P’hariz Watkins joined the Oral Roberts University women’s basketball staff in the summer of 2025, bringing a versatile background in player development, recruiting, and operations across multiple levels of basketball—from grassroots to the national stage.
During the 2024–25 season at Northwestern State, Watkins played an integral role in helping the Lady Demons secure their first winning regular season in a decade and earn a berth in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT)—the program’s first appearance since 1999. He helped guide two standout performers to postseason honors: Mya Blake, Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year, and Vernell Atamah, Southland Conference Freshman of the Year.
Watkins served as a graduate assistant with the Lady Vols during the 2023–24 season and was part of the prestigious FellowVOLS program in 2022–23. He worked closely with 2024 WNBA No. 4 overall draft pick Rickea Jackson, supporting her development into a two-time All-SEC First Team selection. His role spanned player development, scouting, recruiting operations, and managing practice players.
Watkins also served as support staff at multiple high-level USA Basketball training camps, including the 2024 Olympic Men’s National Team, 2024 U17 Men’s National Team, and Junior National Team minicamps in April 2024 and October 2023. He also acted as the Event Operations Manager for the 2022 USA Basketball U.S. Open Championships.
In the summer of 2023, Watkins served as an assistant coach for Team Red Scare in the The Basketball Tournament (TBT), helping guide the squad to a Final Four appearance in the nationally televised tournament.
Watkins was one of just 45 assistant coaches selected for the 2025 NCAA Basketball Coaches Academy. His NCAA résumé also includes serving as Basketball Operations Manager at the 2023 College Basketball Academy and being one of 40 student-athletes chosen nationwide for the 2021 NCAA Division III Student Immersion Program.
In 2022, Watkins served as an assistant and interim head coach for the boys 17U Team Wildcat Select (formerly Dayton Elite) on the Adidas 3SSB circuit. In that role, he helped develop high-level prep talent and competed against some of the nation’s best on the elite AAU stage.
Watkins played four collegiate seasons, including three as a letterwinner at Heidelberg University and one at Adrian College. He appeared in 86 games and totaled 573 points, 220 rebounds, and 129 assists.
He earned dual bachelor’s degrees in Communications & Media Technology and Sports Management from Heidelberg University and a master’s degree in Sports Management from Adrian College.
A Dayton, Ohio native, Watkins is the son of Nicole Parker and Dion Watkins and has one sister, Londyn Parker"
