Seton Hall basketball's Trey Parker is sticking around, and he's pumped
Tuesday evening, a few hours before the college basketball transfer portal closed, Trey Parker posted a photo on Instagram of himself holding the Garden State Hardwood Classic trophy.
It was a message Seton Hall fans longed to see from someone, anyone: He would remain a Pirate in 2026-27.
A backup point guard as a sophomore, Parker will be the lone holdover from a 21-win squad that finished fourth in the Big East. Eight players entered the transfer portal and six others are out of eligibility.
“I’ve been getting a lot of feedback, with a lot of people being surprised – a lot of people thought I was going to leave.” Parker said by phone Wednesday. “But you know man, this culture at Seton Hall, you can’t trade it. There was no point in me leaving the home I’m building here. I was back and forth with a couple of people at first (about exploring options), but I wanted to stay home and stay in this environment.”
Unprompted, he added, “This is going to be my breakout year – I’m calling it right now.”
'I learned how to help a team win'
Parker transferred in last offseason after spending his freshman year at N.C. State. He averaged 4.3 points and 1.5 assists in 15 minutes per game as Budd Clark’s backup, although the two played together for key stretches – especially when head coach Shaheen Holloway cranked up their full-court defensive pressure.
“At the start I wasn’t expecting to come off the bench like I did – I was expecting to have a bigger role,” Parker said. “But you’ve got to play through things. Coach Sha stayed on me. He coached me hard. Practices were harder than the games – that’s why we played great defense in the games.”
One of Holloway’s biggest strengths is point guard development. Parker clearly progressed as the season unfolded. At the start, he was hunting for his shot. By the end, he was making plays for his teammates and taking higher-percentage looks. He was always explosive; efficiency was the key.
“(Holloway) was always telling me, ‘Man, this is not about starting; it’s about making an impact when you get in the game,’” Parker said. “My mindset coming in was all about starting and that took a big toll on me, but I was here to win and become a better player. At the end of the day, I definitely did become a better player than last year. I improved my playmaking and my defense – I learned how to help a team win.”
This spring, Parker said he’s focused on studying film with the Hall’s coaches – “I’ve been looking at the spots where I messed up,” he explained – as well as working on his shot and his strength. He also made it clear that he’s attending classes because wants to get his college degree; he’s majoring in art, design and interactive multimedia.
“I like to draw – that’s a hidden skill,” he said.
Ready to lead
It’s been pretty lonely around the Pirates’ practice facility lately. Parker said he’s seen seniors AJ Staton-McCray, Elijah Fisher, David Gabriel and Pat Suemnick (who could petition the NCAA for an extra year of eligibility after sitting out 2025-26 with a shoulder injury) in the building, and that’s about it.
He knows being the only returnee means he’ll play an important role in the transition process for the incoming transfers.
“We’re going to have 14 new guys,” he said. “It’s very important to let them know, before they get ahead of themselves and try to be a one-man team, that this is a structured program. You’ve got to know how to play in the structure, know how to play our game.”
He’s discussed that role with Holloway multiple times already.
“He was telling me, ‘With a lot of these guys coming in, you’re going to need to be a leader. You’re the only returner. You know what I want in my program,’” Parker said. “I’m ready for that.”
It helps that he’s been teammates with incoming guard Del Jones, who projects to have a big role after lighting up the scoreboard at Radford; they played together as high-schoolers with Overtime Elite.
“Del’s my guy," Parker said. "He’s going to come in and have a big impact with me. We might be the best backcourt in the Big East. I want everyone to watch out and be ready for the show.”
This past season Parker played in sneakers that read, "Jersey Showtime." He's imploring Seton Hall fans disheartened by the roster turnover to stay tuned in.
“I’m here for you, and I’m definitely hungry,” he said. “Time to let the dogs out of the cage.”
Jerry Carino has covered the New Jersey sports scene since 1996 and the college basketball beat since 2003. Contact him at jcarino@gannettnj.com .
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Seton Hall basketball guard Trey Parker is staying, and he's pumped
