There’s no doubting that the NBA has become a worldwide affair. Starting with players like Detlef Schrempf and Drazen Petrovic to the International stars of today like Dirk Nowitzki and Tony Parker, NBA scouts have scoured the globe in search of that next NBA superstar from abroad.
Just last season, four players of the international variety(Valanciunas, Kanter, Vesely, and Biyombo) were selected in the Lottery portion of the 2011 NBA Draft. With the continual infusion of European and worldwide players now playing major roles for their respective NBA teams, it also makes a lot of sense for collegiate coaches to search outside of the United States for the NCAA’s next great foreign big man. Remember Dikembe Motumbo?
The University of Pittsburgh’s coaching staff, led by head man Jaime Dixon, may have potentially the college ranks next great international big man that instantly projects as a one-and-done player once he arrives on campus in 2012 in New Zealand native Steven Adams.
Adams has become an overnight sensation after starring at the Adidas Nations Camp this past Summer. He regularly dominated American competition as he notched a 20 point, 24 rebound effort against prized Arizona commit Kaleb Tarczewski(Class of 2012) and 37 points and 14 rebounds against 2013 elite level big man Chris Walker.
He is already a legitimate 6’11 to 7’0 and weighs a solid 230lbs and has shown off a unique skill set that includes immense physical tools consisting of long arms, huge, suction-cup hands, and a non-stop motor. He makes the game look incredibly easy, from making pinpoint outlet passes, to blocking shots, in addition to crashing the boards with reckless abandon. He has a huge vertical jump and can step out and shoot a three-pointer and has even brought the ball up the floor on occasion.
One coach at the event marveled at the sheer size of Adams hands. He told fellow coaches and players that he once had the pleasure of meeting and shaking the hands of future NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal. He went on to add that Adams’ mitts put Shaq’s rather immense money makers to shame. Wow.
The remarkable story with Adams is that he comes from a huge, yet athletic family. He is one of 18 children with all of the boys reportedly growing to at least 6‘10 and the girls all 6‘5 and better. His sister, Valerie Vili, is an Olympic shot put gold medal winner and she is every bit of 6‘6 tall.
Adams has widely gone under the radar of NBA scouts to date, mainly because of the Lockout and rules in play to limit contact with younger players. Since no pro scouts were on hand to witness Adams’ domination of the competition at the adidas Camp, Pitt’s coach Dixon was able to get in early with his old pro contacts in New Zealand (Dixon once played professionally in NZ). Many predicted that Adams would have been a Lottery pick in the 2012 Draft since he will technically be eligible as a 19 year old, but he has chosen to enroll at Notre Dame Prep in Massachusetts for the ‘11-’12 season.
Check out Steven Adams at the 2011 Adidas Nations Camp:
Allen Moll has been a lifelong NBA and NCAA College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously, and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen has also provided content to Bleacherreport.com, Upperdeckblog.com, Cleveland.com, CSN Philly.com, Buckets Magazine, in addition to being a tenured NBA and NCAA columnist for TheHoopDoctors.com.
