TAMPA, Fla. — Julian Parker has a presence on the court that is hard to miss.

“Blocked shots, great passer, great defender, so he’s a very versatile player for us,” Jesuit High School head basketball coach Neal Goldman said.

You could say that basketball runs in his blood. Julian's dad is Orlando Magic general manager Anthony Parker and his aunt is WNBA star Candace Parker.

What You Need To Know

  • Jesuit High School senior Julian Parker excels on the court, but for the fourth straight year, he’s also spearheading a service project

  • The basketball standout is spreading holiday cheer to children who will be in the hospital for Christmas

  • From a young age, Parker found his own passion for the game and had a first-hand look at what it takes on the pro level

“My dad played professionally, he played in college at Bradley, went overseas and played in Israel, had me in Israel, came back to America, played in the NBA for nine seasons,” Parker said. “My aunt is Candace Parker, she obviously plays, is a TV analyst, all of that — basketball lives in my family. My grandpa played, everyone plays.”

From a young age, Julian found his own passion for the game and had a first-hand look at what it takes on the pro level.

“Seeing their day-to-day lives, seeing my aunt, seeing my dad play -- just the coolness of seeing LeBron at practice or Shaq at practice, all these legends, just kind of fell in love with it,” he said.

That exposure early on helped develop his own work ethic and mindset. 

“How they go through their day, how they work out, how they take care of their body. Obviously, I think it’s a privilege that I get, that I got to see from a young age,” he said.

Goldman says Julian’s approach to the game has inspired his teammates.

“He just knows so much and is very cerebral," he said. "Very good common sense. Very high IQ, and I really enjoy coaching him because he’s able to pick up all the little things we try to do well and helps lead players to do that as well.”

Julian’s time at Jesuit has been defined by more than his talent on the court.

He’s also been a big part of an annual toy drive, helping create the project with his teammate, Cornell Boyd.

“Just putting yourself in their family’s shoes, what their family has to go through, what they have to go through…how they’re feeling down, just a way to give them some Christmas cheer so they know that people out there care about them is very important,” Julian said.  

Every year, Julian and Cornell deliver toys to All Children’s Hospital, spreading holiday cheer to kids who will be in the hospital for Christmas.

“It was great to see their reactions, they got them on film, so just seeing their reactions," he said. "We got them Nerf guns, Barbie dolls or the new American Girl doll, it’s just…can’t put it into words…it’s priceless.”