Jarred Adams may not stand as tall as the others competing in the Tucson Summer Pro League tournament this weekend at The Gregory School, but the talented 5-foot-8 point guard towers above the rest when trying to advance the sport of basketball locally.
Adams, the reigning MVP of the TSPL, is serving his third year in the Air Force at Davis-Monthan. Although in the military, that has not stopped Adams from continuing his athletic aspirations dating to when he excelled in hoops, football and track and field at East Ascension High School in Gonzales, La., when he was a senior in 2014.
“I am putting together a basketball team for the base,” said Adams, who scored 13 points to lead Asarco over Truly Nolen in the opening game the tournament Friday night. “It’s a varsity basketball league. We play against different bases in the military. It’s another avenue to try to get to overseas (to play professionally). You have a chance to go overseas every day in the military.”
Asarco’s Jarred Adams, who also plays for the Davis-Monthan basketball team, looks to make a pass (Javier Morales/AllSportsTucson.com)
The Davis-Monthan team competes against other bases in the Pac-West which features other bases on the West Coast, including Luke Air Force Base in Glendale and Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas.
Adams is one of six players from Davis-Monthan’s team competing in the TSPL tournament this weekend. The others:
Jonathan Eppright (Ace Hardware)
Yamile Lopez (Crest)
Devin Roseboro (Truly Nolen)
Brandon Williams (Window Depot)
Malik Williams (Ace Hardware)
Fabian Gilmore (Window Depot)
TSPL creator Corey Williams, who has directed this meaningful operation at The Gregory School since 2004, purposely separated members of the Davis-Monthan team as a way to prepare them for later on in their careers if they are fortunate enough to play overseas.
“They construct teams all at random,” Adams said. “They try to set up the best basketball experience. If you go overseas, you are not going to play with the people you know from where you are from.
“They’re going to put you on a team and you have to learn to cope with who ever your playing with.”
Jarred Adams is the reigning MVP of the Tucson Summer Pro League.
Before stationed in Tucson, Adams tried to walk-on with the LSU basketball team in the 2014-15 season. He played on the practice squad his freshman year.
He saw an opportunity with guard Anthony Hickey transferring to Oklahoma State before that season.
“They also got rid of a couple of guards as well as Hickey,” Adams said. “They did not have a point guard when I got there. But then they got Josh Gray, who was the No. 1 JUCO player at the time. He is now playing in the G-League.
“It didn’t work out. I joined the military after and here I am, active duty at Davis-Monthan. I’m happy. I have my wife and son with me. Everything will work out for the best.”
Another Saturday of the TSPL! 6 — count em — 6 games will be played today! First three are at 9, 10 and 11 a.m. and then the evening session will be at 5, 6 and 7 p.m. Come out and watch the best summer pro am in Tucson! pic.twitter.com/lAomxzNrTl
— Summer Pro League (@summerpro) June 23, 2018
Although he has endeared himself with the game of basketball in Tucson, Adams is undecided if his future will be here beyond his military (and hopefully pro basketball) career.
“Everything is different, the heat and I don’t see a lot of rain out here. Back home, I get a lot of rain,” said Adams, who also would like to see his son play football in the South while growing and maturing.
The TSPL tournament runs to tomorrow with the championship game at 7 p.m. Here is the schedule (after the schedule are interviews Corey Williams had with game MVPs on Friday night):
FOLLOW @JAVIERJMORALES ON TWITTER!
ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He is a former Arizona Daily Star beat reporter for the Arizona basketball team, including when the Wildcats won the 1996-97 NCAA title. He has also written articles for CollegeAD.com, Bleacher Report, Lindy’s Sports, TucsonCitizen.com, The Arizona Republic, Sporting News and Baseball America, among many other publications. He has also authored the book “The Highest Form of Living”, which is available at Amazon.
Recommended for you
