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Women's Basketball MSU Athletic Communications

Q&A With Former MSU Great Corin "Tiny" Adams

Corin "Tiny" Adams (2006-10) recently completed her seventh season playing professional basketball in Romania and Greece, where she earned Defensive Player of the Year with Iasi Poltechnica and her team, Panathinaikos, finished with the bronze.

During her senior season at Morgan State, Adams averaged 19.4 points and 4.1 rebounds per game and was named Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Player of the Year. She would conclude her career as the school's all-time scoring leader with 2,058 points.
 
Tiny talks about what it was like playing overseas, McDonald's, how Morgan State prepared her for professional basketball and what she envisions doing once her basketball career is over.

Q. How did you get into playing basketball?
The first time I picked up a basketball I was seven (7) in my grandmother's backyard. My cousins and everybody were playing and I "wanted to be down" so I picked it up and shot under-handed and from then I've been rolling…that was like 21 years ago.

Q. You lettered in basketball at James Madison High where you averaged 21 points, five rebounds, and four assists for the Golden Knights as a senior. (Tiny was acknowledged by her school by having her jersey retired as a senior)
I really didn't know much about getting to where you needed to be as far as picking the right high school and playing AAU or anything like that. I literally picked my high school randomly. I flipped through the book - circled one - and did that like five times-- and then me and my mother said we'd picked the best one academically out of those choices. I ended up at Madison, and a friend of mine I saw playing in the summer time – she was like 'oh I didn't know you were coming here.' The coach was actually my chemistry teacher [Bill Dumont] and he was the one who gave me the nickname "Tiny".
 
The tryouts they had were for J.V. and Varsity. So I went to tryouts and my friend said she spoke to him [Coach Dumont] about me.  I was probably 4-foot-10 or 4-foot-11 at the time—I was small. So he literally threw me on the side for a majority of the tryouts. It wasn't until the last bit of the scrimmages that he finally threw me in – and I was so mad and ready to go home because he had me sitting on the sideline for almost the entire tryout. Then he put me in and I went crazy! He stopped the tryout right afterward and had me join everybody that he already had on the team. He was looking at me shaking his head saying 'How did you do all that?" And looking over to his assistant coach saying, "She's just so tiny, I don't get it. I don't know who else we're going to pick, but Tiny is on the team." I was like who's Tiny? He was like "Tiny is your new name." That's how I got the name Tiny. 

Q. How'd you get to Morgan State?
Playing around the city it was like my team would always end up in the championship going against teams like Exodus or The Gazelles who had players like Tina Charles (NY Liberty) or Epiphany Prince (NY Liberty), Rosalyn Gold-Onwude (Golden State Warriors Commentator), Kia Vaughn (NY Liberty) and Melanie Murphy (Stanford).  So, after my junior year somebody reached out to me to play AAU, but I didn't know any better because they were asking for all this money. So, me and my mother decide against doing it and eventually my team, the summer before my senior year, went to one adidas trip. We fundraised and we were sporting these cheap uniforms and we piled up and went down in my coach's Expedition truck and I caught the eye of Syracuse - this is when Coach "Q" was the assistant coach. Our team was all between 5-foot-6 and 5-10 (laughs) but we were scrappy though. We didn't have any plays or anything, we just hooped. So we were shocking these ranked teams and we went like 4-2 and then after that, like the next day or two, I got a call from Coach Q telling me that they were interested in me, so I verbally committed. So since then I was getting postcards everyday and talking to him frequently until and then maybe about November or December of my senior year it just stopped. So I was like ok, something isn't right. Eventually I got a call for him saying that unfortunately they would not be able to go through with it – I think they ended up getting an All-American to sign with them –and they had only seen me play that one time at the tournament. So it was like they were either going to go with Tiny, or go with this proven kid. From there I think he felt bad, and he was cool with Coach [Donchez] Graham so he told me that he had talked to Graham who was at Morgan State and that he had seen me and liked me and that I should go down there, because he was sure they'd offer me.
 
