If Darius Adams has proved anything the past four years, he’s more than ready to overcome a far from ideal situation this summer.
After being one of the best players in Division II this year, the MacArthur and soon-to-be University of Indianapolis graduate is prepping for a new stage in his life — professional basketball. But with a looming lockout for the NBA, most potential professional basketball players are in for a grueling and unpredictable couple months.
Unlike most high-profile guys, Adams has been through the struggles. He went from being a bench player for the Generals to a two-year college before becoming the nation’s seventh-best scorer in D II. Now, he’s going to have to shake the D-II label and prove he’s worthy of a workout for NBA teams that are going to be limited given the likely work stoppage.
“There are a lot of people who start at the bottom and come up,” Adams said. “The main thing is proving yourself. I know if I just keep going hard and putting in the work that’s where I want to be.”
In normal years, teams bring in a host of potential draftees before the draft then evaluate undrafted free agents during mini camps and the summer league. With none of that set to happen, Adams is going to have to make a quick impression in the few opportunities he might get.
“The timing is terrible,” Eric Fleisher, Adams’ agent, said about the lockout affecting Adams’ options.
With the draft still almost two months away, Adams’ first chance to start turning heads will be in the middle of May once he’s finished up with classes in Indianapolis. Then, Adams will hopefully hit up a couple workouts across the country.
His 23.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists a game, along with being named a second-team Daktronics All-American, are evident the basketball side comes easy.
The lifestyle side isn’t as simple. As a kid growing up in Decatur, Adams watched his mother, Michelle, work two jobs just to get by, so he hasn’t traveled much. He’s flown just three times in his life, including his first solo trip, which came in late March when he played in the Reese’s NCAA Division II College Basketball All-Star Game in Springfield, Mass.
“I’m about to start a new part of my life,” Adams said. “Being from Decatur, you can only dream of stuff like this. I’m just taking it all in. I’m blessed to be in a position like this.”
While Adams couldn’t get Indianapolis coach Stan Gouard to fly with him to Massachusetts, Gouard has been with him every other step of the way. Gouard isn’t too far removed from the hectic scene of trying to make to professional basketball one’s career. After starring at Southern Indiana in the mid-90s, Gouard transitioned to a life playing ball in Europe. But the inconsistency of work, turned Gouard away from it and into coaching.
“I’ll be stupid to say that was one of my goals,” Gouard said about playing in the NBA. “That was another conversation we had. You can spend your time trying to make it in the NBADL or you can go to Europe and make a couple $100,000 a year.
“It hit home with him.”
Like many, Adams’ ultimate goal is reaching the NBA and he won’t stop until he gets there. If Europe is his first stop, so be it. He will take the opportunity and turn it into valuable experience to make The League.
In the mean time, he wants to provide financial relief for his mom and daughter.
“My mom has been working for so long, I’m getting tired of seeing her work two jobs,” Adams said. “And I don’t want my daughter to worry about anything. I want her to be able to go on and do whatever she wants to do in life.”
Even with incredible competition to find a place to make some money, whether it’s here or in Europe, Fleischer is confident his client will get it done.
“Do I think he will have an opportunity? I believe so,” Fleisher said.
And if the past says anything about Adams, one chance is all he needs to spark his professional basketball career.
lbridges@herald-review.com|421-6970
Published in the Herald & Review in April 2011.
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