Little Giant

Photo Courtesy of Texas Tech Athletics

Overcoming obstacles is nothing new for senior guard Luke Adams.

Adams relished his final Media Day as Texas Tech University prepares for the start of basketball season. He graduated in three years with a degree in Exercise Sports Science. However, he knows after this season his real-life’s work will begin. He wants to become a basketball coach and help young people believe in themselves and achieve their goals. Adams wants people to know that adversity is a part of the process in winning.

In reality, Adams should not be on scholarship for Texas Tech University men’s basketball team. Even in ideal conditions, it is tough to play competitive basketball at the Division I level.

Adams has had to overcome being 5-feet-9 inches tall, let alone coming from a small 3A high school in Big Spring, Texas. But the biggest obstacle Adams has had to overcome is being deaf. When he was 2 years old, his parents noticed he was not responding normally, so they took him to an audiologist. After tests were run, the audiologist told his parents that he would never be able to read or write above a second-grade level. Furthermore, the audiologist suggested his parents take him to a school in Austin where the school had the resources to care for hm.

Adams parents rejected that advice and tried to enroll him in at a regular school, but the school was ill-equipped to handle his disability. Undeterred, his parents enrolled him in private school. His mother, a teacher, would get his lessons a week in advance. His parents refused to give up on him and his chance at life. They told him he could be whatever he wanted to be in life.

“I believe God places people in our path to help shape our lives,” Adams said.

Picture Courtsey of Texas Tech Athletics

One day at school, some of his classmates were making fun of his hearing aids. A kind teacher took him aside and told him, “Luke don’t ever cry for yourself, and if you do cry, cry for others.”

During his treatments, a worker told his parents that he was one in a million. He could read lips with his eyes, and he could hear with his eyes. About this time, he received cochlear implants, modern technology that uses electronic impulses to stimulate his brain and turns what he is hearing into sound.

While in school while walking down the hallway, he read a motivational poster that said dreams without action stay dreams. From that point on, Adams begin to formulate a plan to become the best basketball player he could become and to play at Texas Tech University. His dad always instilled in him his battle was not against others, but against time.

Adams in his junior year played with a broken foot and led his team to its first district championship in 30 years. He was selected district offensive player of the year. In his senior year, he made all-state.

Former Tech head coach Billy Gillispie offered Adams a preferred walk on (no scholarship, but on the team). An assistant coach told Adams he was never going to play in a game, and he’d only be a practice player. Adams worked hard enough to become a starter and scored 15 points against Kansas State University. After playing for three coaches in four years, new Tech head coach Tubby Smith liked the way Adams played and put him on scholarship.

“Luke is a young man who has had to overcome a lot with his hearing loss. He is a kid who comes with heart and soul every day,” Smith said.

Entering his senior year, Adams is excited to be part of the rebuilding process Smith has started.

Adams and his teammates have been picked to finish tenth in the Big 12 coaches poll.

Tech lost seven seniors and 60 percent of their offense last season. To get ready for this season, Adams was the starting guard for the USA Deaf National Team. He has worked on his physical conditioning in an attempt to get quicker and faster. Being one of three seniors, he looks to help Tech improve on its 14-18 record last season.

“This season I’m trying to be a better leader, and talk more. I hurt my shoulder last year and it hurt my shot. I have worked on my jumper, and I’m excited about shooting this season,” Adams said.

Adams knows but for his parents and the kindness of others placed in his life by God, his life might have turned out differently. He also knows that due to his diligence and work ethic, he is going to finish his career as a Red Raider the way he dreamed.

Photo Courtesy of Texas Tech Athletics

“I would give anyone the advice that if you have a dream, don’t let anyone tell you no,” Adams said.

“There are always going to be people who tell you negative things: you’re not from the right high school, and you’re too small. However, you can’t listen to those things. You have to believe in yourself, and control the things that you can control: your attitude, work ethic, playing hard. You have to have goals — it is not going to be a big picture right away. It is the little steps along the way that lead you to accomplish your goal. I want to tell deaf children, they can achieve big dreams. Dreams do come true.”

Luke Adams begins his senior year against Southeastern Oklahoma State University at United Supermarkets Arena on Nov. 3 at 7 p.m.