Recruiting: Michael Parkes talks moving from Jamaica, committing to Iowa State

Iowa State’s latest broad receiver decide to the 2023 recruiting class didn’t play soccer earlier than his freshman yr of highschool.

Rising up in Jamaica, Michael Parkes and his buddies usually performed soccer, which is the place Parkes discovered his velocity.

It wasn’t till one in all his highschool coaches satisfied him to present soccer a shot that he went out to attempt it out.

“I used to be scared to get hit, however my coach stored pushing me to attempt it,” Parkes stated. “I’m glad I did.”

When he began taking part in, Parkes was impressed with the expertise of one in all his teammates – Luis Sanchez, who’s now a 5-foot-8 receiver at Wesleyan.

The pair practiced collectively routinely and it helped Parkes develop into as proficient as he his.

“My freshman yr – I had this teammate,” Parkes stated. “He was so good. He was quick, however he didn’t have the peak to go D-1. I practiced with him loads.”

Now, he’s headed to Iowa State after committing to the Cyclones over faculties like Pittsburgh, Mississippi State and West Virginia.

Parkes got here to the USA together with his grandmother and has objectives of taking good care of his household sooner or later.

He wrote in his announcement publish, “again house, it was exhausting for us and my mother and pop did every part for me so (that) I may be right here in America. Now, it’s my time to care for them.’”

Parkes plans on taking part in his senior yr of highschool soccer at Bayside Excessive College in Florida.

He’s then set on graduating early and enrolling at Iowa State throughout the winter semester subsequent faculty yr.

“I needed to commit there since day one,” Parkes stated. “I can graduate early and I get to go to Iowa. That’s the plan.”

If his profession timeline has proven something, catching on quick is Parkes’ robust swimsuit. Enrolling early at Iowa State may make a much bigger impression on him than the common participant.

Time will inform what to make of Parkes’ profession at Iowa State, however he’s on tempo to make it an attention-grabbing one when he will get there.