The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
2008-09 Men's Basketball Roster
Roster
A.J. Abrams
- Position:
- G
- Height:
- 5-11
- Weight:
- 161
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- Round Rock, Texas
- High School:
- McNeil
Preseason honors candidate ... top returning scorer (16.5 ppg) in the Big 12 Conference ... all-time career leader at Texas in three-point field goals made (284) ... enters his senior year ranked 15th on the school[apos]s career scoring list (1,389 points), second in free throw percentage (.872) and sixth in three-point field goal percentage (.399) ... has played in 109 of a possible 110 games (73 starts) during his first three seasons ... on pace to break the school record for career games played (134, shared by Brian Boddicker and James Thomas, 2001-04) ... has seen time at both the point and shooting guard spots during his first three years.
As a Junior in 2007-08
Earned spots on the USBWA All-District VII Team, the NABC All-District 9 Second Team and the All-Big 12 Second Team (coaches) ... one of five players named to the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship All-Tournament Team ... earned a place on the Naismith Trophy Midseason Top 30 List ... two-time Phillips 66 Big 12 Player of the Week (Nov. 26 and Feb. 11) ... StubHub! Legends Classic All-Tournament Team ... played in and started 37 of 38 games ... ranked second on the team and fourth in the Big 12 in scoring (16.5 ppg) ... converted 38.2 percent (118-of-309) on threes ... increased his shooting percentage from two-point range from .371 in his first two seasons combined to .488 (101-of-207) as a junior ... second on the team with 30 double-figure scoring games and fourteen 20-point games ... registered two of the team[apos]s four 30-point games ... led the conference in made three-pointers (118) and ranked fourth in three-point percentage (.382) ... his 118 three-pointers ranked second on the UT single-season list ... led the team and ranked seventh in the conference in steals (59) ... led the team in free throw percentage (.809) ... second on the squad in minutes played (35.9 mpg) and third in assists (55) ... became UT[apos]s career leader in three-pointers made at Kansas State (Feb. 25), passing Travis Mays (246/1987-90) ... became the 28th player in UT history to reach the 1,000-point milestone against No. 9/10 Michigan State (Dec. 22) ... scored 21 points (9-of-15 FG) against UC Davis (Nov. 16) ... registered the first 30-point games of his career in back-to-back contests ... posted 30 points (11-of-17 FG, 8-of-12 threes) against Arkansas-Monticello (Nov. 18) ... returned to record a career-high 31 points (10-of-15 FG, 9-of-12 threes) against New Mexico State (Nov. 23) ... the nine three-pointers against NMSU are a career high and tied for the second-highest single-game total in UT history ... hit six threes in the first half against both Ark.-Monticello and NMSU, which is tied for the UT record ... tallied 21 points (9-of-15 FG, 3-of-8 threes) and matched his career high with six rebounds against No. 7/7 Tennessee (Nov. 24) ... recorded 23 points (9-of-19 FG, 3-of-8 threes) against North Texas (Dec. 5) ... notched 20 points (6-of-14 FG, 3-of-9 threes, 5-of-6 FT) and four rebounds against Texas State (Dec. 15) ... led the team with 24 points (9-of-20 FG, 6-of-15 threes) against No. 9/10 Michigan State (Dec. 22) ... followed with 17 points (7-of-17 FG, 2-of-5 threes) against Wisconsin (Dec. 29) ... scored 21 points (8-of-17 FG) against Missouri (Jan. 12) ... registered 20 points (6-of-12 FG, 4-of-8 threes, 4-of-4 FT) and matched his season high with four assists against Baylor (Feb. 2) ... tallied 22 points (7-of-16 FG, 4-of-10 threes, 4-of-4 FT) and four steals at Oklahoma (Feb. 6) ... set season highs in Big 12 play with 25 points (8-of-14 FG, 7-of-10 threes) and five rebounds at Iowa State (Feb. 9) ... set the UT single-game Big 12 Championship record with seven 3-pointers and had a career postseason high with 24 points (8-of-18 FG) against Oklahoma (Mar. 15) in the semifinals ... matched his career high with six rebounds against No. 5/5 Kansas (Mar. 16) in the Big 12 Championship game ... set his career postseason high with 26 points (10-of-16 FG, 6-of-10 threes) against Austin Peay (Mar. 21) in the NCAA First Round ... the six threes tied the UT single-game record for threes in an NCAA Tournament game (B.J. Tyler, vs. Western Kentucky, 3-17-94) ... repeated the feat with 26 points (7-of-13 FG, 6-of-6 FT) and six threes (6-of-10) against Miami (Mar. 23) in the NCAA Second Round ... had a team-high 17 points (5-of-10 threes) in the NCAA Elite Eight loss to No. 2 Memphis (Mar. 30) ... in four NCAA Tournament games, averaged a team-best 20.3 points per contest while converting 19-of-38 (.500) three-pointers ... one of 12 team members to earn a spot on the Spring 2008 Big 12 Commissioner[apos]s Honor Roll (minimum 3.0 GPA).
