Photo via the Mount Carmel Register

The Green Bay Phoenix 2017/2018 roster continues to take shape as the program received a commitment from TJ Parham on Tuesday afternoon.

The 6’7” forward from Chicago played last season at Wabash Valley College in Mount Caramel, Illinois. He originally committed to Army out of high school but left the program without playing a minute during the 2015/2016 season.

“The past two years have been a long journey, at times full of joy and others filled with adversity,” he wrote on Twitter announcing his decision. “Through the times of adversity and uncertainty I was blessed to have a support system to help me push through. I would like to thank my friends, family, the coaching staff at Wabash Valley, and coach Taylor from Marian Catholic.”

“Today I am excited and grateful to announce I will be continuing my basketball career at the University of Wisconsin Green Bay! I am thankful for God and everyone who has helped me through this process!”

In 30 games, Parham averaged 15.1 points and 5.4 rebounds per game this past season at Wabash Valley. He also knocked down 72.5% of his free throw attempts.

According to Prep Hoops Illinois, “he is best working out of the high and mid-post area.” However, last season he also showed he wasn’t afraid to step outside and shoot from beyond the arc as nearly 40% of his field goal attempts came from behind the three point line. He connected on 27.6% of his three point attempts and shot 47.2% overall from the floor.

Parham – who will have three seasons of eligibility – chose the Phoenix over scholarship offers from UT-Martin, Albany, and UMKC according to VerbalCommits.com.

He ranked as the #25 prospect in Illinois’ 2014 high school class and a 2-star recruit according to ESPN.

Parham is the latest newcomer addition joining Trevian Bell, PJ Pipes, Will Chevalier, Manny Patterson, and Sukhjot Bains as players who are immediately eligible. Transfers Cody Schwartz and Sandy Cohen will both have to sit out next season due to NCAA transfer rules, though it is possible that Cohen could be able to play beginning with the second semester. Green Bay returns just four scholarship players from a season ago.

The Phoenix still have one available scholarship for the 2017 class.