Forest Hills senior Parker Desjardins, second from left, holds the game ball after scoring his 2,000th career point in a game at Greenville on Tuesday night. He is flanked by his parents, Jeff and Stephanie, and younger brother, Mason. Photo provided by Anthony Amero
The shot was a 3-pointer, like one of the 500 Forest Hills senior Parker Desjardins shoots every morning on the basketball court he set up in his family’s garage. It was nothing but net, and it made history.
That deep shot, which came late in the third quarter of Forest Hills’ 81-41 victory at Greenville, gave Desjardins 2,000 points for his career. Desjardins finished the game with 44 points. He did not play in the fourth quarter.
“I’m blessed. I’m very thankful for the opportunity to do this,” Desjardins said of reaching the rare high school scoring milestone.
Desjardins is believed to be the 19th player in state history to reach the 2,000-point milestone. Former Lawrence standout Cindy Blodgett, who scored 2,596 in the early 1990s, sits atop the list.
“He just has a love of the game,” Forest Hills coach Anthony Amero said. “His work ethic is an example for others to follow.”
Desjardins needed 44 points to reach 2,000 heading into the game Tuesday at Greenville. He scored 22 in the first quarter to help the Tigers take a 27-7 lead.
“I wasn’t counting down in my head, but our assistant coach Dana Plante was keeping tally and he let me know I was getting close,” Desjardins said.
Forest Hills senior Parker Desjardins hydrates during a break in the action of a Feb. 17 game in Madison. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel Buy this Photo
Desjardins finished the first half with 31 points. In the third, he added points as he often does, with layups off a steal. The history-making shot came with 35 seconds left in the third quarter. Desjardins missed a 3-pointer from the top of the key, and when the long rebound came to him a few feet to the right of the first shot, Desjardins set his feet and shot again. This shot was good, and the game was quickly paused for Amero to present Desjardins with the game ball.
Desjardins has a hoop and shooting machine set up in his garage home court, and his daily routine involves taking 500 shots and spending a half hour working on dribbling drills. There’s also a squat rack and barbell, where Desjardins and his younger brother Mason, a sophomore on the Forest Hills basketball team, can lift weights.
“We get a nice workout,” Desjardins said.
Desjardins was a top scoring threat for the Tigers from the start of his eighth grade season in the 2016-17 season. He missed most of his freshman season with a broken foot, but returned to help the Tigers go undefeated and win the Class D state title in 2019. The Tigers went undefeated and repeated as state champion in 2020, and Desjardins scored 31 points in the Tigers’ 69-53 win over Machias in the Class D state championship game last year. In that game, Desjardins passed Evan Worster for most career points in Forest Hills boys basketball history. Desjardins scored 16 consecutive points in the fourth quarter for the Tigers. He started the season with 1,564 points.
Forest Hills senior Parker Desjardins drives past Madison defender Cameron Cobb during a Feb. 17 game in Madison. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel Buy this Photo
When it was apparent this season would be cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it made Desjardins’ run to 2,000 harder. In a normal 18-game season, Desjardins would’ve needed to average just over 22 points per game to reach the milestone. With just 12 regular season games allowed by the Maine Principals’ Association this season, he needed to average just over 36 points per game. In 10 games so far, Desjardins has been held under 40 just once, when he scored 36 in an 88-85 win at Madison last week.
Desjardins knew he was getting close to 2,000. It was a goal that didn’t take up his attention, and one he said he didn’t think about much until it became tantalizingly close over the last few games.
“I knew at the start of the season I had a chance,” Desjardins said.
As natural a scorer as Desjardins is, Amero praised his contributions to the team’s defense and overall improvement. If the shot’s not there, Desjardins will pass the ball to the open man, Amero said, adding the senior guard is often working with teammates to improve their game.
“Parker’s not a kid who’s about Parker. It’s about everybody else,” Amero said.
Desjardins expects to continue his basketball career in college. He’s narrowed his choices to Thomas College, the University of Maine at Farmington, and Maine Maritime Academy. Desjardins said he expects to make his college decision soon.
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