St. Thomas Aquinas Standout Adams Signs NLI with Wake Forest

Senior Guard Attracted 14 D1 Offers This Off-Season


St. Thomas Aquinas’ senior forward, Quadry Adams, shown here (center front row) amongst his fellow 2019 Celtics Fall League All-Stars on November 10th in Elizabeth continues to have a memorable off-season. Adams, who was selected GMC Hoops Junior of the Year last season, signed a National Letter of Intent to play basketball at Wake Forest next year on Thursday.

NORTH EDISON, NJ—On Thursday afternoon, Quadry Adams of St. Thomas Aquinas, signed a National Letter of Intent with Wake Forest University of the ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference). Adams, the top player returning for the Trojans, had selected Wake Forest from a group of five solid D1 schools including Georgia, Princeton, Columbia, and Boston University.

Adams also received offers from other D1 schools such as Towson University of Maryland, NJIT, Robert Morris University, Fairfield, St. Francis (PA), University of Denver, Saint Peter’s University, Drake University, and Bryant University. He also generated interest from other D1 schools such as Georgetown and Notre Dame.

Playing for the NJ Panthers on the AAU circuit along with Aquinas teammate, Derrick Grant, who also committed to play at the next level for NCAA D2 school, Southern New Hampshire, Adams increased his profile during the off-season, and his stock significantly rose through the spring and summer. Adams, who averaged 15.3 points per game as a junior to earn 2018-19 GMC Hoops Junior of the Year honors, also competed with the Trojans in high profile summer and fall leagues, team camps, and showcases.

In addition to playing in the Hamilton Park Summer League in Jersey City, Adams and the Trojans also competed in the Monmouth Team Camp, Philly Live Showcase, A’Town Throw Down, Hoop Group Summer Jam Fest, Northeast Fall Invitational, and the Celtics Fall League among others. Last weekend, Adams was selected to the Celtics Fall League All-Star Team along with STA sophomore teammate, Jaquan Harris, who has already received D1 offers from Rutgers and Auburn.

During the fall at the Celtics Fall League in Elizabeth, St. Thomas Aquinas took on the likes of Patrick School, Patrick School National, Roselle Catholic, Gill St. Bernard’s, Bergen Catholic, Murray Bergtraum of Brooklyn, and St. Peter’s Prep of Jersey City. The Trojans also played Elizabeth at the Northeast Fall Invitational held at Roselle Catholic.

Adams was also chose to participate in the Stephen Curry’s SC30 Select Camp in the San Francisco Bay Area this past August. The senior will be playing in his third season at St. Thomas Aquinas. Over the previous two seasons, Adams has played in 51 games, and scored 739 career points, or an average of 14.5 points per game. During that two year period, Aquinas has garnered an overall record of 38-15 including a 22-2 mark in the GMC Blue as well as a 2018-19. Blue Division title, and two straight GMCT Quarterfinal berths.

St. Thomas Aquinas, which also won its first state playoff game in 38 years when it defeated Donovan Catholic of Toms River in the opening round of the 2019 NJSIAA Non-Public A South State Tournament in February, is looking to exceed last season’s accomplishments by reaching its first GMCT Final Four since 2011 and its first GMCT Championship Game since 1992. Aquinas has ramped up its schedule with not only a January 5th showdown against four time defending GMCT Champ, St. Joseph’s in the SFIC Festival at Kean University, but also a number of other powerhouse schools from around New Jersey.

The Trojans will also participate in the nightcap game of the Friends of South Amboy Benefit Showcase on Saturday, December 21st against Mater Dei Prep of Middletown at 8:00 PM. The next day, Sunday, December 22nd, STA will face off against 2019 NJSIAA TOC Boys Finalist, Bergen Catholic in the Hoop Group Tip-Off Classic at 5:00 PM in Elizabeth. Over the holidays, Aquinas will compete in the Albert Martin Buc Classic at Red Bank High School, and then play Hillside in another Invitational at Kean on Sunday, January 12th. STA will also face Perth Amboy, Executive Academy Charter of PA, Toms River North, and Rumson Fair-Haven.

Congratulations Quadry on making it through a very long and arduous process that led to this special moment, and best of luck in the upcoming season.