Taelor Adkins beginning new chapter as a student-athlete for Riverview High School

SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - This week’s ABC7 Athlete of the Week is Riverview High School’s (RHS) Taelor Adkins. She’s a rising junior for the Lady Rams basketball team and they’re currently on their offseason program of workouts.

“We’ve just been trying to work hard and stuff like that just to get ready for the season,” Adkins said. “We encourage each other through the good and bad. We also hang out outside of practice and go to dinner sometimes together and stuff like that.”

The season is still months away from getting started up, but she’s enjoying the time that they all get to spend together on and off the court. Especially since they are taking advantage of being able to do this while there is no instruction time because the school year has not started yet.

“I love the chemistry,” Adkins said. “I love the team. I love that everybody is cool with everyone. Everybody’s pushing each other to their best limits and stuff like that. The coach, he’s looking out for everybody and wants what’s best for everybody.”

This time is also helpful for Adkins because she’s new to the program and also new to the Suncoast. She comes from Alabama. Adkins says she is still adjusting to her new life here, but her teammates are helping this transition be seamless.

Her head coach, Gerald Perry, says she shows her appreciation to each of them everyday. “She actually gets along with all the girls,” Perry said. “You may have some people who come in and they only speak to the older girls. She speaks to and hangs out with all of the girls.”

This is something that comes naturally to Adkins though. She embraces the role and is honored to bring this type of leadership to this locker room.

“I’m honestly just ready to play,” Adkins said. “Also, I’m ready to show how much we’ve gotten better.”

Adkins went on to tell ABC7 that she’s knows it’s going to be adjustment overall just coming to a new school and new environment in general. However, she’s ready to embrace all of the challenges that are set to come.