Texas A&M senior Danielle Adams, at practice Monday, in Shreveport, La., will lead the Aggies against Rutgers tonight in an NCAA Tournament second-round game. Adams is Texas A&M's top scorer and rebounder this season.SHREVEPORT, La. — She is nicknamed “D-Train” and has been described as Charles Barkley-esque. Texas A&M senior forward Danielle Adams may not look the part of a superstar, but she plays like one.
Adams, 6-1, weighed a reported 288 pounds when she arrived at College Station two years ago from Jefferson College in Missouri and has since dropped roughly 40 pounds. But the numbers that matter most are these: She averaged a Big 12-leading 22.7 points and 8.6 rebounds in 30.3 minutes per game this season.
After pulling her hamstring the first day of conditioning at Texas A&M and resisting initial attempts at conditioning because she had always been successful at that size, Adams has whipped herself into shape. She is the key to the second-seeded Aggies' Final Four march, which continues tonight against seventh-seeded Rutgers at the CenturyTel Center.
"When I first got here it was pretty tough," said Adams, who is projected as a late first-round pick in the WNBA draft. "I was working out three days a week for an hour a day. To be able to play the minutes I am now is just amazing. I thought it would never happen. I've just had a great big support staff."
Aggies strength coach Jen Jones heads that staff, which includes a nutritionist.
“It was a long process and I have to give her the credit,” said Jones, adding that eating right has also been a key for Adams. “I can design the program but if she doesn’t want to do it, it’s not going to work. She had the desire. It made my job easy. I laid out the framework and she took it and ran with it.”
Adams, who had 24 points and 12 rebounds in the Texas A&M's 79-50 rout of Rutgers on Dec. 19, can play inside and outside and can even lead the fast break.
She has the agility and athleticism of someone 100 pounds lighter.
Adams said she always dreamed of being a guard, concentrating on ball-handling and shooting, but outgrew the position.
“‘Most post players you worry about having to defend them on the inside but she can step out and take the shot," Rutgers forward Chelsey Lee said. “She’s basically a guard who can play on the inside.”
Engaging and quick to smile, Adams is comfortable in her body. In addition to her physical skills, she’s a student of the game. Aggies coach Gary Blair said Adams’ basketball IQ is off the charts, especially for a post player.
“It’s refreshing to see someone that size be able to do some of the things she can do,” said Blair. “She embraces who she is. You have to have so much confidence in yourself and she does.”
Dave Hutchinson: dhutchinson@starledger.com