The 'Canadian Icon,' Cearah Parchment, has turned into a pivotal part of the Illinois basketball program's success so far this season.
The four-star forward out of Whitby, Ontario, has quickly become a player to fear on the Illini. She has become the perfect running mate for sophomore forward Berry Wallace in the frontcourt, ranking second on the team in scoring with 13.6 points per game.
Parchment's elite ability to score at all three levels, and her nose for the ball whenever she's on defense, have given her plenty of notoriety in the national media. She has become a big name to watch as we make our way into March, especially after she secured her fourth Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor this past Monday.
For the fourth time this season, Cearah Parchment is the Big Ten Freshman of the Week!
— Illinois Women's Basketball (@IlliniWBB) February 23, 2026
🔶 19.5 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 3.5 APG, 3.5 SPG, and 0.5 BPG
🔷 Shot 16-for-25 (64.0%) FG, 6-for-8 (75.0%) 3FG, and 1-1 (100%) FT
🔶 0 turnovers
🔷 Four straight double-doubles pic.twitter.com/YmIt2iPmMr
Parchment put on an absolute clinic in this past week of games, averaging 19.5 points and 10 rebounds against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Northwestern Wildcats. These two games gave Parchment her 10th and 11th double-doubles of the year, which put her in a tie for first in the Big Ten.
Coach Shauna Green's elite freshman didn't stop there, as she also led her team on the defensive side of the court. The quick 6-foot-3 forward's skills as a shutdown defender were on full display, as she tallied seven steals across both contests.
What's next for this Illinois basketball freshman phenom as we inch closer to the NCAA tournament
Parchment, the No. 12 overall power forward out of high school via 247sports, has been playing on another level these past two weeks. She recorded a stat line that some of the best in the business would kill for, posting four straight double-doubles for the first time in her collegiate career.
It was a stretch for the ages that made Parchment the only logical recipient for this award, and there's no other way to put it. When you can shoot 64% from the field and 75% from three-point range, while averaging a double-double, you're normally a shoo-in for something special.
As a fan, this is exactly what we want to see from Illinois' young stars as we make our way into March. We need them to get into these other-worldly grooves, to the point where their confidence is just oozing out of them.
Parchment is going to be a major part of Illinois' success down the stretch, especially if they end up with the No. 8 or No. 9 seed that many analysts are projecting them to get. If she can play anywhere close to where she has been, then she's bound to make any matchup versus a No. 1 seed very interesting.