Two bits for Missouri announced

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Busy weekend coming up for Chandler Parsons.

One of only two players in the history of the Florida men's basketball program to be named Southeastern Conference Player of the Year, Parsons is headed back to town for induction Friday night into the UF Athletic Hall of Fame, part of the nine-member Class of 2022. The University Athletic Association figured, while Parsons was here, to have new hoops coach Todd Golden give Parsons a call to see if he'd be interested in taking a turn as honorary "Mr. Two Bits" for Saturday's homecoming date between the Gators (3-2, 0-2) and Missouri Tigers (2-3, 0-2).

He said yes, of course.

"And the next weekend, I'm getting married in Cabo," Parsons said Monday. "Then it's off on my honeymoon."



Chandler Parsons' best NBA season was 2013-14 in Houston when he averaged 16.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game.
Indeed, there's a lot going on in Parsons' life, but he's not only got the time, he's also earned it. His basketball days ended when he was forced to retire due to injuries sustained in a Jan. 15, 2020 car accident in Atlanta that was the fault of drunk driver. After four years of prep stardom at Winter Park Lake Howell, four more at Florida and 440 games over nine seasons with four different NBA teams — with career averages of 12.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game — Parsons walked away. He did so in very sound financial shape, with his final contract a four-year, $94 million deal he signed in 2016 with the Memphis Grizzlies.

Parsons, 33, now lives in Malibu, Calif, with his fiancé, Haylee, and their daughter, Rocket Rose, who turns 1 on Oct. 30.

The family of three will be on the field for the "Two Bits" ritual.

Beforehand, though, the 2011 SEC Player of the Year (Parsons was the first, Scottie Wilbekin the second in '14) who helped lead the team to the league regular-season title and Elite Eight that season, will speak to the basketball squad and impart some wisdom. Just like Gator icons Joakim Noah and Patric Young did the last few weeks. Since the moment he took the job — and after an early conversation with Billy Donovan — Golden has made it a priority to reconnect with "Gator Greats" of years past. Golden wants the ties to remain strong because he wants the program to return to the level of greatness those players achieved.

It's a gesture that is very much appreciated by UF alumni. In Parsons' case, he sponsors one of the top AAU programs in the state (current Gator forward Alex Fudge was once a member of Team Parsons, now known as Southeast Elite out of Orlando) and wants to do his part on the name, image and likeness front.

"Ever since Todd got the job, we've become very close. We talk all the time. I think it was a great hire. He's young, ambitious and really a players' guy," said Parsons, who still ranks 15th on the program's all-time scoring list with 1,452 points, as well as ninth in rebounds (859) and fifth in minutes (3,694) following a career that spanned 2007-11. "When I talk to him it's like I'm talking to a younger guy, like a friend of mine, but someone who understands the game and the players. And he talks like this is his dream job, like he really wanted to be here."

The hiring of former point guard and two-time NCAA champion Taurean Green sent a signal that Golden's commitment to remember and honor the past was genuine.

"And really smart," Parsons said.

As for the "Two Bits" gig this weekend, consider that just a little more orange-and-blue frosting a very nice welcome-home cake for the guy known as "CP."

"My [fiance] has never been back to Gainesville with me. She went to the University of Hawaii, so she really doesn't understand about the SEC and how things operate," Parsons said "I'm looking forward to showing [Haylee and Rocket Rose] the 'Swamp' for the first time and showing them where it really all started for me; something that's really been a constant for me my whole life. A grew up a fan, watching every University of Florida football and basketball game. And I will be a Gator until the day I die."