Yellowjacket Hoops Sign University of Hawaii Transfer

BILLINGS, Mont. – Montana State Billings men’s basketball team received a committment from Lasha Parghalava, head coach George Pfeifer announced Wednesday.  With the addition of Parghalava, the Yellowjackets have inked four during the spring signing period and one last fall.

“I felt very confident in the coaches and really like the situation at MSUB,” Parghalava said.  “I had a friend of mine play for Coach Pfeifer and he really liked him and I am looking forward to finishing my education and I have a chance to play basketball.”

Parghalava, a native of Tbillsi, Georgia Republic, played his last season at Division I University of Hawaii where he saw action in 25 games and six starts at guard.  The 6-2, Parghalava was fourth on the team in scoring at 7.6 points per game.  He led the team in free throw percentage as he was 50 of 61 from the line and knocked down a team-high 31 3-pointers while averaging 22 minutes a game.

“This was a very important signing for our incoming class,” Pfeifer said.  “Lasha has played a lot of basketball already in his life at a high level.  He is a blue collar player and is 6’2 and 205 lbs., he can play either the point guard position or the scoring guard position is a real bonus.”

Prior to Hawaii, Parghalava attended Pensacola Junior College in Pensacola, Fla.  There, he led the team in three-pointers each of his two years, while averaging 11.1 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game as a sophomore and he knocked down 50 treys in 2007-08.  During his freshman campaign, Parghlava was an all-conference selection and averaged 13.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists, while leading the team in three-pointers (60) and free throw percentage at an 81 percent clip.

Parghalava prepped at Florida Air Academy in Melbourne, Fla., for two years.  He earned varsity letters each year and helped lead the team to the 3A state championship as a junior and a runner-up state finish as a senior.  He averaged 17 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists and was named Most Improved Player his senior year.

“He has demonstrated his ability to score in both the WAC and the junior college league in Florida,” Pfeifer added.  “We have talked to numerous coaches who played against him last year and they were impressed we got his commitment.  Unless you understand the European leagues, it is difficult to appreciate the fact he was the starting point guard in the European National Under-20 team and was successful in that environment.  Our program got better today.”

He also has played on the Georgia under-20 National Team, as well as the Georgia Junior National Team. 

Parghalava becomes the third Division I transfer that Pfeifer has signed since his arrival last July.  Mike Hall (Idaho) and Travis Bunker (Wyoming) both were honorable mention all-conference selections this year.  Parghalava will have one year of eligibility with the Yellowjackets, both Hall and Bunker did.