Adit Deng

I was born in Cairo, Egypt, but moved to Calgary, Alberta at the age of one. Growing up, sports were a significant part of my family’s life, a passion that was passed down from my dad, who had a background in soccer. My love for basketball developed watching my older brother’s journey through the sport, which inspired me to pick up the game at the age of 12.

My training routine is intense, especially during the summer. I typically fit in 3-4 workouts a day, starting with a morning lift, followed by shooting sessions, on-court training, and a second lift before wrapping up with evening team practice. During the season, my schedule adapts to my school commitments, but I always make time for lifts, on-court sessions, and my practices from Monday to Thursday. Game days are special—my mental preparation begins with prayer, as my faith plays a vital role in my success. I then fuel up with my usual Subway order, slip in my AirPods, and zone into my game with music to get me in the right mindset.

One coach who will always stand out to me is Alicia Tan, my first-ever club coach. She introduced me to the game with tough love, pushing me to become the player I am today. Alicia also opened my eyes to the possibility of being a college athlete, showing me that the dream I never thought I could achieve was actually within reach.

My advice to younger athletes is to never give up on your dreams, no matter the setbacks you face. There will be times when you’ll question your passion for the sport, but when one door closes, remember that it’s just God guiding you to find another path. I speak from experience, having struggled with my love for the game. But after rethinking my approach to offseason training and finding joy in the hard work, I rediscovered my passion and had one of my most enjoyable seasons ever. Hard work can—and should—be fun, especially when you surround yourself with people who inspire and motivate you.