Sometime in the spring, my coach took me and like five girls down to Morgan to play in open gym. So we were playing against the 2005-06 team and we were killing them! So Bease [Donald Beasley] went crazy and was like "Sign them all!" I had family in Bowie and Graham sold me on the fact that Morgan was just building the Student Center and the fact that they were trying to build a new culture for the program. My thoughts were that I was going to play, clearly, because I just killed everybody that was their star players in open gym. So I was like, alright I'm here! I'm trying to play! I was watching "Love & Basketball" everyday, I was like I'm not trying to sit on the bench, I'm trying to play! So I came here.

Q. Pro players tend to work on their skills during the offseason. Working on areas that they need to improve upon. What have you been working on most in the offseason?
The off-season is basically the summer months. Usually when I come back from overseas I go through the graduation rounds here. But most times in the summer it's real specific. Last summer I was working on my range and step-backs to create separation. The summer before that, it was taking contact…because I don't really like the weight-room like that, but it was a season where it was real physical and I felt my body wearing down so I was like I needed to be able to take contact going into the next season. I just try to stay sharp on everything. A little bit of everything, but sometimes twice or three times a week I'm really keying in on certain aspects. 

Q. Talk about your journey to playing professional basketball?
That was probably one of the worst, heartbreaking things I went through as far as basketball. Because up until that point, everything was smooth. Granted everything worked out, even though I didn't know what I was doing from high school to Morgan [State] I still had no worries about basketball. I didn't have to worry about where I was going to work out, or where I was going to play next year. In the transition to the pro world, there's a lot of stuff that you just don't know about. That's the reason why I wrote my book "Tiny Setbacks, Major Comebacks!" and why I write these blog posts, because there's nobody educating the graduating seniors on what this pro world can do to you.  I kind of learned everything from mistakes.

Coming out of Morgan I was projected to be a draft [WNBA] pick and I ended up signing with an agent who wasn't even certified. My mother interviewed a bunch of agents while I was at Morgan preparing to graduate, because I had like 25 credits that last season and I had to do student teaching. I was really on the grind, so I let her pick this lady agent. Now don't get me wrong, she really did her job and showed me everything and she C.C.'d me when she was talking to the Los Angeles Sparks. She verbally got San Antonio Stars to say they were going to give me a training camp invite, but within 3-4 days of the draft they found out that she wasn't certified as an agent. And then she emailed me one late night saying "sorry I can't be your agent because I don't have the money to pay for my agent fees." So that ended our communication and messed me up.

From there I went to Puerto Rico for a summer league that ran from August until October. When I went to Puerto Rico it was an adjustment for me. At Morgan I could do just about whatever I wanted because it was a less-structured system, but in Puerto Rico it was more so "run this play -- don't deviate, because nobody is going to be able to adjust to you… and when you get a chance take a shot." So it was a BIG adjustment for me and Puerto Rico was known for sending people home. In fact, when I got there they got rid of the guard they had [Tawanna Cook – N.C. A&T] and replaced her with me. We didn't know they were going to get rid of her for me, we couldn't wait to play on the same team – we were going to have a crazy MEAC connection! But then the day before my flight, the team told me to please stop talking to her because "we're about to let her go for you" – That's when I was like ohhhhhhhhh. From that point forward my eyes were opened and I saw how cu-throat it could be. 
 
In the beginning, I wasn't really playing well and I thought they were going to be sending me home too. But I had a turning point. We played the No. 1 team and I had 31 points and 11 assists, so after that I got the system down and I became more of a general on the floor. Puerto Rico helped me learn from the professional aspect of how to play basketball. 

Q. Talk about the places you've played (10 countries?), you've practically been an ambassador for Morgan State overseas.
Puerto Rico was the first of 15 teams I've played in my career. The list of countries I've played in include: Portugal, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Sweden, Czechoslovakia, Chile, Switzerland, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia, Poland, Italy, Romania and Greece where I just left.

Q. What are some of the misconceptions about playing overseas? 
For one, that it's possible. Everything thinks it's their plan, like "oh I'm going overseas." For one, when you're over there at the end of the day they're not looking for role players. If you're only offering average numbers, why would they pay you for that? A lot of people don't get it. When you're over there they're going to either blame you for losses or praise you for the wins. Anything that happens to the team is on your back. So there's always a lot of pressure. Another misconception is that you're really, really  busy. If there's 24 hours in a day, I'm probably in the gym for 4 hours… for the other 20 hours I'm doing absolutely nothing, unless I chose to go out exploring. For the most part you're in your house watching all of the series and TV shows and trying to stay up late to watch the games. 

