Senior year grit, comeback wins and a Mamba‑mentality that shows his determination and will to not give up shaped athlete RBHS senior Donavan Parris’s journey in basketball and golf to be defined by his resilience and drive. After talking about coming back from a back injury he described it as”Coming back was tough, but it made me better,” Parris said.

Q: Looking back at your time at Rock Bridge, which season was your favorite? What made it stand out?

A: “My favorite year was probably my senior year just because I was a really big part of the team. The chemistry was great, and I had a lot of fun that year.”

Q: What was your favorite game from that season?

A: “Definitely the Hickman game. The atmosphere was crazy, the student section was huge and we killed them. It was one of the most fun games ever.”

Q: Do you have a role model in basketball?

A: “Yeah, my role model is Kobe. I always look up to him, try to act like him, play like him. [Use] the Mamba mentality for sure.”

Q: What game in your basketball career was the most challenging?

A: “Probably last year versus St. Mary’s. I had just come off an ankle sprain so my ankle was weak. They were well-coached and strong offensively, so it was tough to adapt.”

Q: What advice would you give younger players coming up?

A: “Always work on your jump shot and defense. If you can shoot, make sure you can shoot. Defense and shooting will take you far.”

Q: What’s one challenge you had to overcome that made you stronger?  

A: “In eighth grade, I had to get back surgery. It made me taller, but I had to wait three months to play again. Coming back was tough, but it made me better.”

Q: What was the process like getting back onto the court after surgery?

A: “I couldn’t twist[my body] for three months, but once I could shoot again, I worked on my mechanics slowly. I had to take it easy and build [myself] back up.”

Q: Who was your favorite coach over your whole high school career?

A: “My favorite coach was Coach Buffington. He was my AAU coach for about four years. He pushed us hard but in a good way. [He was] never mean, just motivating. He made it fun and competitive.”

Q: If you could relive one game in your high school career, which would it be?

A: “The Hickman game for sure. Biggest student section we ever had, and we dominated. It was just pure fun.”

Q: How did the basketball culture at Rock Bridge shape you into a better person?

A: “It taught me hard work and discipline. We always had to be on time and focused and that carried over into school and life.”

Q: You mentioned listening to Lil Uzi before games. What kind of mindset does that put you in?

A: “It gets me locked in. I clear my head and enter a flow state. I play best when I’m not overthinking.”

Q: Outside of basketball, what’s your favorite hobby?

A: “Golf, for sure. It’s relaxing, and I like playing with friends. Even when I mess up, it’s fun.”

Q: What would you say are your strongest and weakest parts of your golf game?

A: “My weakest part is long irons—I don’t have much control there. My strongest is my wedges; I’m good at getting out of tough spots.”

Q: If you could play 18 holes with any three people in history, who would it be and why?

A: “Kobe, Tiger Woods and Adam Sandler. That’d be a fun lineup—competitive but chill”.

Q: What’s a moment that shows your persistence?

A: “Last season, I had a bad game against Battle. The coach benched me, but I didn’t quit. I kept practicing, and a week later, I was back playing strong”.

Q: What’s one thing you hope to leave behind for future RBHS players?

A: “Always work hard and stay the course. Even if things don’t go your way, keep pushing.”

Q: What are you most nervous about going into college?

A: “Probably forgetting to do schoolwork or not staying on top of classes. I’m planning to study more and stay focused.”

Q: What’s one thing you want to do better in college?

A: “Definitely study more. I didn’t study much in high school, but I want good grades and scholarship opportunities at Mizzou.”