NDN Athlete of the Week winner from Feb. 10-15: Palmetto Ridge basketball player Evan Adams

Each week during the school year the Naples Daily News selects athletes that stood out the week before based on a combination of coach reports and school nominations sent to [email protected] and our coverage. Those athletes are put in a poll each Monday on naplesnews.com and you, our readers, vote on who you think did it best. The winners of the Naples Daily News Athlete of the Week poll sponsored by Elevate Home Services receive a T-shirt provided by BSN Sports and a tote bag provided by USA Today High School Sports Awards. To get to know our winners better, the Naples Daily News will have a question-and-answer session with each athlete weekly.

The Naples Daily News Athlete of the Week sponsored by Elevate Home Services for Feb. 10-15 was Palmetto Ridge boys basketball player Evan Adams. To be nominated, Adams scored 20 points, adding 4 rebounds and 2 assists in a 79-73 regional quarterfinal loss to top-seeded Wiregrass Ranch.

Question: How early did you get into basketball? What drew you to the sport?

Adams: I got into basketball when I was 5. The competitiveness of winning a game really brought me closer with the sport.

What’s been a highlight of your basketball career thus far?

Adams: The highlight of my basketball career has to be being a part of our 3-peat as district champions and being on the court for two out of the three.

Do you have any routines or rituals you do before a game?

Adams: Before every game I find myself cutting my fingernails or making sure they are very short or else that’ll be my excuse for a bad game.

Is there a basketball player from the U.S. or abroad you look up to or enjoy watching?

Adams: Growing up a Heat fan, Dwayne Wade is a player I looked up to and grew a lot of love for the game watching him in clutch moments down the stretch of games.

What sport would you play if you weren’t playing basketball and why?

Adams: I’d try to be a professional racer. I’m really good at go-karting and love the idea of strategies that go along with it.

Follow Sports Reporter Alex Martin on X: @NP_AlexMartin. For the best sports coverage in Southwest Florida, follow @newspresssports and @ndnprepzone on Instagram.