Robbie Parris

Robbie Parris
Personal information
Born
NationalityCanadian
Listed height5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Career information
High schoolOak Bay High School
(Oak Bay, British Columbia)
CollegeUniversity of Victoria (1974–1979)
PositionPoint guard
Number20
Career highlights
  • Canada West All-star (1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979)
  • Canadian University ("CIAU") All-Canadian (1979)
  • CIAU Tournament All-star (1979)
  • Graduated from UVic with most regular season and playoff points
  • University of Victoria Sports Hall of Fame (2005)
  • Oak Bay High School Sports Hall of Fame

Robbie Parris is a former Canadian basketball player and coach. He was a five-time Canada West all-star, one of the only athletes in history to accomplish this feat.[1][2][3] He was also a Candian University ("CIAU") Second-team All-Canadian and a CIAU tournament all-star.[4][5]

High school

Parris played at the high school level at Oak Bay High School.[6][7] In his senior year (1974), he was named MVP of the Island Championships and was named a first-team All-Provincial All-star.[7] He and his teammates won the BC high school championships twice (1973, 1974).[6][7]

University

Parris played for the University of Victoria for five seasons from 1974-1979.[8][9] He has been described as the point-guard template and precursor to Canadian greats Eli Pasquale and Steve Nash.[7]

Parris was named a Canada West All-star in each of his five seasons: three times as a Second-team all-star (1975, 1976, 1977) and twice as a First-team all-star (1978, 1979).[1][2][6] Only six other athletes in history have been five-time Canada West all-stars: Eli Pasquale, Karl Tilleman, Spencer McKay, Byron Tokarchuk, Andrew Spagrud and Jacob Doerksen.[1][2][3]

In his final season (1979), Parris was named as a Second-team All-Canadian and as CIAU tournament all-star.[4][5][10][11]

Parris graduated with the most regular season points in University of Victoria history and currently ranks 10th overall.[12] He also graduated with the most career playoff points in Victoria Vikes history and currently ranks 9th overall.[13]

Parris was named University of Victoria's MVP and Most Inspirational player several times.[6][7]

The Victoria Vikes performed well under Parris' leadership. In 1979, Victoria finished second in the CIAU tournament and were the Canada West champions.[8][14][15] In 1978, the Vikes were CIAU semifinalists and also were the Canada West champions.[8][14][16]

Coaching

Parris returned to Oak Bay High School as an assistant coach to the senior boys team, where they won three straight Island Championships from 2016-18.[7]

Post-career recognition

In 2005, Parris was inducted into the University of Victoria Sports Hall of Fame.[6][17][18] He was also inducted into the Oak Bay High School Sports Hall of Fame.[7]

Parris' jersey (#20) was retired by the university in 2004, being the first basketball player in the university's history to have his jersey retired.[6][7]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Award Winners for Canada West First Team All-Star". U Sports Hoops. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  2. ^ a b c "Award Winners for Canada West Second Team All-Star". U Sports Hoops. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Award Winners for Canada West Third Team All-Star". U Sports Hoops. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Men's Basketball All-Canadian Teams" (PDF). U Sports. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 October 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  5. ^ a b "Men's Basketball Championship All-Stars" (PDF). U Sports. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 December 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Robbie Parris". UVic Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h "Oak Bay Alumni Sports Hall of Fame". Oak Bay High School. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  8. ^ a b c "Robbie Parris". U Sports Hoops. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  9. ^ "All-time roster information for Victoria Vikes". U Sports Hoops. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  10. ^ "Award Winners for Men's Basketball Second Team All-Canadian". U Sports Hoops. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  11. ^ "Award Winners for Championship Tournament All-Star Team". U Sports Hoops. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  12. ^ "Career Records for Regular Season League Games for Victoria Vikes". U Sports Hoops. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  13. ^ "Career Records for Playoff Games for Victoria Vikes". U Sports Hoops. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  14. ^ a b "U Sports Championship Results" (PDF). U Sports. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 March 2024. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  15. ^ "Victoria Vikings - 1978-79 Season". U Sports Hoops. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  16. ^ "Victoria Vikings - 1977-78 Season". U Sports Hoops. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  17. ^ Watson, Andy (February 9, 2012). "Two athletes, one team to be inducted into UVic Sports Hall of Fame in April". University of Victoria Athletics. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  18. ^ "UVic Sports Hall of Fame". University of Victoria Athletics. Retrieved 6 October 2025.