#MUBB Signs Damarius Owens and Royce Parham
11/8/2023 9:06:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nationally ranked prospects are teammates at Western Reserve Academy
The Marquette University men's basketball program has announced the signing of prep standouts Damarius Owens (Rochester, NY/Western Reserve Academy) and Royce Parham (Pittsburgh, PA/Western Reserve Academy) to a National Letter of Intent, head coach Shaka Smart announced Wednesday morning.
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The duo will arrive on campus in the summer of 2024 and have four seasons of eligibility with the Golden Eagles. The two-member class is ranked as high as 22nd in the nation by Rivals.
"We are excited today to announce the signing of Damarius and Royce," Smart said. "They come from really, really good upbringings, phenomenal parents and terrific support systems. They happen to be teammates and roommates and Western Reserve Academy, which is unique, so they will come into our program with a great understanding of how to make each other better."
 A top-100 nationally ranked recruit, Owens is rated as high as 38th in the country by Rivals. He was a first team all-league honoree as a junior after averaging 14.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. He helped the team to a 30-9 overall record and a conference championship in 2022-23 under head coach Matt Garvey.  He competed on the AAU circuit for Albany City Rocks.
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Parham is also a top-100 recruit and will play his first season at Western Reserve Academy in 2023-24 after spending three seasons at North Hills High School in suburban Pittsburgh. A two-time all-state honoree, he averaged 28.3 points, 10.6 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per contest in 2022-23 and set a school record with a 47-point game. He helped the team to a semifinal appearance in the state tournament and a 46-9 overall mark the past two seasons.
"Damarius and Royce are both 'Marquette guys' who fit in with what we want to be and our culture," Smart said. "They value relationships, put incredible time and effort into growth and they care about winning."
Keep up with the Marquette men's basketball program through social media by following on Twitter (@MarquetteMBB) and Instagram (@marquette.basketball) and 'liking' on Facebook (/MarquetteMensBB). Fans interested in tickets can contact the Marquette Ticket Office online or at 414-288-GOMU (4668).
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The duo will arrive on campus in the summer of 2024 and have four seasons of eligibility with the Golden Eagles. The two-member class is ranked as high as 22nd in the nation by Rivals.
"We are excited today to announce the signing of Damarius and Royce," Smart said. "They come from really, really good upbringings, phenomenal parents and terrific support systems. They happen to be teammates and roommates and Western Reserve Academy, which is unique, so they will come into our program with a great understanding of how to make each other better."
 A top-100 nationally ranked recruit, Owens is rated as high as 38th in the country by Rivals. He was a first team all-league honoree as a junior after averaging 14.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. He helped the team to a 30-9 overall record and a conference championship in 2022-23 under head coach Matt Garvey.  He competed on the AAU circuit for Albany City Rocks.
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Parham is also a top-100 recruit and will play his first season at Western Reserve Academy in 2023-24 after spending three seasons at North Hills High School in suburban Pittsburgh. A two-time all-state honoree, he averaged 28.3 points, 10.6 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per contest in 2022-23 and set a school record with a 47-point game. He helped the team to a semifinal appearance in the state tournament and a 46-9 overall mark the past two seasons.
"Damarius and Royce are both 'Marquette guys' who fit in with what we want to be and our culture," Smart said. "They value relationships, put incredible time and effort into growth and they care about winning."
Keep up with the Marquette men's basketball program through social media by following on Twitter (@MarquetteMBB) and Instagram (@marquette.basketball) and 'liking' on Facebook (/MarquetteMensBB). Fans interested in tickets can contact the Marquette Ticket Office online or at 414-288-GOMU (4668).
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