Sydney Parrish will return for a fifth year for Indiana Basketball.
“I’m going to play my fifth year (at IU) if it’s okay with coach Moren,” Sydney Parrish said in a postgame interview after the Hoosiers defeated Rutgers.
The Hoosiers defeated the Scarlett Knights 66-56 on the road. The victory was head coach Teri Moren’s 100th Big Ten victory. It was a bit odd that Parrish would get asked about her future plans this early in the season, but she answered the question anyway.
“We’re excited,” Moren said. “Syd has been a great addition to Indiana and our program. I kind of knew that’s where she was leaning toward, and I’m glad that she could publicly be able to tell the media tonight.”
“Syd is a special kid. Obviously, she represents not just the university but also the state of Indiana. She’s about all the right things, and that’s the team. She wants to win. She’s super competitive, and it’ll be nice to have her around for another year.”
Parrish’s return is great news for Indiana basketball fans for two reasons. First, the Hoosiers will be without Mackenzie Holmes, who should break the all-time scoring record barring injury. Second, Parrish is a local in-state product who grew up about an hour and a half from Bloomington, attending Hamilton Southeastern High School.
Parrish began her career in Oregon, playing two years in Eugene before transferring closer to home. Last season, Parrish was an all-conference honorable mention and helped lead the Hoosiers to their first Big Ten title in 30 years on their way to a Number One seed in the NCAA tournament.
Parrish was a highly touted recruit coming out of high school. The 6-foot-2 combo guard was Indiana Miss Basketball in 2020, a McDonald’s All-American, and a five-star, top 30 recruit.