Parker Fox used to be a point guard and played in just three games as a sophomore last season before tearing his hamstring. While the injury kept him out of the game he loved, the extended offseason gave him time to work on his game.

And grow, grow, grow. Fox has sprouted nearly a foot since he first walked through the doors at Mahtomedi High School.

"Yeah, I think I've grown like eight inches since high school started," Fox said. "Hopefully I keep growing because my dad's 6-foot-8."

Now a junior and standing at 6-foot-6, Fox is tasked with carrying a Zephyrs offense that lost four of its top scorers from last season's 19-10 team. He got off to a good start.

Mahtomedi defeated rival White Bear Lake 71-46 on Friday night thanks to 26 points from Fox, who utilized his former point guard skills to slash the Bears defense on drives and knock down three-pointers.

Fox was a third-grader when he was first coached by Keith Newman, and the Zephyrs current head coach had a hunch his longtime pupil might be the guy to take over the scoring reins for Mahtomedi.

"He's a unique player and he's worked really hard. I think in the offseason we kind of saw it coming. We saw he had a chance to be our scorer," Newman said.

It's a knowledge of how to play outside the lane that Newman said comes from Fox's background as a point guard.

"He understands the perimeter because he played a lot out there growing up ... and as he grew taller, obviously that (experience) helps," Newman said. 

Fox admits it's been a bit of a change having to move positions as he grows.

It's also meant he's had to hit the weights a bit harder to give him some "fight," Newman said. 

"I've just had to get in the gym and get in the weight room, which is the biggest thing for me right now just trying to get stronger because I have to battle with the big guys down low," Fox said. 

Perhaps the former point guard has forgotten that he is a big guy down low now.

Mahtomedi junior Parker Fox scored 26 points to lead the Zephyrs in a 71-46 drubbing of White Bear Lake in the nonconference season opener for both teams Friday night at Mahtomedi High School.

Junior Andy Voyen notched 14 points for the Zephyrs (1-0), ranked No. 6 in Class 3A by Minnesota Basketball News.

The Bears (0-1) were led by freshman Sam Schwartz, who scored 10 points off the bench.

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