Iowans impacting sports with Dave O'Hara

by Dave O'Hara

To describe the kind of person and athlete that former Iowa State University and former University of Iowa basketball player Adam Haluska is, I will use a track and field story. Adam was a senior at Carroll High School in 2002. At that time, he became only the fourth athlete in the nearly one hundred year history of the state of Iowa track meet to win four individual event titles, claiming victory in the 100 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters and long jump. Although, what you may not know is that Adam could have achieved those same victories the previous year, but he decided to run in the 400 meter relay, (instead of the individual 400 meter dash), to give his teammates a chance to win a state relay title. They and he won a third place relay medal, thus leaving Adam Haluska with three first place medals, not four. He stated to me that he would do the same thing again and that he wanted his teammates and friends to experience the same thrill of winning as he had.

Yes, Adam Haluska was a great high school basketball player and he received multiple Division I college scholarship offers to play basketball, before accepting Iowa State's offer to become a Cyclone. Adam also turned down multiple Division I college scholarship offers to play football, baseball and run track. It wasn't always smooth sailing for Haluska, as he found out after completing a very successful freshman year, where he started all of ISU's 31 games. After that season, Cyclone head coach Larry Eustachy was very publicly fired because of some extremely poor off-the court choices. Adam said that he faced as much, if not more flack from his girlfriend Kendra, (now his wife), as he did from ISU fans, when he transferred to the U of I to become a Hawkeye and play for Steve Alford. Haluska mentioned that his decision to transfer wasn't a knock on ISU or its fans, it was what he felt was best to do because of the uncertainty of the future of the Cyclone basketball program.

Adam Haluska felt comfortable around the Iowa basketball program because of past friendships with then Hawkeye basketballers Jeff Horner and Greg Bruner. So, Haluska sat out the next season, ('03-'04), because of the NCAA redshirt transfer rule. Then it was on to three very successful seasons as an Iowa Hawkeye. Adam also started every game during his three year U of I career, just as he had at ISU for one season. He received post season team, Big Ten Conference and national awards all three of his Iowa years. Highlighting his Senior season, Adam was named to the 2007 All-Big Ten First Team and the 2007 Academic All-American of the Year.

Haluska was then chosen by the New Orleans Hornets, in the second round (43rd player overall) of the 2007 NBA Draft. Very soon after that, he was traded to and released by the Houston Rockets. In 2008, after struggling through some injuries, Adam and his pregnant wife Kendra, (7 months), went back to the Des Moines area where Adam could play for The Energy of the NBA's Developmental League and so Kendra could have their baby, surrounded by the support of their family and friends. The past eight months have been very eventful and ever-changing for Adam and Kendra Haluska and their daughter Jerzey. Adam has signed to play in the Israeli League for Team Hapoel Jerusalem. He says that he is finally healthy and he is adjusting to the International League and life with his young family in another country. He also says that they are all enjoying their new life and that if the NBA calls, that would be great, he would love another opportunity. If not, he would be happy making a living playing professional basketball wherever and for however long that he can.

QUICK HITTERS

1. The music that I am currently listening to:

Van Halen (the David Lee Roth edition)

2. My favorite tv show:

Seinfeld

3. My favorite movie:

The Count of Monte Christo

4. My idol when I was growing up:

Jess Settles, a former Iowa Hawkeye and Michael Jordan, Chicago Bull and NBA Hall of Famer

5. My favorite sports memory:

Winning the Big Ten Tournament Championship my Junior year at Iowa

6. My favorite life memory:

The birth of my daughter Jerzey

7. The one person in life that I would like to meet:

The Pope and I should be able to accomplish that because he is visiting Jerusalem this May

8. My advice to kids:

Have fun and participate in as many different activities as you can

9. My advice to parents:

Let your kids grow, develop and have fun by encouraging them to get involved in as many activities as they can

Continued success to Adam Haluska.

To hear the complete interview with Adam Haluska, please tune to 1240am KDEC this Friday at 7 p.m. If you would like to leave a comment for Dave or to hear and see past guests of "Iowans Impacting Sports with Dave O'Hara", please go to www.iowasportsconnection.com.