It takes time and effort to develop into a university-level basketball player and Adaiah Tupas-Singh has paid her dues growing up as a high school star athlete in Victoria.
The UNBC Timberwolves have been watching her development and were so impressed with the abilities the senior guard has shown over the years at Pacific Christian Secondary School they’ve signed Tupas-Singh for the 2021-22 season.
“I am super excited to be competing at the U SPORTS level,” Tupas-Singh told UNBC sports information officer Rich Abney. “All the hard work has finally paid off. All the extra hours in the gym, challenging myself in different ways and continuing to evolve as a player. It has been nice to have this long-term goal fulfilled, and I am excited to see what happens next.”
Tupas-Singh stands five-foot-six and has the ability to affect the game at every level on the court. Due to the 2020 club season being suspended due to COVID restrictions, she was unable to visit the Prince George campus, but did her research before deciding the Timberwolves were the right destination to pursue her U SPORTS career.
“What stood out to me about UNBC is that it is well-known academically, it has a great basketball program, and the facility is beautiful,” she said. “I also got super-excited when I found out how supportive the locals are of the athletics. I thought that was great.”
Having trained with the South Vancouver Island Basketball Association and the Junior Vikes program, where she learned under University of Victoria coach Shalie Dheensaw. The 18-year-old has a well-rounded game that will translate well to the highest level of university sport in the country, and she’ll join a T-wolves program that has qualified for four consecutive conference playoffs.
“The team is gritty and tenacious, and on top of that, they seem to have a positive team culture. That is something that is really important to me. Coach Sergey emphasizes layer development. He is invested in his players and he has an enthusiasm for the team. I also like that they have been super competitive over the years.”
With the ability to play point guard and shooting guard, Tupas-Singh plays with fluidity and the ability to get her own shot or create for others. At Pacific Christian, playing for coaches John and Jen Stewart, she averaged 25 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and five steals per game, while also converting on more than four 3-pointers per game at a 42 per cent rate.
“My strengths as a player would be my ability to bring energy to the court, work hard defensively, and as a point guard, create opportunities for my teammates. I also have a good midrange game and I can shoot three-pointers.”
UNBC coach Sergey Shchepotkin has been working diligently to round out the Timberwolves roster, without the ability to visit tournaments or host prospects for campus visits. Upon seeing Tupas-Singh play, and having conversations with her about the direction and culture of the TWolf program, Shchepotkin knew he wanted her in green and gold.
“It made a ton of sense for us to add a player and person of Adaiah’s quality to our program,” said Shchepotkin. “She plays the game with pace at both ends, and I am impressed by her instincts. Plus, she is a leader and carries herself with maturity and focus. I am excited to see her develop in her time here, and I believe she can be a real contributor at the university level. It is an exciting day for us.”
Tupas-Singh grew up as a multi-sport athlete, competing in basketball, volleyball, and soccer. On the pitch, she has played Vancouver Island Premier League, while also competing and medaling in the BC Summer Games in both basketball and volleyball. The 2019-2020 AA Island MVP knows there will be an adjustment period when she transitions to the Canada West level, but she is ready to work hard and make strides to eventually contribute.
“For my first year, I look forward to growing as a player,” Tupas-Singh said. “That includes increasing my strength and speed, and controlling the controllables, like my effort level, my positivity, and my focus, which I think are really important factors. I also look forward to growing together as a team and having great success in the future.”
With a trophy case full of awards and honours at the high school level, Tupas-Singh will graduate high school in June before joining her new teammates in August for training camp. She will bring with her a 4.0 GPA, and enroll in UNBC’s biomedical program, with eyes set on a potential career in medicine. On the court, it’s another step in a journey that began when she was nine years old.
“I fell in love with the game of basketball early on,” she said. “Mainly because the sport requires athleticism, is played with a fast pace, and there is a real opportunity to be competitive. I’ve had really great coaches and camaraderie with my teammates along the way, and that really solidified my love for the game. I am really looking forward to finally being able to play basketball games, and to compete at a high level.”
