Dennis Parker Sr. and Milton Bell formed a brotherhood as classmates at John Marshall High in the 1980s, Parker as a football standout and Bell as a basketball standout.
Bell was a groomsman in Parker’s wedding, and he’s the godfather to Parker’s children.
So when Parker was looking for someone to teach basketball to his son, Dennis Jr., he encouraged and eventually enlisted Bell, the 1988 All-Metro player of the year who had settled back in Richmond after playing professionally in Europe and South America.
One of Bell’s first sessions with Parker Jr. was in the family’s backyard, in the middle of January in mid-30-degree temperatures.
“He moved five picnic chairs around and said, ‘This is a 2-3 zone. This is what you’re supposed to do when you see a 2-3 zone,’” Parker Sr. said.
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Dennis Parker Jr. All-Metro Player of the Year.
Bell worked with Parker Jr. from third grade to seventh grade. Talented then and now, Bell’s godson and early protégé has joined him 34 years later as the All-Metro player of the year.
The Times-Dispatch, which selects the player of the year and the All-Metro teams, marked the occasion by re-creating the “Chief Justice” theme – Jayem’s nickname is the Justices -- that was part of Bell’s All-Metro picture in 1988.
Parker is a 6-foot-6 1/2, 200-pound junior guard. He has the versatility to impact a game on both ends, can score from anywhere – he made 6 of 8 3-pointers in the VHSL Class 2 state championship game -- and can use his size around the basket when necessary.
He averaged 19.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.1 blocks and 1.9 steals for the Justices, who went 22-4 and easily won the state title.
Justin Brown-Russell hits a corner 3, then Dennis Parker Jr. scores in transition plus the foul during John Marshall's 91-57 rout of East Rockingham in the boys Class 2 quarterfinals Friday at Huguenot High.
Parker is considered a top 70 prospect nationally by several recruiting sites, with a long list of Power Five suitors and others to match. He said he doesn’t plan to cut his list until after the AAU season ends during the summer.
“Dennis has a chance to be the best player I’ve ever coached,” said Jayem coach Ty White, whose AAU program counts several NBA players among its alumni.
Bell was a 6-7 center and a prolific shot-blocker at John Marshall. With a 44-inch vertical jump, he averaged 18.4 points, 10 rebounds and 8 blocks as a senior (9.1 blocks as a junior).
He went to Georgetown, where he quickly found himself undersized as an interior player: The Hoyas had 6-10 Alonzo Mourning and 7-2 Dikembe Mutombo. Georgetown coach John Thompson suggested Bell start learning to be a guard.
Bell and Parker wanted to avoid a similar late transition for Parker, who was considerably taller than his peers as a youth. They worked on guard skills.
“It’s one of those things where Dennis Parker Jr. got the Uncle Milt who was the point guard in pro ball and not the center who played high school basketball,” Bell said.
“I knew he was going to be my size, and I was determined that his progression would not be as slow as mine.”
Parker’s father gave permission for Bell to sign out Dennis Jr. from an after-school program so they could work together.
“He would take him back to the gym and work with him one on one, then take him back after about an hour of working on his shot, the basics, the fundamentals, attacking the basket, using your left hand, using your right hand,” Parker Sr. said.
Dennis Jr. said Bell also taught him not to lose confidence when shots weren’t going in the basket. That still helps now, he said, “to never let something in your mind tell you that you can’t do something.”
“He’s helped me just enjoy basketball more,” Parker Jr. said. “He explained the game to me."
Teaching helped Bell as well. He was searching for something to pour his energy into after his playing career ended. He now runs The Milton Bell Team, a group that develops youth and pros in basketball and also serves as a consulting agency for pro players overseas.
Others, such as former NBA player Reggie Williams and Brandon Ward, have been part of Parker Jr.’s development. He works a lot now on ball handling and improving his overall skills.
White said Parker Jr.’s athleticism has increased since he started for Jayem as a freshman. He’s “one of the best chase-you-down [shot-blockers]” from behind, his “ability to play ahead has gotten a lot better,” and his shot-making this past season “was unreal.”
Bell, who has been tapped as part of the 2022 class of the John Marshall Athletic Hall of Fame, doesn’t go to Jayem’s games out of respect for COVID. But he watches Parker Jr. via streaming.
“I’m sure you can understand why Uncle Milton sometimes, at 51 years old, I start crying when I see him play or when I talk to him on the phone or they stop by to see me,” he said.
“There’s an old saying I really believe in that if you plant the seed, you don’t have to be there to watch it grow. Whether I planted the seed with Dennis … or I plant the seed with these young pro guys, it’s a pleasure to watch the seed grow.”
Meet the rest of the first team
Alphonzo Billups
School: Varina
Year: Senior
Position: Guard
Height: 6-7
Notable: Billups was the Class 4 state player of the year. He averaged 15.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.4 steals and 1.6 blocks while helping Varina to the Class 4 state championship and a 25-1 record. In the playoffs, he averaged 17 points, 8 rebounds and 3.5 assists. Billups, considered a top 100 prospect in his class, shot 70% on 2-pointers and 36% on 3-pointers. He has signed with VCU.
Person he admires: “Kevin Durant. He’s kind of the same build. He’s tall and lanky.”
Curtis Blair III
School: Steward
Year: Junior
Position: Guard
Height: 6-5
Notable: A returning All-Metro player, Blair averaged 19 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2 assists and 1.1 steals for the Spartans, who finished 28-3. He shot 46% on 2-pointers and 34% on 3-pointers. He scored 35 points in the state quarterfinals and had several games with at least 25 points. Blair was first-team all-state in VISAA Division II. Considered a top 150 prospect in his class, he has committed to Liberty.
