably the hardest
position in baseball so the possibility
of staying with it is there. Mostly, if a
team wants to have me as an employee
I don't mind doing what they need me
to do."
Parrish is registered for classes next
fall, so any hacking into Wolverine
Access for the truth about his intentions
is futile. If he does elect to go pro,
Parrish says he still intends on finishing
his degree.
But right when he's about to give him-
self away, Parrish catches himself.
"Hypothetically speaking,"he said.
M in the Majors
Eight Mator Leaguers are currently in
the Majors. Here they are:
Player Position Team
Kels I rdit tF Tea,
ScttKa minieckil F Cleset nd
aNir Lan SS cinn
Mike kwhen" C St. x
Vb~l kmis -u Cicinn
Hadssus ilt kc'.na -
HelthMurray .. LHP wan tner
KintOats -. - tlP-r - lori -- -
BauSiuman s OF ChicaoAL-
Cagers hire
Greene asO
new assistal
By David Roth
Dsily Sports Writer
The Michigan's men basket
program last week announced t
hiring of Terence Greene as
assistant coach.
Greene will take over for Loen
Neely, a former Michigan assista
coach who will be
heading to
W e s t e r n
Michigan as an
assistant coach
for the Broncos..
"We are very
excited for
Terence to join
our staff,"
Michigan basket- Greene
ball coach Brian
Ellerbe said in a press release. "H
background and wealth of baskteb
knowledge will have a deep impa
on our program."
The Flint native has both play
and coached basketbalin the state
Michigan and will be an assett in tr
ing to recruit in the state, somethi
that has become increasingly
cult for the Wolverines wi
Michigan State's recent success.
With Greene's hiring, Scott Tro
was promoted from assistant- coa
to associate head coach.
"Brian has given me a great oppo
tunity," Trost said in a press releas
"I look forward to the responsibliti
that this position brings."
The NCAA prohibits moreg
three coaches recruiting off-ca
pus. Greene, Ellerbe and assita
coach Kurtis Townsend will fill th
role.
The hiring comes at an ideal ti
for Michigan since Flint Blue Cht
prospects JaQuan Hart and Kelvl
Torbert are both being recruited h
Michigan.
Before joining the Wolverines pr
gram, Greene was an assistant coa
at Eastern Michigan where he
the Eagles to 15-13 record. A i
Mott Community College he guide
his team to a No. I ranking in th
junior college ranks.
Greene can talk the talk when
comes to hoops, but he also walke
the walk in his college days a
DePaul University.
Greene started 97 of his then schoo
record 125 games played. He score
1,334 points, tallied 513 rebourt
449 assists for the Blue Demons.
Greene was an all-American
Flint Central High School his senit
year and won the class A state chaw
pionship in 1983.
MARJORIE MARSHALL/Daily
David Parrish, who lead the Michigan Nine in hitting during his junior season, pro-
jects to be in between a 2nd and 5th round draft pick in today's Major League Draft.
r
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