Record-setter: KU’s Dennis Parker Jr. scored 53 points in a game for Radford
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- Dennis Parker Jr. scored a Big South and Radford record 53 points on Dec. 14, 2025.
- Parker shot 19‑of‑24 , including 10‑of‑14 from deep, 5‑of‑5 from the free‑throw line.
- Parker will transfer to Kansas for his senior season after the 2025‑26 campaign.
Just one NCAA Division I men’s basketball player scored 50 or more points in a game during the 2025-26 season.
He’s former Radford guard Dennis Parker, Jr., who Thursday morning announced plans to transfer to the University of Kansas for his senior season. Parker exploded for a school and Big South Conference-record 53 points on 19-of-24 shooting (10-of-14 from deep and 5-of-5 from the line) in Radford’s 107-77 victory over Coppin State last Dec. 14 in Radford, Virginia.
Parker — he averaged 18.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists per contest for the (16-16) Highlanders — was able to top the half-century mark in points in just 33 minutes. He also had eight rebounds in the contest.
The 6-foot-6 Richmond, Virginia native, who scored as many or more points by himself as eight college teams did that December day, erased the old single-game school scoring mark of 43 points set by Doug Day set in a 107-100 victory over Central Connecticut State on Dec. 12, 1990 in New Bradford, Connecticut.
Parker also stormed past Campbell’s Chris Clemons, who had owned the Big South Conference single-game scoring mark of 51 points, set in an 81-79 victory over UNC-Asheville on March 3, 2017 in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
Parker’s reputation as somebody who can score both inside and out certainly caught the eye of KU’s coaches who made Parker the team’s fourth portal addition this offseason.
In announcing his commitment to KU over Louisville, LSU and others on Thursday’s Field of 68 podcast, Parker said KU coach Bill Self told him, “If you’re going to come here, we need you to score the ball.”
“That’s really what it’s going to have to be,” Parker quickly added.
Of his steadily improvement from 3 (he hit 48.4% of his shots including 37.7% of his 3’s in one season at Radford), Parker said: “I spent last summer in Fort Myers (Florida), working out with Dave Hopla. He’s worked with a lot of legends. He got me right. It was just mechanics and confidence. Once the mechanics part was good, seeing shots go in, you get open runs. You hit a lot of shots then. That just flowed into the season. And it was over with after that.”
As important as he figures to be for KU on offense, Parker insists, “I love defense. Before I was good at offense, I had to be good at defense. Coming from Team Loaded (AAU program), we are based on pride and energy. I’m just bringing all the energy, all the ‘dog-ness,’ and when it comes to offense and stuff like that, I get to it.”
Parker played two seasons at North Carolina State, including 2023-24 when the Wolfpack reached the Final Four. During his freshman season — the Final Four season — he averaged 4.7 points, 3.2 rebounds while playing 15.4 minutes per game in 29 games (12 starts).
On Dec. 14, 2024 he went 0-for-4 from the field and did not score while playing 16 minutes in N.C. State’s 75-60 loss to KU at Allen Fieldhouse. He had four rebounds in that game.
He averaged 2.9 points a game in 27 games (no starts, 12.3 minutes per outing) his sophomore season, his final season, at N.C. State.
“I can shoot,” Parker said. After hitting just 28.0% of his 3’s in two years at N.C. State, he went 60-for-159 beyond the arc for the Highlanders (.377). He scored 23 points against North Carolina, 10 points and five rebounds against South Carolina and 18 points and three steals vs. SMU a year ago.
“I’m still working on a couple things,” Parker said, “in terms of ball-screen reads, just because I don’t have super experience in that spot (shooting guard). I just score the ball. I get to the rack. I dunk on you. I create open opportunities for my teammates. If I draw two (defenders), I kick it out. I’m no selfish individuaI. Yes I score, but I can get off the ball as well.”
Of his role on a team that has a roster that includes four transfers and six freshmen including consensus No. 1 high school prospect Tyran Stokes, Parker said: “I’ve been seeing the ‘young-un’ (Stokes) around since I was in high school. I obviously know the kid has a lot of talent. I saw him in the McDonald’s all America (game). I’m excited to play with these young dudes. To be experienced in college — I’ve seen a Final Four before — I can be one of those guys who can be around them and guide them if they need it.”
Radford coach Zach Chu had this to say about Parker last season: “Dennis is one of the most versatile players in the country and plays the game with an exciting aggression and ferocity. He was one of the nation’s leading rebounders and blocked shots per 40 minutes (in 2025-26). Dennis has the ability to play multiple positions and can be a lock down defender for all positions on the court.
“This versatility and his physical tools make him the perfect fit for our position-less style of play. He is at his best in the open court, playing above the rim and creating chaos on the defensive side of the ball. Dennis was a consensus four-star recruit and top-100 player in the country coming out of high school in the class of 2023. We are extremely excited about the continuing growth of his overall game on both ends.”
