Latest update March 26th, 2026 7:55 AM
Family witnesses Joy Adams greatness for the first time
… Adams calls it “the best feeling ever”
By Rawle Toney
Kaieteur Sports – Joy Adams delivered a masterclass performance at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall during the FIBA Women’s Caribbean Championship, putting the home crowd on its feet and guiding Guyana to a remarkable second-place finish.
Guyana basketball star shares a light moment with some of her family at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall after they saw her play for the first time. (FIBA Photo)
As team captain, Adams led from the front, helping Guyana to three victories in the five-team tournament, with their only loss coming against eventual champions, the US Virgin Islands (USVI).
It was Guyana’s best finish at the Caribbean Championships since winning the title back in 1996, a historic achievement fueled in large part by Adams’ brilliance on both ends of the floor.
But beyond medals, statistics, or accolades, the moment meant something far more personal for the Linden-born star.
While Adams had long dreamed of representing Guyana, doing so in front of her family, many of whom had never watched her play in person, became the highlight of her basketball journey.
“It’s an indescribable feeling,” said Adams, who competes professionally for Lointek Gernika Bizkaia in Spain’s top-tier basketball league. “It’s a joy to share with my family what I do every single day. This is the best feeling I’ve ever had in basketball, and it’s something I’m going to hold onto.”
Her family has always been her anchor. Growing up in Amelia’s Ward, Linden in a community affectionately known as Cinderella City, Adams was surrounded by a community where sport was culture.
Football was her first love, but after migrating and settling into school abroad, coaches encouraged her to take basketball seriously.
Her rise was swift. Adams became a standout at Evans High School in Orlando, Florida, earning Central Florida Athlete of the Year in 2012.
She was also named First Team All-Metro, Second Team All-County, and the Florida Athletic Coaches Association 7A District 11 Player of the Year. Those achievements paved her way to Iona College, where she went on to cement her status as one of the greatest players in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC).
Joy Adams put on a show against Jamaica at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. (FIBA Photo)
At Iona, Adams became the MAAC’s all-time leading rebounder and the school’s second all-time leading scorer. She earned three All-MAAC First Team selections, was named MAAC Rookie of the Year, and made two MAAC Tournament Teams. Her remarkable 81 career double-doubles placed her among the top ten in NCAA history.
Despite this storied collegiate and professional career, Adams always held one dream closest to her heart, to wear Guyana’s colours.
She made her national debut in 2021 at the inaugural FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup in Miami, where she dominated the tournament, leading all scorers and almost singlehandedly pushing Guyana into the knockout round. Yet, even then, she longed for the traditional five-on-five format.
“It’s an all-time dream,” Adams said. “Since I started playing basketball, I wanted to represent Guyana. I can only feel joy right now, and I hope I can do this again and again.”
Joy Adams battles against the USVI at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, while her family watches for the first time. (FIBA Photo)
At the Caribbean Championship, Adams’ impact was undeniable. She finished the tournament with All-Star honours, leading all players in rebounds (12.5 per game), ranking second in assists (6.5), and averaging an impressive 17 points per outing. She also recorded the tournament’s only triple-double—19 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists, and nine steals against Suriname.
Her leadership and dominance were pivotal in guiding Guyana to qualify for the FIBA CentroBasket Tournament for only the second time in history, the first being in 1997.
For Adams, the achievement was meaningful; for Guyana, it was monumental.
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