By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay
Adriana Robles was only eight years old when she moved with her family from their native Puerto Rico to Texas.
“When I first moved here, it was very hard, because (of) the language barrier,” recalled Robles, a sophomore point guard at UTSA. “I didn’t really know any English.”
It took a few years, but Robles, a young basketball prodigy, figured it out.
“I think with the support I had (from) my family, and (from) some teachers — they would cut me slack — that’s what really helped me the most,” she said. “Just accepting that it’s going to be a process to learn the language, I ended up learning it pretty quick.”
Some 11 years later, Robles is establishing herself as one of the most talented young players on the Roadrunners, who open their season Friday night in Las Vegas against the UNLV Lady Rebels.
Her story is one of inspiration.
It’s a tale of a young woman with a dream. Not only did she overcame the frustrations of childhood to reach college, but she also contributed in her first year out of Fort Worth’s Fossil Ridge High School to a team that reached the NCAA tournament.
“I thought she did great for a freshman,” said 19th-year veteran coach Karen Aston, entering her sixth season at UTSA. “I definitely think it’s a big responsibility. It’s the reason you don’t see a ton of freshmen point guards starting. Same thing as quarterbacks (in football).”
Last season, Robles played in all of UTSA’s 34 games and started 17. Though she averaged modest numbers of five points and 2.1 assists in 22 minutes, her coach called it a great start to her career.
Splitting the point guard duties with senior transfer Ereauna Hardaway, she played hard. And with a dogged work ethic, she earned her playing time.
“Most really talented guards, and in particular point guards, have to do a lot of stuff in high school,” Aston said. “They get to college and now it becomes, ‘How do I run the team? How do I get this team to function at a really high level.’ (In college) it becomes a lot less about yourself.
“So that is the work in progress for any person that plays the point guard position, and I thought that she did a great job (with that).”
With only one season of experience as a collegian, Robles has much to work on to become a more complete player. For one thing, the coach would like to see her hit a higher percentage of shots from the field after connecting on only 36.3 percent last year.
Becoming more consistent from 3-point territory also could make her much more of a threat. If she could elevate last season’s 23.7 percent norm up only a few notches, defenses would need to adjust, opening up the interior for UTSA’s interior scorers.
Aston, mainly, just wants to see more leadership from Robles, who wasn’t the most vocal player on the floor last year.
“I think the transition now for her,” the coach said, “is just taking the reins, like, being in charge of everyone. And, ‘How can I raise the expectation of everybody around me?’ In the midst of that, ‘How can I make the right decisions for this team?’
Once again, the coach said Robles isn’t a finished product. “I think there’s going to be some highs and lows, just like there was last year,” Aston said. “It’s just part of playing that position.”
Taking the leadership role will require some finesse. At times, she will need to be a cheerleader. But Aston also says she might need to get on her teammates even if it makes her feel a little uncomfortable.
Robles is ready to take the next step,
“Oh, yeah, for sure,” she said. “Different role this year. I have to be more vocal, so that’s what I’ve been trying to do … (I’m) just leading the team as much as I can … stepping into that role and being confident with what I’m saying, and not just being laid back.”
Who’s to say she can’t do it?
Some eleven years ago, she could barely speak the English language when she left Puerto Rico, and now she’s studying in UTSA’s College for Health, Community and Policy. She’s also starting for a veteran NCAA coach who has taken three different teams to the NCAA tournament.
Speaking to The JB Reply by telephone on Thursday, Robles suggested in her comments that she thinks a transition to life in Texas might have been more difficult had she arrived as a high school student.
“I think it was easier to move when I was younger,” she said, “so that I (could) adapt quicker. It was definitely a challenge at first, but now all I do is speak English 24-7, unless I’m home. So, it was hard at first, but I picked it up.”
Coming up
UTSA at UNLV, Friday, 8:30 p.m.
UTSA at San Diego State, Sunday, 3 p.m.
UIW at UTSA, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 11 a.m.