EDINBURG – From the very first time that redshirt senior Adonis Rwabigwi, of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley men's basketball team, dunked a basketball, he knew that it was the sport for him.
 
At first, Rwabigwi was all about soccer but when he was challenged to dunk a basketball something came over him about the game of basketball.
 
"I used to be a soccer player and it got to a point where everyone thought dunking was special," Rwabigwi said. "As a soccer player, I wasn't really interested in dunking but I went ahead and tried it though. I was able to dunk it and a lot of people loved it. After that, thought that this might be my sport."
 
Rwabigwi broke the rim on that very same dunk, which fueled that spark of interest, but since he did it at school, he thought he was going to get into trouble. When the principal called him into his office, the worst came to mind.
 
His principal on the other hand, wasn't upset. In fact, his principal wanted to know why he wasn't playing basketball.
 
"When I dunked the first time, I broke the rim, so I thought he was going to expel me from school," Rwabigwi said. "Instead, he told me 'why aren't you playing basketball. You are out here breaking my rim but you don't want to play for me teams.' He kind of opened my eyes on what I thought my sport was."
 
Rwabigwi first touched a basketball when he was 14 years old and from that point on, he knew it was going to be a hard process to get where he wanted to go. He recalled being laughed at by people when he would take a shot or try a layup because he couldn't do it.
 
People saw him as a tall kid who could only dunk and while it was hard for him to deal with, he used it as motivation to get better. Rwabigwi saw others around him doing things he thought he could do so that pushed him even further but he was also aware of those in the NBA and one player he liked to see was Tracy McGrady.
 
"I looked up to Tracy McGrady because he was my height," Rwabigwi said. "I felt like I wanted to play like him since I was a kid. I felt like he was the definition of basketball for me. He could do everything and I felt that was what I wanted to be. I wanted to be like him."
 
As he started to play more and more, he fell in love with the game because of what he was learning from it. One of the things he learned was that the game of basketball offered him new opportunities.
 
When Rwabigwi was 15 years old, he got the opportunity to come to the United States. The more he played the more he believed he could go to college and get a scholarship because of basketball.
 
With the help of Paris Nelson, who was one of his coaches back home, he made his way to Atlanta but he didn't like it much there so he moved to Florida. While in Florida, he found a church named Faith Baptist that provided him a place to stay while he went to school.
 
When he got to the U.S., Rwabigwi had to adjust to a new style of basketball and a new playing surface.
 
"I first had to learn how to play on wood," Rwabigwi said. "Back home I only played on concrete. That was one of the first things I had to get used to. If you have never played on wood, then you don't know how hard it is until you step on it. I had to learn how to run on it and stop on it. I felt like there was more grip on wood than on concrete. I had to learn basically how to not fall on wood."
 
He also noticed how fast pace the game was in the U.S. compared to how it was back in Rwanda. With his soccer background, the transition wasn't too bad. In fact, he thought he fit into the style better.
 
He spent his freshman and sophomore years at Faith Baptist before going to Tampa Prep to close out his high school career. Rwabigwi was a two-time All-State and All-Conference selection and helped his team to a state title in his junior year.
 
While in Florida, he was reunited with long-time friend Dan Kimasa, who he has known since he was eight years old. The two played soccer together and according to Rwabigwi, they did everything together.
 
Their initial plan was to come to the U.S. together but it turned out that Rwabigwi had to make the trip first until Kimasa could clear up all his paper work. The duo still planned on going to college together so while Rwabigwi, who is a year ahead, waited for Kimasa to finish high school, he went and played a year at Furman University.
 
Rwabigwi played in 24 games while starting 20 of them at Furman but it turned out that they weren't interested in adding Kimasa. So, when Kimasa signed to play at UTRGV, Rwabigwi decided to come down to the Rio Grande Valley too.
 
After sitting out his first year here at UTRGV, Rwabigwi played in 29 games as a redshirt sophomore. He then played 26 games as a junior and has currently played in 21 games this season.
 
Looking back through his time here at UTRGV, Rwabigwi says he has loved everything about UTRGV but the thing he likes most is the people.
 
"The people are so welcoming," Rwabigwi said. "Not every place you go to will there be people that accept who you are. That would be my best memory of the Valley. I had never seen a group of people who are this understanding or who are welcoming like this."
 
Rwabigwi is majoring in general studies with a focus on math, physics, and chemistry. For much of his college career, he was studying engineering so he wants to continue his education after basketball to pursue his dream of becoming an engineer.
 
He still loves the game of basketball and with getting a late start in the game he isn't quite ready to give it up. Rwabigwi hopes to continue to play after college and it doesn't really matter where he plays as long as he plays. He feels like there is still more good to come for him in the game.
 
In college, Rwabigwi learned that he needed to work hard and he knows that is one life lesson that he will take away when he leaves college. The work ethic he has will help him achieve his future goals.
 
"I have learned a lot," Rwabigwi said. "College has taught me how to work hard. It showed me what my life was going to be like when I get to an old age. You have to work for everything you are going to get. You can't just sit and wait for everything to come to you. You have to go and get it."
 
Rwabigwi is grateful to all those that have helped him to get to this point in his life. From the Paris family that helped him get to the U.S. to the coaching staff that allowed him to come to school with Kimasa and to UTRGV head coach Lew Hill and his staff for helping not only him but Kimasa as well, become the men that they are today.
 
College life has gone by so quickly for Rwabigwi and he hopes that his teammates realize how quick time really does go.
 
"Work hard because your time is limited," Rwabigwi said. "That is one thing I would say. It feels like I was a freshman just the other day and now I feel the five years flew by. Now I am here fighting for it not to be over. I would say take care of your four years because you are going to need them. Time goes so fast so make sure to use it wisely."

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