by By Dan Ninham, contributing writer
Parker Wallette is from the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indian Tribe. He is going to be a freshman this school year at Turtle Mountain Community College. Wallette will be competing for the Mighty Mikinocks basketball team this year.
“I graduated from Turtle Mountain Community High School this past year,” said Parker Wallette. “My major athletic accomplishments in high school basketball are being a two-time unanimous all-conference team selection and second team all-state my senior year.”
Wallette is a member of the 1,000 Point Club. He talked about his other accomplishments and said, “I’ve made it to the playoffs twice in my career and I averaged a ‘double-double’ my junior and senior year. My junior year I averaged 20 points and 12 rebounds and my senior year I averaged 21 and 10. I also shot 53% from the field throughout my high school career.”
“As I continue to expand my skill set in the game it’s always been important to me to keep improving and keep learning,” said Wallette. “For me this mindset allows me to incorporate a variety of our traditional seven teachings.”
“Continuing to have humility allows me to keep in mind there’s always more I can learn, when I compete and having respect for those around me is a huge way to create that bond with the guys you’re playing with and just allows for a better atmosphere, and overall just having love for the game having the passion and drive of wanting to get better,” added Wallette.
“This coming-up year I’m preparing to compete at the next level in college basketball,” said Wallette. “At the next level it’s going to be way harder. To prepare myself for the upcoming basketball season I lift weights, train for speed and agility, and get up shots.”
“Some people don’t realize that these things do get you a long way in your athletic career and it’s the way to go if you want to be a successful player and to help out your team,” said Wallette.
Wallette’s main mentors are in life and they are his parents Terry and Paulette Wallette. He said, “They have always believed in me in anything I’ve ever done and supported me. From bringing me to the gym or driving halfway across the country for basketball they have always been right by my side supporting me.”
Paulette Wallette, Parker’s mother, said, “Parker’s attribute he brings to any team he plays on is he is a team player. Every player wants to score, but Parker is different. If he’s open but another player has a shot, he passes the ball to that player. Why? He loves the assist. Back in February 2022, Parker had a triple double in points, rebounding and assists. He was pretty proud of himself, we all were. After every game his first question was, ‘How many assists did I get?’ Parker led the Braves in points, rebounds, and assists this past season. And for being a small post player, he was second in the WDA for rebounding. He was shy of .01 to be the leader.”
Parker’s father is Terry Wallette. Terry said, “I feel an attribute Parker brings to the team is being a team leader. I remember his first basketball game this past December 2022. The opposing team had a quick, great shooting guard. The first half, this guard was the key shooter and kept them in the game. Parker stepped up and said, ‘Coach, let me guard him for the second half.’ Parker shut down that player for the second half, that player only scored two points. Belcourt won that game. The success to this is the wise words his mother, Paulette always told Parker, ‘If you don’t want your player to score on you, don’t let him get the ball.’ That is exactly what he did.”
Travis Azure is the head boys’ high school basketball coach for the Turtle Mountain (Belcourt) Braves. Coach Azure talked about his former star athlete. He said, “Parker exemplified what hard work will get you when you dedicate yourself to being a complete athlete. He was an All-State selection his senior year of high school basketball by the dedication and work ethic he has training in the off-season. He was an example during practices just by his determination to be first in all drills during practices. He strived to make himself better but also helped others to push themselves to be better.”
Lloyd Davis Jr. Lloyd Davis Jr. is the assistant coach for Turtle Mountain HS Braves. He talked about his former star athlete Parker Wallette. He said, “I have had the opportunity to coach Parker when he was 10 or 11 years old. I started a traveling team for some fifth graders and I had Parker and my son Houston Davis play with them and both of them were in the third grade and they are best friends too.”
“As a younger player you can see Parker had a high basketball IQ which made it so easy to coach him and he was always pretty competitive. I really enjoyed coaching Parker and watching him grow up into a great athlete and person and you can’t find a respectable kid like him. He works hard at everything he does and made coaching him enjoyable. I know Parker is going to have a great collegiate career because he’s not afraid to work hard,” added Coach Davis Jr.
Aspiring athletes that are at the end of their high school careers find a way to play at the next level. Wallette’s next coach will be Mike Vandal, head coach for the Men’s basketball team at TMCC. Coach Vandal said: “I have known Parker since he was in elementary. I used to coach his brother on travel teams and Belcourt High School and Parker would be sitting on the bench with us.”
“I enjoyed following his high school career and as a two-time WDA all region, Second Team Class A All-stater, and Class A Lions All Star, he is the most decorated recruit TMCC acquired and I am excited to see what he will do for us this year,” added Coach Vandal.
Coach Vandal continued talking about his prize recruit. He said, “The one thing I know about Parker is he is a ‘Swiss Army’ knife on the court. Whatever the team needs him to do, he will do that at a high mark. For example, I saw games where he would dominate on the boards if the team was lacking in that category. I watched him struggle scoring from the field, but ended up getting to the free throw line 20 times in the game making 18. He will find guys that are hot and rack up assists. I think he will thrive in our system and league this winter and we will be back in the NIAC title game!”
Photo: Jon Jablonski