As a Sophomore in 2006-07
Earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors by the league[apos]s coaches and The Associated Press ... started all 35 games ... led the team in three-point field goals made (120) ... his 120 made 3-pointers was a UT and Big 12 Conference single-season record ... ranked ninth nationally in three-point field goals made per game (3.4) ... hit at least three 3-pointers in 24-of-35 games ... twice tied the UT record for most 3-pointers in a half with six (Chicago State, Nicholls State) ... his .423 three-point percentage was the fifth-best single-season mark in UT history (min. 100 att.) ... led the team in free throw percentage (.924) ... his .924 free throw percentage set the UT single-season record (.910, Jim Krivacs, 1978-79) ... only missed one free throw in Big 12 play (38-of-39) ... ranked second on the team in scoring (15.5 ppg)... that scoring average is tops among sophomores at UT during the Rick Barnes era ... increased his scoring average by 9.1 ppg from his freshman year ... the scoring increase is the 10th-largest by a UT player since 1949-50 ... recorded 29 double-figure scoring games, including nine 20-point performances ... recorded 20-point games in four of his first six contests ... had a streak of 11 consecutive games scoring in double figures (Dec. 20-Jan. 27) ... led the team in scoring four times ... second on the team in field goals made (175) ... third on the team in minutes per game (35.5), steals (46) and assists (52) ... scored at least 16 points and averaged 17.9 ppg over his last seven contests ... named 2K Sports College Hoops Classic Austin Regional MVP and tabbed Big 12 Player of the Week (Nov. 13) ... scored 13 points in 19 minutes against Alcorn State (Nov. 9) ... set season highs with 28 points, nine field goals (9-of-12) and eight 3-pointers (8-of-11) in 30 minutes against Chicago State (Nov. 10) ... the eight 3-pointers is tied for fourth-most in a game in school history ... recorded his second-straight 20-point game with 22 points, including six 3-pointers, while adding four steals in 37 minutes against Michigan State in the semifinals of the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic (Nov. 16) ... tied his career high with five steals while dishing out a season-high five assists to go along with 23 points and seven 3-pointers (7-of-12) in 29 minutes against Nicholls State (Nov. 21) ... had 20 points and tied his career high with five steals in 27 minutes against Texas Southern (Nov. 28) ... scored 18 points in 40 minutes, converting back-to-back 3-pointers in the overtime session, against No. 9 LSU (Dec. 10) ... tallied 17 points in 32 minutes at Tennessee (Dec. 23) ... recorded 20 points (7-of-11 FG) and three assists in 33 minutes against UT-Arlington (Jan. 2) ... opened Big 12 play with 15 points, four rebounds and four assists in 33 minutes at Colorado (Jan. 6) ... scored 20 points (7-of-11 FG, 5-of-7 threes) for the first time in Big 12 play in 32 minutes against Oklahoma (Jan. 13) ... notched 13 points (7-of-7 FT) and three assists in a school-record 55 minutes in the triple-overtime loss at No. 12 Oklahoma State (Jan. 16) ... recorded 19 points in 39 minutes at Villanova (Jan. 20) ... registered 14 points in 36 minutes, including responsibility on Texas[apos] final eight points (five points, one assist) in a one-point win