Kiaci Parker has had the dream of playing college basketball ever since she was 10 years old.

Last week, the Delta Charter School senior got one step closer to realizing her dream.

Parker signed with Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Ark.

“I’ve been working for this since I was little,” Parker said. “All summer and all offseason, just working hard getting ready for it.”

Philander Smith College is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, competing in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference.

Parker said she chose the Philander Smith over interest from Alcorn State and Grambling.

Last season, the Panthers posted 13-16 overall record with a 4-8 conference mark.

“It’s a small school and I’ll be able to talk (one-on-one) with the professors,” she said. “I didn’t know if I was going to be able to (sign college scholarship papers); I didn’t think I was good enough, but I guess I am.”

This past year, Parker helped lead Delta Charter to a 15-17 mark, including a 10-4 record in LHSAA Class 2-1A.

“She was a big key to our success,” DCS coach Ronald Ellis said. “She helped turn us around and made a big dent in our program.”

Delta Charter struggled out of the gates, losing nine of 12 games from Dec. 6 through Jan. 7. The Storm, however, finished in a flurry, winning seven of its final 10 games.

“During the season, we weren’t well, and then we told (Ellis) we were going to do better in district play, and we did,” Parker said.

The lead guard averaged 12 points and five rebounds to go along with two steals and two assists per game last year for DCS.

“This is very important because she wants to play basketball at the next level,” Ellis said. “We are competing at a good level, and it shows you can get there playing at this level.”

Perhaps Parker’s biggest influential game for the Storm came in the opening round of the playoffs when Delta Charter beat Kentwood 63-44 to earn the program’s first playoff victory. In that game, Parker scored 25 points to go along with 11 rebounds and 11 assists.

“That was an awesome game,” she said.