Former Esperanza High star Parker Sims joins Irvine Valley men’s basketball staff

Parker Sims has joined the IVC men’s basketball staff. (Photo courtesy IVC Athletic Communications)

Irvine Valley men’s basketball coaching staff announced Friday that former Laser and Esperanza High School standout Parker Sims will be joining the program as an assistant coach for the 2020-21 season.

“We are very excited to add Parker to our staff,” Irvine Valley Coach Jerry Hernandez said. “Parker was one of the most versatile players that we have ever had at IVC.

“He literally played every position for us. He will be a huge addition to our program with player development and strength training. And I know he will be an outstanding role model to our student-athletes just as he was as a player.”

Sims signed with NAIA Holy Cross College in Notre Dame, Indana after his 2018-19 season with the Lasers.

Sims, a 6-4 guard/forward, shined as an all-around player at Irvine Valley.

Sims played in 29 games and started 19 during his sophomore season in 2017-18. He averaged 6.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.0 steals per game and shot 47.8 percent from the field for IVC.

Sims scored in double figures in nine games with a season-high 18 points in Irvine Valley’s 62-58 win over LA Valley on Dec. 29, 2017.

He had 10 or more rebounds in five contests with a season-high 16 boards in Irvine Valley’s 63-62 victory over Orange Coast College on Jan. 3, 2018.

He helped Irvine Valley finish with an overall record of 14-15 overall.

Sims, who starred at Esperanza High before coming to IVC, played 16 games for Irvine Valley during his freshman year in 2016-17 and averaged 2.5 points and 3.6 rebounds per game.

At Holy Cross College, Sims was a key player for two years. 

During the 2018-19 season, he averaged 6.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and shot 55.3 percent from the field.

And then this past year, Sims averaged 11.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.3 steals and shot 65.2 percent from the field and 40.0 percent from three-point range.

He had a career-high 29 points, going 14 of 17 from the field in a 75-65 Holy Cross victory over Governors State University on Jan. 29, 2020.

“Parker will be a huge addition to our program with player development and strength training,” Hernandez said.