Evanston’s Prince Adams is a different player this season, driven by others’ belief in him and memory of a slain nephew

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Evanston’s Prince Adams is playing at a level he wasn’t sure he could ever reach.

Adams has been a double-double machine so far this season and has routinely turned in huge performances.

The 6-foot-6 senior forward/center scored 29 points in a win against Mundelein and delivered in front of college scouts at the Team Rose Shootout at Mount Carmel, finishing with 24 points, 13 rebounds and six blocked shots in a loss to Marian Catholic.

“I take a lot of pride in what I’m doing offensively, with my defense, rebounding and all that,” Adams said. “I want to show that I’ve expanded my game a lot and show that I’ve been working.”

Adams is in his fourth varsity season, but he had always been more of a role player. He averaged 7.5 points and 5.4 rebounds last season.

He’s showing he can be a star for the Wildkits, who won their first seven games.

“Prince has matured a lot,” Evanston coach Mike Ellis said. “He knows it’s his senior year and time’s running out. He’s a very talented player. He’s got some nice size. He’s got great mobility and agility, a soft touch on his shot. At times, he plays really well on the defensive side, contesting shots and rebounding.

“He’s an all-over-the-floor player for us. He’s critical for us. I’m proud of Prince and the way he’s started off his senior season.”

In May, Adams’ 9-year-old nephew, Jeremiah Ellis, was killed in a shooting in Skokie.

Adams said he was close to Jeremiah and that the sudden loss was devastating for him. It also put things in perspective, motivating Adams to make the most of his time at Evanston and the opportunities that basketball presents.

“It impacted me a lot,” he said. “Losing my nephew was so hard. He was like my little brother. I want to do everything for him. He always pushed me. He told me he wanted me to be the best basketball player I could be. That’s what I’ve been focusing on.”

When Adams needs an extra push during a tough game, Jeremiah is always in the back of his mind urging him on, he said.

“I think about him a lot when I’m on the court,” Adams said. “I want to do big things for him. He believed in me. My family believes in me. That’s what’s helped me work hard and get better.”

Adams turned to basketball as an outlet. He hit the gym harder. He got stronger.

Over the summer, it was apparent that Adams was a different player.

“He was our best player in the summer and in preseason practices, and it wasn’t close,” Mike Ellis said. “We felt like he could have a big senior season.”

After turning heads in the summer, Adams came into his senior year with a new sense of belief.

“The summer helped me build my confidence a lot,” Adams said. “It built the confidence from my coaches and teammates too. I knew we could win games.”

Adams has been hearing for years about how he could be a star and attract attention from college programs.

He doubted himself, however.

“People have been telling me for a while,” Adams said. “I didn’t really believe it until recently, I guess.

“There are a lot of good basketball players. I didn’t think of myself as someone that could be one of the best players, but I think I’m getting there.”

Mike Ellis is seeing things play out this season like he envisioned they would for Adams, who has always had the size and athleticism but sometimes lacked the drive and self-belief.

“We thought he could be this,” Mike Ellis said. “Some guys, it just takes longer than others. Prince has taken on some leadership, and I think that’s helped elevate his game. He feels what’s at stake now. It’s like, ‘If I’m going to be the one, then I have to lead by example as well as vocally.’”

Senior point guard Hunter Duncan is in his first season at Evanston after transferring from St. Viator. But he has known Adams for many years and has followed his on-court performances.

Duncan sees an entirely different Adams as a teammate.

“Prince has impressed me a lot,” Duncan said. “He has completely changed from last year. He’s taken on a different mindset. When he’s got his head in the game, he’s one of the best players in the state, 100%.”

Perhaps it shouldn’t be a surprise if Adams is a bit of a late bloomer. He didn’t play basketball seriously until eighth grade.

“Growing up, I was a football player,” he said. “I don’t even really know why I decided to play basketball. It was just something I wanted to do. That’s when I first moved to Evanston, and I really liked the environment around basketball here. It was really fun to be around. That’s what really pushed me into basketball and grew my passion for it.”

Adams is still learning the game and discovering how to tap into his full potential. He knows there is room for him to continue to improve.

“Coach Ellis is always in my ear,” he said. “He’s always giving me tips and things like that, ways I can get better. That’s been good. It’s helped me a lot.”

While it took a lot for Adams to be convinced he could be a star player, he realizes his ceiling is still much higher.

“I’ve just got to keep working hard,” he said. “I know I’m a better player now than I was last season, and I know I can keep getting better. I want to do that so I can help us win games.”

Adams was the only starter to return after the Wildkits went 21-10 last season. Knowing he had to lead the way pushed him to get better.

“He definitely realized that we needed him,” Mike Ellis said. “He saw those guys graduate last year and knew what his role was going to have to be, and I think that gave him a sense of urgency.”

Heading into his fourth varsity season, Adams sought to spread his knowledge of the program and the way Mike Ellis wants his teams to play.

“I pretty much know the ropes,” Adams said. “I’ve been trying to get us all together, get us all on the same plane. We all have one goal.”

Adams is surrounded by new faces. Five players transferred to Evanston this season. Duncan and Josh Thomas — who came from Stevenson — are in the starting lineup.

Adams became a bit of a de facto tour guide and host to the newcomers.

“Prince has been a good mentor to all of us,” Duncan said. “He brings the team together, the new guys with the old guys.”

Adams sees it all meshing together pretty well and expects the team to connect even more as the season progresses.

“The chemistry is good,” Adams said. “Our team likes each other. We just have a few things to work on. We have a big playbook, so we still have things to learn, and we need to get everyone locked in on all our plays and everything we want to do.”

Mike Ellis is looking for things to click more consistently for the rest of his roster, but he knows he has a dependable player to lean on.

“Prince has been the steadying force on our team right now,” Mike Ellis said. “He’s been our most consistent player. He’s getting a double-double every time out. We just have to get some other players to step up and meet him at his level.”

Before the summer, Adams was way off college coaches’ radars. He is starting to get some notice and hopes to begin receiving scholarship offers.

“I’ve been talking to a couple colleges,” he said. “Right now, it’s junior colleges that have been most interested. But I just want to keep winning games, and I feel like the rest of that will all play out.”

While Adams starts at center for Evanston, he doesn’t hesitate to step back and take a 3-point shot. He’s been working on his perimeter game a lot. That’s where his future lies.

“I know I’m going to be more of a guard or a small forward in college, so I’m working on those skills more,” he said. “I just stay in the gym and keep working to get better.”

Adams said he is thankful for family, friends, coaches and teammates who believed in him even when he doubted himself.

“Just the encouragement from my teammates and my coaches is what has helped me get to where I am now,” he said. “They’ve been giving me chances to show what I can do, and I think I’ve delivered for them so far this year.”

Steve Millar is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.