Penn Hills grad Adia Brisker finding new role after transferring to Morgan State

Adia Brisker has experienced her fair share of trials and tribulations throughout her life. The most recent obstacle involved her choice to transfer to Morgan State after a rocky first season at Niagara.

The Penn Hills alum didn’t struggle statistically on the basketball court in her freshman year at Niagara. However, Brisker and a teammate encountered racial issues.

Brisker finished the season fourth in scoring (7.3 ppg), second in rebounds (4.7) and fifth on the Purple Eagles in minutes per game (22.6). Brisker was selected three times as the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Rookie of the Week in the first 11 games and was selected to the MAAC All-Rookie Year.

Even with all the success, the tensions with the mix of losing trust of teammates caused Brisker to rethink her playing career at Niagara. Brisker announced she was going to transfer July 20 and committed a week later to Morgan State.

“I feel great here,” Brisker said. “I feel like I can have a conversation with anybody when I’m not having one of my best days. It’s home, and these are people you could call family. I’ll always keep working, but it feels good to always have the support.”

Brisker, who has made one start in the first six games of the season, was one of seven players who transferred to Morgan State (4-2, 1-1). Brisker was mulling opportunities to play at Arkansas-Little Rock, Stony Brook and Sacred Heart before settling on Morgan State.

When she first transferred, Brisker wasn’t sure if she was going to play because of transfer rules. However, Brisker found out minutes before her first game against Maryland-Baltimore County that she was eligible this season.

Ever since, she has been trying to fit in with the team, leading to a slow start.

“At Niagara, I was able to create on my own and get to the hoop and create that contact. But here, we have those pieces, so I’m just trying to fit my game into the team,” Brisker said.

Brisker is averaging 4.2 points, 2.5 rebounds and is fifth on the team in minutes (21.2) while adjusting to a new role at power forward for the Bears.

“Collegiate basketball is the same at all levels. You just need to find where you fit in at. I’ve been playing a four. I’m a two or three,” Brisker said.

“That’s the biggest difference for me with me coming from playing on the wing to playing in the trenches. I know I’m faster than them, and I can use my quickness.”

Most recently, Brisker had her best game by finishing with 12 points and three rebounds in a 71-58 win at home against Howard on Jan. 3.

“I’m not satisfied with the 12 points. Everyone knows my game is above that. I know I have big expectations for me. I’ve learned to control my emotions, and I was also being a little too hard on myself at the beginning,” Brisker said.

“I was trying to put in all the work in the gym. I’ve just learned I need to just prove it to myself and not anyone else, take your time, be patient and let the game come to you.”

Brisker has used the memory of her late brother, Tale’, as motivation to guide her through this time. Tale’ was tragically killed at 19, Adia’s current age, in a shooting Feb. 3, 2015.

Whenever she doesn’t feel like she’s being aggressive on the court, Brisker reminds herself of the times when Tale’ would scream at her during her games to take her shot.

“I’m blessed to have this opportunity. It doesn’t matter which conference we’re in. It doesn’t matter which team we’re playing,” Brisker said.

“I don’t forget the pain my family went through. I put my family on my back. I got to be patient. I can’t change who I am.”