Q. European basketball is much different from the NBA – what's some of the stuff players can do in Europe that they can't in the NBA, or even American college ball?
There's a lot of pick-n-roll and a lot of handoffs. Every team I've been on has had a "horns" set where basically you have two at the top and two players in the corners. I think it's always more physical because the refs really don't give you any calls because of you being an import, and two—there's just a lot of stronger girls out there. They may not be good, but they're physical—there are a lot of pick-n-rolls! If you're looking to going overseas, you definitely have to have a good pick-n-roll game.
 
Each country and each league has a different limit to the number of Americans on each team. When I was in Romania they had five Americans, when I went to Greece there were two. Some leagues have three or four average, and then they allow 2-3 other imports. 

Q. Has playing overseas changed your style of play, or is it more your style?
Honestly, I play the same. I have these go-to moves, but I've also incorporated a lot of other things to my game. During my senior year at Morgan I had just got a pull-up game, because I really didn't have the fundamentals…I just played. Earlier in my career I was all about the highlights and everything, but now it's about getting it done and getting this "sub"—you know I've been playing 40 minutes since college, so now it's like let's get this done quick- no flashy plays- let's just get in and get out. But I do I have my go-to moves. My scoop- you know that's coming, and I'm going to do my "hesi-pullup". Every now and then I spice it up, but I don't think my game has changed. The only time I had to change my game was in Poland because the coach told me he didn't want to do crossovers. I was like, "Bro, I'm from New York…You brought me here, and you know where I'm from, and you want to say no crossovers?" [Laughs] That was the only time I had to change my game.

Q. As you progressed more and more in your basketball career, did u think it would be possible to accomplish having a pro career?
I still feel like I could've done more. I think about those games that I let slip away. Like even this last playoffs that we won Bronze—we had a chance to go to the finals. After I left Morgan, I really didn't see any limits. The only thing I was uncertain about was if I'd get a shot at the WNBA. That would be the only thing that was questionable in my head. The only thing I felt that stopped me was I've been in certain situations where I had to leave and that kind of messed me up as far as receiving the accolades. This year I left Romania in December—I was there from September to December – and then I went to Greece...but they still gave me Defensive Player of the Year. But usually when you leave after not playing at least 12 games or more, they can't consider you for those end of the year awards. After Morgan I felt that there was nothing I couldn't do. It was proven. In conference, out of conference…I just set those types of goals and I credit that to Coach Clarke. After my sophomore year, she told me that "you can do anything, let's just set some goals so that you can do what it is that you're trying to do." So I just carried it over to my professional career.

Q. Do you still have the itch to play in the WNBA?
The last few years I've been working closely with my agent. So I kind of know how the business works. So the reality of it is kind of slim. Bouncing around from team to team, not having the accolades to back me… it's like I have the film and I'm killing the WNBA players I've played against and the big school names I've played against, but the roster spots are just too few. There about 30 or more girls that get drafted and there's only about 10 of them that will actually make the roster. So you have them, and you have the vets, the girls coming from overseas, you got the sophomores… it's just less likely to get in. 

Q. Food?
There's a McDonald's everywhere. Everywhere! Sometimes they have curly fries, tater tots—you go somewhere and they may have a New York club sandwich-- that we don't even have in New York! But it's amazing! 

Q. There have been some horror stories about playing overseas – have you found yourself in any of these situations where you're having a hard time getting paid, or you dealt with racism or anti-Americanism?
I've been fortunate to be in minimal situations, like a weird look in the grocery store. But a lot of times I tell the people going over there that people are going to stare at you, because 9 times out of 10, you're the first African-American they've ever seen. So say Hi or wave and you'll see what the looks are about. If I'm in some store and I see someone staring I just say Hi or say it in their language and 9 times out of 10 they'll wave back and laugh or try to speak English if I don't speak their language.
 
