CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Parkland College Athletics and the Parkland College men’s basketball program are proud to announce that three Cobras earned regional and conference recognition following the 2022-23 season. Freshman Brylan Phillips and Don Coats III were selected to the M-WAC All-Conference second team, and Sophomore Sean Ealy was named a member of the Region 24 All-Region Team. The Parkland men’s basketball team went 16-12 in the regular season, including 5-5 in conference play and 6-6 versus Region 24 opponents.
Sean Ealy, a sophomore from Cincinnati, Ohio, started 20 games this season, leading the Cobras in scoring, field goal percentage, free throw percentage, and steals in his third season at Parkland. Ealy averaged 10.6 points per game, shooting 48 percent from the field and 45.5 percent from beyond the arc (14th in the country). The sophomore guard’s 85.8 percent free throw percentage led Region 24 and ranked 8th in the nation, and his 91 made free throws ranked 5th in the region. The Clark Montessori High School alum tied a season-high 21 points at John Wood on February 18th, going 5-6 from three in the 65-62 win. Ealy, a business student at Parkland College, is the son of Carla Ealy and Sherwin Ealy.
“Sean has been a major part of this program’s foundation over multiple seasons,” Parkland College head coach John Bowler said of his All-Region guard. “While developing this year into an extremely efficient player offensively, it has allowed him to become one of the best two-way players at this level. This recognition is just another added piece to Sean’s winning resume, and I could not be happier for him.”
Brylan Phillips, a freshman from Decatur, Illinois, started 23 games this season, leading the Cobras in assists with 123 (47th in the country). Phillips averaged 9.5 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game (3rd in M-WAC, 53rd nationally). The Decatur MacArthur High School alum scored a career-high 25 points against Bosco Institute on February 11th, going 14-17 from the free throw line and adding five assists in the 79-73 win, and the freshmen guard hit the go-ahead three in the final seconds of Parkland’s 79-74 win over the defending national champions, South Suburban College, on February 4th. Phillips, a business administration student at Parkland College, is the son of Mike and Bridget Phillips.
“Brylan has the pedigree and natural abilities of an elite point guard,” Bowler boasted of his All-Conference guard, adding, “He has grown leaps and bounds in a short period of time due to his work ethic and determination, and this award just exemplifies how much he impacts winning.”
Don Coats III, a freshman from Chicago, Illinois, started 27 games this season, leading the Cobras in rebounding and blocks. Coats averaged 9.5 points, 7.9 rebounds (60th nationally), and 1.9 blocks (17th) per game this season. His 53 blocks (21st) led the M-WAC, while his 220 rebounds (61st) ranked 2nd in the conference. The Thorntown Township High School alum dropped a career-high 28 points versus conference-rival Illinois Central on March 1st, grabbing 16 rebounds and blocking two shots in the 84-68 Parkland win, and the freshman recorded a team-high 17 rebounds against Lake Land on November 19th, adding 12 points in his first career double-double. Coats III, a business student at Parkland College, is the son of Don Coats Jr. and Joy Donald.
“Don is a special talent who earns everything that comes his direction,” Bowler credited his All-Conference forward. “He is always ready to work and it shows in his well-rounded game. He deserves this honor due to the effort he puts in daily to our program,” Bowler finished.