Interests: Playing video games, specifically NBA 2K, Madden and Grand Theft Auto. He also loves anime.
Jaden Daughtry
School: Benedictine
Year: Senior
Position: Forward
Height: 6-6
Notable: Daughtry was an All-Metro pick last season at L.C. Bird, where he was the Region 5B player of the year. He averaged 23.2 points for Benedictine this season while surpassing 1,000 career points. Daughtry had five games where he scored 30 or more points, including a 35-point performance against Catholic. He was a first-team all-state pick in VISAA Division I.
Person he admires: “LeBron James. He’s like an all-around player. He does it all. I try to model my game [after] him.”
Dorian Davis
School: Highland Springs
Year: Senior
Position: Guard
Height: 6-1
Notable: Davis averaged 21.9 points and was a force in the postseason while helping Highland Springs to the Class 5 state championship. He had 22 points as the Springers handed rival Varina its only loss; 32 in the region semifinals against L.C. Bird; 22 in the state semifinals; and 16 in the championship game, including a game-tying 3-pointer with 18 seconds left as Highland Springs came from behind. Davis was a first-team all-state pick.
Person he admires: “My Pops [Sylvester]. He always knows what’s best to do and say. He gives the best advice when needed.”
Steve Stinson
School: John Marshall
Year: Junior
Position: Forward
Height: 6-6
Notable: Stinson missed some early games because of injuries before becoming a do-it-all force for the state champs, averaging 12.7 points and 6.1 rebounds. A hard-nosed rebounder who can shoot from the perimeter, he has attracted attention from VCU and Virginia Tech. He averaged 17 points and 7.5 rebounds in the postseason, including a 20-point, 14-rebound effort. The all-state pick had 24 points and 14 rebounds in a tournament game that included national powers.
Interests: He's played tennis since he was 5 years old.
Meet the second team
Name School Year Position Height
Kelvin Choice Glen Allen Sr. Forward 6-5
Danzelle Coles Highland Springs Soph Guard 6-4
Chris Fields Jr. Petersburg Jr. Forward 6-5
Cam Gregory Steward Sr. Guard 6-5
Yuri Manns L.C. Bird Jr. Guard 6-3
The All-Metro boys basketball third team
Name School Year Position Height
Pierce Boerner James River Sr. Guard 5-11
Davin Cosby Benedictine Jr. Guard 6-4
Cameron Mise Hopewell Soph Guard 5-9
Gray Proffitt Douglas Freeman Sr. Guard 6-3
Keishawn Pulley St. Christopher’s Sr. Guard 6-2
Kennard Wyche Jr. Varina Soph Guard 5-9
Honorable mention
Curtis Allen, Prince George; Rival Axselle, Atlee; Rasheed Daniels, Monacan; Bernard Fuller Jr., Petersburg; Deshawn Goodwyn, George Wythe; Dante Kearse, Manchester; Keyontae Lewis, L.C. Bird; Tyheim Love, Hopewell; Jamel McDuffie, Manchester; Alex Orr, James River; Miles Phillips, Thomas Dale; Reggie Robertson, John Marshall; Charlie Rohr, Hanover; Luke Smith, Collegiate; Damon Thompson, John Marshall; Quanye Veney, Highland Springs; Khalil Ward, Richmond Christian; Jaden Walker, Henrico; Justin Wilder, Deep Run; A.J. Wills, L.C. Bird; Calvin York, New Kent
Previous All-Metro players of the year
2021: Elvin Edmonds IV, Hopewell
2020: Henry Coleman, Trinity Episcopal
2019: Henry Coleman, Trinity Episcopal
2018: Armando Bacot, Trinity Episcopal
2017: Zach Jacobs, Trinity Episcopal
2016: Nick Sherod, St. Christopher's
2015: De'Monte Buckingham, Henrico
2014: Robert Johnson, Benedictine
2013: Troy Caupain, Cosby
2012: Frank Mason, Petersburg
2011: Jarvis Threatt, Highland Springs
2010: Travis McKie, John Marshall
2009: Travis McKie, John Marshall
2008: Ed Davis, Benedictine
2007: Ed Davis, Benedictine; Brandon Rozzell, Highland Springs
2006: Devin Johnson, Meadowbrook
2005: Tyrese Rice, L.C. Bird
2004: Tyree Evans, George Wythe
2003: Brad Byerson, Thomas Dale
2002: Jesse Pellot-Rosa, George Wythe
2001: Shawn Harris, Matoaca
2000: Domonic Jones, Manchester
1999: Luqman Jaaber, George Wythe
1998: Chris Moss, L.C. Bird
1997: LaMar Taylor, John Marshall
1996: Colin Ducharme, Douglas Freeman
1995: Marco Harrison, Petersburg
1994: Chandler Evans, Meadowbrook
1993: James Pelham, Hopewell
1992: J.J. Williams, Highland Springs
1991: Jason Williford, John Marshall
1990: Kendrick Warren, Thomas Jefferson
1989: Kendrick Warren, Thomas Jefferson
1988: Milton Bell, John Marshall
1987: Everett Watkins, Midlothian
1986: Rafer Giles, Henrico
1985: Alvin Lee, JHW
1984: Tim Legler, J.R. Tucker
1983: Jerry Hargrove, Armstrong
1982: Ronnie Wade, Marshall-Walker
1981: Fred Facka, Douglas Freeman
1980: Tim Lewis, Marshall-Walker
1979: Mark West, Petersburg
