University of Virginia Library

Parkhill Turns Down Draft,
Opts For Olympic Try-Out

By FRAN MARKON

In a statement released by
the athletic offices yesterday,
star Cavalier guard Barry
Parkhill announced that he
would play out his fourth year
at the University and would
not make himself available for
the ABA draft. He also
revealed that he had accepted
an invitation to attend try-outs
for the Olympic team.

There had been some
speculation among area fans,
none of it really well-grounded,
that Parkhill might forego his
fourth year in favor of signing
a pro contract while the bidding
war between the two leagues
was still hot and heavy. The
Olympic bid, while it no doubt
pleased Parkhill, couldn't have
surprised him much.

Although being
approached lately by several
people about professional
basketball by submitting my
name to be drafted by the
ABA next week," said
Parkhill, "I have considered the
possibility, but have firmly
decided to continue my career
at the University."

On the subject of the
Munich games Parkhill
remarked that "Ever since I
can remember I've wanted to
represent my country in the
Olympic games and Sunday I
received an invitation from
Coach Iba (Hank Iba,
ex-Oklahoma State mentor in
charge of the U.S. team) to
attend the try-outs starting
June 12. It is a real privilege
and I hope to prove worthy of
the invitation."

At present Parkhill is the
team's and the conference's
leading scorer with a 22.9
points per game average and
ranks among the nation's
better all-around guards. The
ABA Virginia Squires thought
enough of him last year to
select him as their sixth-round
draft pick.

That selection has since
been ruled invalid but the large
improvement Parkhill has
shown this year in almost all
areas of the game have brought
the pro scouts to University
Hall. Several ABA teams and
the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks
and Boston Celtics have
already expressed an interest in
him.

Parkhill could have been
drafted this year with no
strings attached courtesy of the
new ABA rule that allows for
limited drafting of college
undergraduates without the
much-abused pretense of
declaring them "hardship
cases."

If Parkhill makes the
Olympic team he will be the
first Virginia basketball player
ever to play in the games. In
1968's Mexico City games the
lone ACC representative was
North Carolina's Charlie Scott,
who made a major
contribution to the team's
eventual gold medal. No
American team has ever failed
to garner the gold in Olympic
competition.

Yesterday's statement was
the latest in a long line of
exposures in the prints for
Parkhill, the subject of an
article in the recent issue of the
prestigious New York Times.
He's also been the recipient of
much local ink as there seems
to be some sort of campaign on
to boost his credentials for
All-America honors.

Whether or not he makes
All-America, one of the
season's high points for "Mr.
BP" will doubtless occur
tomorrow night when he takes
the floor against Penn State in
his home town of State
College, Pa. Parkhill is not a
man given to rash remarks but
he readily admits to being
more than a little 'psyched'.

"Everyone I know will be
there," said Parkhill while also
remarking that he carried no
grudge against Lion coach John
Bach, who for some reason,
refused to offer a scholarship
to a skinny 6-3 forward who
didn't even answer to the
now-infamous "Mr. BP" three
years ago.

Barry Parkhill Shoots Over Wake's Eddie Payne While Willie Griffin Looks On In Saturday's Game

Ace Guard Refused The ABA Draft Yesterday And Accepted A Bid To Try Out For The Olympics