Call Parker Spees 'Mr. Multi-Dimensional' as there isn't anything he cannot do on the court. Shoot, shoot from 3, pass, rebound, defend, run the court, lead and make his teammates more effective headline his multitude of talents. The 6-foot-9 2026 San Joaquin Memorial High (Fresno) talent recently decided on his college and he's headed to UC Irvine in Orange County. Led by Coach Russell Turner, the Anteaters are members of the Big West Conference and were recently picked to win league this coming season.
As longtime scout Paul Hernandez of Central Coast High School Hoops wrote in December 2024 of Spees in his most recent rankings of 2026 players: "Coming in at #2, and moving up two spots from the last round of these player rankings is the lengthy, tall, and skilled wing/forward Parker Spees of San Joaquin Memorial. Spees played with Jalen Green Elite’s 16u 3SSB team this past Spring and Summer, which helped his stock rise beyond California, and put his name on the radar of 4-year coaches, with high-academic programs at all levels in serious contention, as Spees is also a 4.0+ student in the classroom. Spees had a dominant performance at the 4th Annual Central Cali Prospects Junior/Senior Showcase in early October, scoring an event high 39 points in his second showcase game en route to earning Most Outstanding Player honors. Spees impacts both ends of the court, protects the rim in the paint and contests perimeter shots on closeouts, has good hands around the basket, can score the ball from 3-levels, is accurate with the 3-ball especially off the catch and shoot, has the handles to attack from the top of the key, and is playing above the rim more frequently to showcase his athleticism. Good court vision to find open teammates, can push the ball off the glass, and does all the little things to impact winning."
Dinos Trigonis succinctly posted this on June 27 of this year on X: "...6-8 2026 Parker Spees is one of the West's most underrated skilled Fs."
Former San Jose State University player and current coach and trainer Mike Moore offered "Parker Spees went off at Section 7! and Cali Live! A 6’10” unicorn! Does it all, can handle it, facilitate it, blocks shots, elite Rebounder, great passer, Ambidextrous dunker, and can score and shoot it!"
With his bonafides established, why the choice of the Anteaters for college ball?
"Overall, UC Irvine is the best fit for the player I am. It's a high academic school with a high basketball culture. Coach Turner has a great track record of developing players at my position. He once coached Tim Duncan at Wake Forest (the San Antonio Spur great and NBA Haller-of-Famer)."
The winningest coach in Irvine history, Turner sports a 63% winning percentage (321-187) and has bagged seven regular season conference championships.
Besides the Anteaters, with other offers from Fresno State, Montana, Pepperdine, UC Riverside, Long Beach State, Utah Tech, Northeastern and Boston University, Spees noted a timing to his visits. With a maximum of five official recruiting visits available per the NCAA, "last weekend was my final visit and it was to Irvine. I did that on purpose." He wanted to fresh experience UC Irvine in comparison with his other options. Luckily for Turner and Company, Spees was most impressed with what Irvine had to offer.
In his conversations with the Irvine coaching staff, "they see me as a stretch forward with a lot of ball touches and a quarterback of the team offensively."
Spees' initial hoops goals are "I want to develop early on because I want to shoot for Freshman of the Year honors or as close to that as possible."
Asked to detail what he views as his best basketball attributes, Spees offered "my versatility, like putting the ball on the floor, attacking on the perimeter, my IQ with ball reads and blocking shots." With an eye always on maximizing his potential, he said, "but I always want to get better."
Two other Spees elements are also must mentions. Regarding leadership, he offered, "Yes, I'm definitely a leader on my high school team." Previously a by example leader, "This season, I'm definitely more vocal in guiding my teammates." The other worthy component is his uber excellence in the classroom. "Last semester, I finished with a 4.4 grade point average and I have a cumulative 4.2 grade point average." Not just a one trick pony only as a basketball prospect, Spees demonstrably works just as hard to be his best in the classroom. His life 'mantra" is "how you do anything is how you do everything." Consistency of character is important to him.
By the way, his father stands 6-foot-5, his mother 6-foot-1 and his Dad played volleyball at UC Santa Barbara. Spees participated in basketball, soccer and volleyball growing up, beginning organized hoops "when I was around six years old."
He cited "my parents" as his biggest basketball influences because "they helped me stay the course" and also lauded "the good coaches I had growing up." Spees also offered thanks to "my family, teammates, trainers, those who helped me with my recruitment and to God for helping with my mental state and in staying humble.
Spees selected a fairly recent achievement in detailing his best hoops moment. Ultimately enjoying 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists in a 62-60 victory, he said "I hit a game-winning three when we were down by two against Sunnyslope (Phoenix)." That's Spees.
He will be a business major in college.
