9,094 miles later: Meet Riley Parkinson
9,094 miles later: Meet Riley Parkinson
The freshman Australian traveled further than any other Bethel College student to be a Thresher.
Across the world from his home, new sharpshooting sensation Riley Parkinson is adapting to life in the small American town of North Newton.
Riley is from Whittlesea — a rural town just an hour outside of Melbourne, Australia. Before committing to Bethel College to continue his basketball career, he began playing the game when he was 14 years old and attended Whittlesea Secondary College, a school that contained just roughly 1,000 students.
I asked Riley what his biggest goal going into his freshman season was, and he responded in a very humbling fashion: “My biggest goal coming into my freshman season is to make an impact on the team and move my way up into the starting lineup, knowing the talent of the upperclassmen.”
Being the talented basketball player that he is, after spending time with the Whittlesea Pacers U21 squad (which he was selected for as a 17-year-old) Riley held offers from prep schools throughout the United States — including in New York and Los Angeles.
The reason he eventually chose Bethel, though, was the constant love he was shown by head coach Jayson Artaz. He talked about their frequent conversations and how natural things were from the jump.
Also, the success of the basketball team last season had an influence on his decision. Knowing that he would be able to potentially follow in the footsteps of Bethel star Clifford Byrd really meant a lot to him. On top of that, former players that he was in contact with only had positive things to say about the program.
Riley plans on making a major impact on and off the court during his years here at Bethel College. He believes that the energy and effort that he brings to the court will not only be beneficial for him while playing but also through campus life. Riley considers himself an approachable guy — so he’s very easy to talk to.
And I can say, when having conversations with him, it feels like we’ve already known each other for years.
The hard-working freshman is ready to bring tons of energy and life to this campus. He’s excited to start his new journey in Kansas and to learn more about the American lifestyle — learning and understanding a different culture that he’ll soon become accustomed to.
Riley has found his new home and is ready to help dominate the KCAC. And it’s safe to say we all can’t wait to see him thrive this upcoming season and for years to come.