Candace Parker

Candace Parker dribbling in the Final Four

Candace Nicole Parker was born on April 19, 1986, in St. Louis Missouri. Candace had a basketball in her hand while she was still in diapers. She grew up playing basketball with her two older brothers, one of whom is Anthony Parker who plays for the NBA Toronto Raptors.

Like her elder brother Anthony, Candace attended Naperville Central High School in Naperville, Illinois, and graduated in 2004. While in high school, Parker led her basketball team to state titles in 2003 and 2004. Everyone then realized that Parker had a great future ahead of her.

Candace received a basketball scholarship to the University of Tennessee. She took a red shirt her freshman year of college, and started for the Lady Vols during the 2005-06 season as a 6 feet 4 inch sophomore. A red shirt means that she sat out her freshman year of college so that she could play a bit longer. Candace led the Lady Vols to a National Championship title both last year and this year.

Just after the NCAA victory, Parker was selected as the first pick in the 2008 WNBA Draft by the Los Angeles Sparks. She will play alongside Lisa Leslie and former Tennessee teammates Sidney Spencer and Shannon Bobbitt. Many people believe that the Los Angeles Sparks have a lot of talent and will do very well in the WNBA.

Candace Parker is an extremely talented person. She will soon have a family of her own, too. She is engaged to Shelden Williams, who was a college basketball star with Duke University 2002-06. She is one amazing basketball player and person, and this is why Candace Parker is my hero.