He hasn’t even played 10 games, but this Biloxi athlete is an explosive football star
Duran Parish has yet to play his 10th career football game.
The senior doesn’t have much varsity football under his belt, yet he’s committed to play for Vanderbilt and is usually the most explosive athlete on the field on a given Friday night.
Parish has eclipsed 100 receiving yards in nearly every game he’s played, including a 103-yard performance against East Central in the season-opener last week.
The incredible part of his gridiron prowess is that he cooks up opposing defensive backs largely in his spare time. That’s because Parish is also one of South Mississippi’s best basketball players and the sport consumes his summers and winters.
A key part of his success in both areas: the coaches have bought in.
“He’s been blessed to have coaches like me and (basketball) coach Seber (Windham),” Biloxi football coach Katlan French said. “I think more coaches need to be like this on the Coast at the high school level, who are willing to share him and allow him to do those things. So many coaches, and people on the outside, are pushing kids to just play one sport... and I think that’s the wrong way to do it.”
Parish joined French’s team for just a handful of summer workouts before the season and instead spent most of his time on the AAU circuit, building off a junior campaign that saw him score 19 points a game for the Indians.
This has been the case since Parish rejoined the football team in 2021, but it hasn’t been a distracted for his fall teammates.
“All the guys love him” French said. “People kind of gravitate toward him. He just has natural leadership skills. Everybody responds to him well.”
French says Parish has the ability to “pick it back up like it’s nothing” when he returns from basketball and make an immediate impact in the Indian offense.
Parish is able to transition from one sport to another seamlessly and strongly suggests everyone participate in multiple sports.
“They could be great at one sport, but they could also be great at another sport and they don’t know it,” Parish said. “They might as well play other sports and have fun then see what they end up doing. See what they get out of it.”
Like other two-sport athletes, Parish works both during the summers, but once he enters one season he’s completely locked in.
“It’s just mindset, that’s all,” Parish said. “I don’t even think about basketball, as long as it’s football season. I’m going to finish out the season strong and then I’ll play basketball.”
In a time where coaches and outside influences are pushing for athletes to focus a singular sport, Parish is a shining example of an athlete opening creating more opportunities for himself by participating and excelling in multiple sports.
“He’s a phenomenal athlete, he can be good at anything he wants to be good at,” French said. “If he wants to play soccer, basketball, football, baseball, he’s just got God-given talent. We’re definitely glad to have him on our team.”
