Ian Parham Jr., a freshman at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, will represent Belize in the U20 men's basketball tournament at the XXV Central American & Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, with competition kicking off on July 24.
A Freshman with a Global Vision
The 6‑6 guard from Buford, Georgia, brings a blend of size and skill that has already turned heads on the international stage. He previously earned SWAIC All‑League First Team honors after guiding Good Vision Academy in Houston to a league championship, where he posted averages of 21.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game during the 2025‑26 season.
Parham’s basketball résumé stretches back four consecutive summers of FIBA competition for Team Belize. He was a member of the U17 squad that captured the Centrobasket Championship in Belize City in July 2023, later helping the U18 team to a runner‑up finish at the AmeriCup in Buenos Aires in June 2024, and most recently competing in Guatemala City at the Central American Olympic Games last summer.
At the upcoming games, Belize’s group stage will pit them against Nicaragua on July 26, the Dominican Republic on July 28 and Guatemala on July 30. Advancement will hinge on those results, with classification and medal matches scheduled for August 1 and 3.
Beyond personal ambition, Parham’s participation underscores a growing pipeline of talent that bridges the United States and Belize. His presence at the tournament not only highlights his own trajectory but also serves as a beacon for younger players aspiring to wear the Belizean jersey on the continental stage.