Parris Might Be Out of Picture at Northridge

You won’t see Jeff Parris in the Cal State Northridge basketball team picture this season. It remains to be seen whether Parris will wear a Matador uniform again.

Parris, a senior forward and three-year starter for Northridge, was a no-show Tuesday at media day after failing to comply with Coach Bobby Braswell’s team rule regarding grooming.

Braswell ordered several players to get haircuts in preparation for team photos. Parris was the only player who did not comply, he said, and he will not be allowed to return until he does.

“We have a grooming code that we ask our guys to live up to and Jeff has not lived up to it,” Braswell said. “Monday was his deadline to get it taken care of and until he decides to get it taken care of, he’s not with this team.”

Parris, the first player recruited by Braswell at Northridge, often wears a beard and tends to grow his hair longer than teammates. Braswell said he does not prohibit facial hair, but Parris has resisted meeting grooming standards in recent weeks.

Braswell said Parris is not suspended and he has not spoken to him since Monday. He said the Matadors, tabbed to finish first in their final season in the Big Sky Conference, are prepared to play the season without Parris, among the team’s best post players.

He averaged 11.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game last season and was selected Big Sky Conference honorable mention.

Parris could not be reached for comment.