In control of her own Destiny: Former Shore basketball star thriving in switch to Rutgers
PISCATAWAY — Destiny Adams feels right at home playing for the Rutgers University girls basketball team.
Since transferring from the University of North Carolina before the season, Destiny has averaged 14.4 points through 21 games for the Scarlet Knights - second-best on the team. Aside from what's happening on the court, the Manchester Township native is happy with her situation off the court, being closer to family in her move back to the tri-state area.
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“It really is different coming back and I really appreciate it,” Adams said. "I’m really close with my family, they’re all my best friends, so being able to go home on an off day and spend time on the couch with my parents and have a home-cooked cooked meal - I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Having a support system at every game is really key for me and I’m just happy to be back.”
Family matters
When members of her family aren't in Indiana supporting Destiny's brother Darius, their rarely too far from a Rutgers home game.
Darius transferred from Manasquan to La Lumiere High School in Indiana and is playing some of the best competition in the country. The junior has gotten offers from the likes of Providence, St. John’s and Syracuse.
“I’m so proud of him he’s worked so hard his whole life for what he’s doing right now and I couldn’t be a prouder sister,” Destiny said. “We would play each other a lot but I would beat him because I was a lot taller than him for a while.”
Her father Dennis, who's principal at Manchester High School, and her mom Lisa are often at her games. Accompanying them are her two sisters, Daja and Dakota.
Before college, Destiny was a star at Manchester - she tallied 2,010 points, 1,176 rebounds, 262 blocks, 258 assists and 232 steals in four high school seasons as she led the Hawks to their first-ever Shore Conference and state titles. As a senior, Adams averaged 30.1 points and 18.7 rebounds.
The season she's enjoying at Rutgers is not quite the same dominance as her high school days, but the stats are rising.
"I think it's been a great experience for her because of the coaching staff at Rutgers," Dennis Adams said. "It's great that she's close to home and we get to see her at home games, but it's nice to see her get back into the player she was before she went to college. She's a lot more comfortable, loves her teammates, loves the Rutgers experience and I just love being part of it."
On the rebound
This season, she’s had four games where she scored over 20 points so far, which may feel like a relief compared to her two seasons as a Tar Heel, where she she averaged three points as a freshman and 4.1 points her sophomore year as a Tar Heel.
The ups and downs have smoothed out. She scored a season-high 33 points against Penn State earlier this month. The 6-15 Rutgers team has yet to win a conference game in the Big Ten but, individually, Adams has found her footing.
“I would say the biggest difference would be my confidence,” said Adams on the biggest change since going from the ACC to Big Ten. “My confidence has elevated a lot since I made the transfer and I knew that was going to be a big part of my game. And having a coach that really believes in me and pushes me to be the best I can be is what I needed.”
“We’re doing a better job at playing to her strengths,” said assistant coach John Hampton on Adams. “Destiny is a strong, physical, and athletic player. Who can just be a force inside. She’s hard to guard.”
The Scarlet Knights will go up against Wisconsin Saturday on the road, tip-off is at 3 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Destiny Adams stars for Rutgers women's basketball after transfer
