Although the former walk-on scored only nine points in his career at Oregon, Adrian Stelly’s story of transitioning from part of the McArthur Court clean-up crew to becoming a member of the team made him a fan favorite and a source of inspiration to aspiring basketball players. The high point of Stelly’s career came during the 2006 Pacific-10 Conference Tournament, when he had to fill in after Aaron Brooks was ejected against Washington. Stelly played 10 minutes, scoring five points in the upset victory. The former Benson High School (Portland, Ore.) graduate received his degree in Political Science earlier in the year and is finishing his business minor this spring.
Oregon Daily Emerald: Are you nervous about graduating at all? What are your plans?
Adrian Stelly: Not at all, it should be fun. I’m going to go back home (to Portland), probably that day, and just stay home for a minute, get a job – just enjoy being free, enjoy my freedom for a second. I’ve been going to school for a long time. So I’m going to enjoy this freedom before it gets real serious. I’ll look for a job and make moves from there. I’m the first person to graduate from my family so that’s a big deal.
ODE: How long will you stay at home before you get a job?
AS: I’m going to look for a job but I kind of want to enjoy the summer right now. So I’ve got a few plans. I’ll try to go on a few trips. Really, just try to enjoy life because my life has been real structured since playing basketball. My summers haven’t been that free.
ODE: So how long has it been since you’ve had free time to yourself without having to worry about basketball?
AS: Probably my freshman year. I didn’t have structure because I worked on my game because I was trying to make the team back then.
ODE: Tell me about finally making the team because you didn’t come in as a scholarship athlete.
AS: I just came to school to go to school and then basketball was the added bonus once I got here.
ODE: Is your career any more special considering you used to work at Mac Court?
AS: Not necessarily, because it was a work-study job. I could have worked anywhere. I just thought it might be fun. It was just something to do. It wasn’t that big of a deal.
ODE: But maybe some people see it as an inspiration going from the clean-up crew to being on the team?
AS: Yeah, it sounds real good – people shoot for the stars. If I had told somebody that I would be on the basketball team, they would have never believed me. So hopefully I inspired people to reach for the stars to see what they can do.
ODE: What has your career at Oregon meant to you?
AS: It was just fun. All the people I met, not even basketball, people I’ve met at the Rec Center, going on trips – I’ve just had a blast.
ODE: What are you going to miss most about it?
AS: The teammates probably. I had that withdrawal coming out of high school. You just miss being around your teammates. You have a group of 15 guys that you’re always around, like brothers. I missed it my freshman year out here and then I got on the team and then got to experience that again. So, I’m going to miss the guys. I’m going to try to keep in touch with them as much as possible.
ODE: Are you considering continuing your basketball career?
AS: I thought about it but. I could have played with the (Eugene) Chargers but I wanted to focus on school. I’m done with school but I wanted to finish my minor. I wanted to be free for a minute before I play basketball again. And my knee really bothered me during the season so I wanted to give it time to heal to be able to walk when I get older.
ODE: But are you thinking about playing again after spending some time away from it?
AS: I might, because I love basketball, but the right opportunity has to be there. I’m not going to chase something that’s not there. I’ve had opportunities, and if my body can continue to get better then I’ll probably pursue that.
ODE: With a team like the Chargers? An international team?
AS: Whatever. The Chargers – I didn’t even inquire about it, they called me asking if I wanted to play. So I’m sure if I started to work out, I could find a few places overseas or something. I haven’t really been working on my game. Basketball’s not something I need to be doing right now.
ODE: Well, would you rather be doing something like that or get a “real job”?
AS: I’m leaving all my options open. I want to fall into something that I’ll like. I don’t want to be doing something just to be making money. Anybody could just do something to make money. I want to do something that I enjoy and it betters me and people around me.
ODE: So what would you like to do?
AS: Whatever. Maybe coaching. I’m not sure. I’m just leaving my options open. I don’t want to be looking at one thing and overlook other options.
ODE: Do you plan on using your political science degree?
AS: Yeah, that’s already helping me. I know more stuff about the world right now. Then I have a business minor. I might explore that option. I don’t know about going to school right now but I might try a little law school in a year. You never know.
ODE: What was the best playing experience you had at Oregon?
AS: Probably the Pac-10 tournament (in 2006). I finally got to play and people could see what I can do. People assumed that I could play basketball but nobody had really seen me play basketball. That was fun for people to see how I can play. And then I had a great time in the Bahamas. I got a lot of playing time out there and that was really fun – the whole team atmosphere and stuff.
ODE: Did last season change the dynamic of the team and everybody’s relationships with each other?
AS: We always had a great relationship. That was the positive thing about us. You would never know from the locker room that we were a losing team because everybody had a positive attitude. We always worked hard and couldn’t understand why we didn’t win. We just needed to get over that hump and once we did, we went to the Elite Eight.
ODE: How sweet was it to finally make the tournament?
AS: It was unreal because you see it on TV and then when you’re actually in it, like you’re watching the games all day and then, “Oregon plays at six” we’re like, “That’s us. We’ve got to play UNLV at six to go to the Elite Eight.” You get into the arena and it’s just like everything you saw on TV. It’s crazy.
ODE: What about once it was over?
AS: I felt like it was taken away from us. We didn’t get an opportunity to win the game. Everybody played real hard but there was never anything we could do to win because the refs slowed the game down and the whole momentum of the game. And it was a whole everything-coming-to-an-end feeling. I thought about everything that went on since I got there – it was real emotional. That was the last time I’d be in a locker room with the guys. I wanted to go to Atlanta, so I was pretty sad.
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