The top unsigned prospect from Arizona’s loaded 2014 class was Westview High School’s 6-foot-9 prep post prospect Andre Adams. Considered as the top available unsigned post prospect in the country by some national scouting services and media outlets across the country, Adams made his decision to attend an elite-level prep school in Florida – electing to attend a post-graduate year at IMG Academy in Florida this past season. After spending a year at IMG Prep Academy, Adams has worked diligently enough to receive a passing test score at the program, and is now an academic qualifier, per NCAA standards - making him the top unsigned post prospect now in the country.
Adams attended IMG Academy this school year, while living completely across the country and being away from home for the first time in his life.
While Adams was off to an excellent year and was in the process of realizing a major boost in his college recruitment, Adams suffered a knee injury during a dunk on a fast break - a torn ACL. As a result, Adams missed the remainder of this season and is currently in rehabilitation for the injury. Adams will be in great shape though medically, as IMG has some of the best physical therapists and trainers in the country for athletic injuries.
While Adams was recovering from the injury this season, he refocused his energy on his academics and was able to make up some important classwork and concentrate a great deal on his SAT/ACT test score, still needing a passing test score to become an NCAA academic qualifier. After three tough years of working hard to improve his academic performance, while working tirelessly to overcome a bad start to his high school career academically, Adams improved his overall GPA enough to put him in contention to become an academic qualifier.
All Adams would need would be a passing test score on his SAT or ACT college entrance examination. This week, after receiving several scores that were not good enough, Adams and his family received a passing test score - an amazing accomplishment for his young man.
"It is some wonderful," said Shannon Johnson, Andre's mother. "He worked so hard for this and I am so proud of him and all hat he has accomplished. It was really tough for him (Andre) at times, but he never gave up."
Now with a passing test score, Adams becomes a high-major target for many college programs across the country. Currently, Adams has received scholarship offers now from such college programs as Arizona State, Texas, Marquette, Memphis USC, UNLV, San Diego State and Grand Canyon – each school hoping to land the talented prospect this summer.
According to Adams' former club coach, Kenny Mullins of the Arizona Magic Elite, Adams is now an academic qualifier, and should have a long list of suitors looking to land the talented post prospect.
Adams has developed a great deal as of late physically. Regardless of the severity of the injury, Adams will look to recover physically and return to action as soon as possible. Schools recruiting him will have to decide whether or not to red-shirt Adams next fall, while he continues to recover. This should have an impact on which schools Adams considers, and also which schools consider Adams. Either way, I am very proud of this young man, as he has overcome some serious obstacles to get where he is today. Well done Andre.
I will continue to keep you posted as Adams' recruitment continues to develop, and bring you any updates as they present themselves.