I've heard some racist stories but as far as my horror stories I think I've been through it all. After I hurt my ankle in Portugal I was my own agent. At the end of the day when you don't have an agent, folks will try to take advantage of you. I had people tell me I could come try out, as long as I paid half of my flight…just sent half the bread and didn't hear from them ever again. The number one scam is that someone writes to you telling you that they have a deal for you this team is interested in you and here's a contract. You sign the contract and two weeks later they're telling you that you need to pay for your visa, and that they would reimburse you. You pay for the visa (around $200) and you never hear from them again. I never did the visa thing, because after I lost my money from the tryout scheme I was certainly not going to be sending money anymore.
 
When I was in Portugal the second year they kicked a teammate off my team and she ended up robbing me and the other American on the squad. Being that she knew our schedule, when we had practice and where we lived, she robbed us. Fortunately we got the money back.
 
When I was playing in Bosnia, we travelled to other countries to play. So we were going to Serbia and we had to have police escorts. In the beginning, I thought it was cool! We had the police escorts with the lights flashing—it was cool! We ended up winning the game by 1… their fans went crazy. They really had to get us out of there,
 
Montenegro, triple-overtime, fans started throwing things onto the court. Apples, nuts… anything you could think of. So I was dodging stuff…the game got delayed and we ended up losing.
 
Money issues those are always horror stories for me.
 
Earthquakes. Earthquake in Romania and Chile. The big, big earthquake in Chile…I just got there the day it happened, but I was really, really far from it. The day I landed and got in my hotel room… that was my first earthquake. I was like, what's going on here. The earthquakes in Romania were small… there was about two of those.

Q.  What are the fans like for basketball?
Greece was some of the craziest fans I've ever seen. For them, the rivalries are serious. It's like the Bloods vs. Crips. Like my team is green, your team is red ... I can't wear red, I can't walk on your side of town. Those games are the craziest. If you play for a big club it's definitely going to have that rowdy soccer game-feel. Aside from Greece, everybody kind of adores you because you're the American, so they'll come to you and they may give you treats after a game, or just tell you "Good game Tiny". They definitely embraced me wherever I've been and I've been fortunate enough to not have to experience any racism.  I've had people who have wanted to sponsor me personally, give me chocolate or flowers after a game, even fans that want me to kiss their babies, [laughs] it''s just crazy! It's been all love for me and I stay in contact with a lot of the younger kids. I like give them my jersey or work out with them sometimes. They're usually just happy to rebound for me. Sometimes I even go to their games, it's really what you make it.

Q. Best place visited?
Me and my friends used to hate history growing up, but being over here and hands on—you're in it! It's really just something to take in and it's humbling. I fell in love with Milan! Oh my god, I would move there! And it was crazy because I went right before Christmas and I stayed there until the end of January, I had so many friends that played in the area – my agency is also in Italy – so between them and my agency, they're all well connected. So I was going to all of the games and was VIP everywhere-- like I was sitting next to Armani! I really fell in love with Milan…heck I was calling it "Litaly"…Like its lit here! That's what we're going to call it – Litaly!

Q. What would your advice to be to younger players who are thinking about playing overseas?
It's just a different ballgame, and it's not for everybody. What was easiest for me was that I don't like being home all the time. So I don't get homesick. For some people, they have to have their boo, their family, they have their dog—a lot of stuff that makes them miss it and they're not really locked in. If you're over there and you're not happy, you're not going to play well. And either they're going to get rid of you, or you're going to have a bad season and you may not get another job the following year. I like it, it's a great experience.

Q. Talk about running into familiar faces while playing overseas.
I went to see Reggie [Holmes] play. We have the same agent, so when I was in Italy and Milan I went to his games. The only time I didn't get to see him was when he was in Turkey. We stay in contact.
 
Q. Talk about how special it would be to get inducted in the school's Hall of Fame at the same time with Reggie Holmes.
I think it would be amazing! He's been doing some things overseas and both of us have definitely been accomplishing a lot. He has scoring titles, where I have one. He's been in the top leagues. It's not like we just left here [Morgan State] and dropped. We're continuing. After Ron Timus and Kevin [Thompson] how many other pros have you had come out of here [Morgan State]? It's like we're doing what we're supposed to be doing, can we get recognized for it? I think that would be good. 


 









 
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