'This was a combined decision': Augusta-area 2024 hoops star signs with Johns Hopkins

Landing a college athletic scholarship is difficult .

So many high school athletes sign each recruiting cycle, it’s often forgotten how small a percentage actually put pen to paper. Those college roster spots are coveted because there are so few.

There are many factors that go into the recruiting process, but many coaches will tell you grades are often the biggest. Coaches can find talent in any corner of the country they desire, but the combination of athletic and academic prowess is the cornerstone of what makes a future college athlete.

Enter 2024 Greenbrier shooting guard Cam Parada, who signed a national letter of intent with Johns Hopkins University earlier this week.

Greenbrier basketball star signs with Johns Hopkins University

Parada’s endeavors on the hardwood are tough to match. He began his basketball career at Aquinas before transferring to Greenbrier after his sophomore season. Starting as a freshman for the Irish, he quickly built up a reputation as one of the best shooters in the state. In his career at Aquinas and Greenbrier, Parada surpassed 1,500 points and 300 buckets from beyond the arc.

Even with average grades, those numbers alone would’ve likely landed him a spot on a college roster. That said, one doesn’t enroll at Johns Hopkins with average grades. Parada is the complete package, adding a 1,580 SAT score to go along with his handles on the court.

“This was a combined decision for both basketball and the school option,” he said. “This was just a fantastic opportunity and I’m excited to be taking it.”

Parada’s father, Stephen, is a professor and orthopedic surgeon at Augusta University and his mother, Carrie, is a professional engineer. While undecided about which field he wants to study, Cam said he is weighing between both the medical field and engineering.

On the basketball side of things, it didn’t take long for Parada to commit to the Blue Jays.

“This school actually came onto my radar either late summer or early fall of this past year,” he said. “Toward the end of the AAU season I got a message from them and they invited me to come down to their campus in August and they extended an offer in September or October. I committed in November, because I was not going to let an opportunity like this pass up.”

Prestigious university crests are one thing, but the fit still must work. Johns Hopkins checked all the boxes for Parada at the end of the day.

“Fantastic coaching staff and all the players I met were super friendly, super welcoming. The school environment was amazing and the facilities were fantastic,” he said. “They play a very competitive schedule and have a very competitive team in their division. It was a great fit overall.”

During his signing ceremony, several of his past coaches spoke (some in-person, some over video), including Aquinas basketball coach Patrick Green, who gave everyone insight about Parada’s growth on the court as a freshman playing varsity basketball. Greenbrier coach Dee Howard said a few words, along with Parada’s AAU coaches. Augusta basketball legend and Duke assistant coach Will Avery also shared congratulatory statement via a recorded message.

For the Greenbrier program, Howard lamented Parada’s impact in the short amount of time he spent with the Wolfpack.

“Being that he wasn’t a guy who started off with us, for him to come over and buy into the system and the way that we do things,” Howard said, “the younger guys can look up to that and see how he carries himself like a college athlete.”

For Parada, Tuesday was like the day many college signees cherish. Being surrounded by family and friends and taking in the accomplishments of a decorated career and exciting next chapter is one thing, but it also allowed him to reflect on his high school career. His biggest takeaway from the last 24 months is something we could all use a dose of.

“Learning to appreciate the moments as they’re passing by. When you’re training to become a collegiate athlete, you get a certain tunnel vision, and you almost forget to enjoy the moments in life around you,” he said. “I think these past two years have made me really appreciate this whole journey. Basketball is going to come to an end at some point, but it’s been a great experience and uplifting for my personal character coming here.”

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: 'This was a combined decision': Augusta-area 2024 hoops star signs with Johns Hopkins