Parm Bains just completed a historic season for the University of Fraser Valley (UFV) Cascades basketball team.
Parm Bains just completed a historic season for the University of Fraser Valley (UFV) Cascades basketball team. Bains posted a team high 19.4 points-per-game, good for 4th in the Canada West. He also led the team in assists-per-game with 4.5, at 5th best in the conference. His long range shooting was his most prominent stat as he not only led his team, but the entire Canada West with 82 three-pointers made at a rate of 3.9 per game. His season put him at #1 in UFV history for three-pointers made and 3rd all-time in Canada West. Bains also holds the highest career threes-per-game average in Canada West history. His all-around play earned him a spot as a Canada West First-Team All-Star.
Bains grew up playing whatever his older brother Paul did. When his brother made the switch from soccer to basketball while Bains was in the third grade, their family got a hoop for the home. From that point on, Bains chose basketball as
his sport.
He looks back to when he “was in grade 10 when I realized my basketball career could take me beyond high school and I set my sights on playing at the university level.”He stayed committed to his goals of always reaching the next level. Once he graduated from high school, he was a walk-on for the Douglas College team. Then he went to Capilano University before hitting his goal of playing U Sports basketball with UFV for the past two seasons to close his collegiate career. This long, complex journey had Bains proving himself to make each new team. He explains how he “just needed someone to believe in me to give me the opportunities to succeed, and once I got my shots I was able to prove that I belonged.”
In his first year at UFV, Bains made the roster as a redshirt practice player. He just needed a shot to prove that he could make it. That moment came in 2017 as a player had quit the team which opened a spot up for Bains. Once injuries took over the team, he made the most of his first real opportunity to play big minutes and put up 33 points on 10-16 shooting with 7 three-pointers in his first full game. Looking back, Bains reflects how “that game is definitely my favourite memory playing basketball. After all the climbing I had the chance to really prove my worth at the highest level in the country and I just went out there and put it all out on the floor.” Bains has always worked hard to get better, but once he was able to prove to his coaches that he could be trusted, his career has skyrocketed. He really appreciates what his coach at UFV, Adam Friesen, was able to do for his confidence. Bains was never an erratic player, but he shares how “once the coaches placed their trust in me, I was given more rope to make plays. I made the most of this opportunity and the results have definitely been outstanding.” He also credits his trainer Harp Grewal of 3Seed Training, who has been instrumental in the progress he has made over the past several years.
Throughout his career, Bains’ main trait was quickness and speed to get through the defense. His three-point prowess was not developed until he got to UFV. He wanted to become a better shooter as he recognized the faults in his own mechanics. He “studied players like Stephen Curry thoroughly as his ability to fluidly get his great shots off in any situation was incredible. I wanted to emulate this and developed my shot accordingly.” As evidenced by his historical accolades, this work paid off tremendously.
Bains’s next steps are to take his basketball career as long as he can at a professional level. As for his life outside of basketball, he plans to finish his business degree and then see what happens after basketball and go from there. Needless to say, Parm Bains will surely succeed on the court and off the court in the future as he has shown his dedication and commitment to constant improvement and achieving all of his goals.
Photos: Dan Kinvig - UFV Athletics