at Nebraska (Jan. 24) ... tallied 22 points (7-of-14 FG, 6-of-11 threes) in 36 minutes against Baylor (Jan. 27) ... pulled down a career-high six rebounds in 35 minutes against Iowa State (Feb. 10) ... totaled 17 points in 37 minutes against No. 18 Oklahoma State (Feb. 12) ... tallied 18 points (6-of-11 FG, 4-of-9 threes), three rebounds and two assists in 37 minutes against Texas Tech (Feb. 20) ... scored 16 points (5-of-13 FG, 4-of-9 threes) in 47 minutes during the double-overtime win against No. 7 Texas A&M (Feb. 28) ... recorded 18 points (5-of-13 threes) and three rebounds in 37 minutes at No. 3 Kansas (Mar. 3) ... earned a spot on the five-person Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship All-Tournament Team, averaging 18.3 ppg while hitting 9-of-25 (.360) three-pointers and 14-of-15 (.933) free throws during the three contests ... registered 20 points (4-of-9 threes, 6-6 FT) in 39 minutes against Oklahoma State (Mar. 10) in the semifinals ... scored 19 points (6-of-7 FT) in 42 minutes against No. 2 Kansas (Mar. 11) in the championship game ... tallied 16 points in 39 minutes against New Mexico State (Mar. 16) during the NCAA First Round game ... set his NCAA Tournament career high with 20 points (7-of-14 FG, 4-of-7 threes) and four rebounds in 38 minutes against No. 23 USC in the Second Round ... named one of two team captains (along with Craig Winder) following the year ... one of seven team members to earn a spot on the Spring 2007 Big 12 Commissioner[apos]s Honor Roll (minimum 3.0 GPA).
As a Freshman in 2005-06
Played in all 37 games, making one start ... Big 12 All-Freshman and Big 12 All-Reserve team selection (media) ... set a school freshman season record for most games played (37) ... ranked second on the team in three-point percentage (.390) ... tied for second on the squad in assists (3.0 apg) and third in three-point field goals made (46) ... sixth on the team in scoring (6.4 ppg) ... led the team in assists in 11 games (tied for first on the team) ... had nine double-figure scoring games ... recorded 51 assists to just 20 turnovers in Big 12 games (2.6-1 ratio) ... tallied 10 points and five assists in 20 minutes against Louisiana-Monroe (Nov. 26) ... recorded season highs with 19 points, six field goals (6-of-11) and five three-pointers (5-of-9) in 31 minutes against Tennessee (Dec. 17) ... registered 11 points and five assists while playing a season-high 37 minutes in his first career start against Texas State (Dec. 22) ... dished out a career-high eight assists in 22 minutes at Iowa State (Jan. 9) ... had 10 points and five assists in 22 minutes against Oklahoma State (Jan. 23) ... recorded 11 points (4-of-5 FG, 3-of-4 threes) in 25 minutes at Missouri (Feb. 1) ... scored 12 points (4-of-5 threes) and dished out three assists in 27 minutes against No. 16 Kansas (Feb. 25) ... recorded 11 points (3-of-6 threes) and five assists in 23 minutes against No. 19 Oklahoma (Mar. 5) ... tallied 10 points and tied a career high with eight assists without a turnover in 29 minutes against Texas Tech in the Big 12 Championship quarterfinal (Mar. 10) ... registered 16 points, five assists and tied a season high with three rebounds in 24 minutes against North Carolina State in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament (Mar. 19) ... dished out seven assists against two turnovers in 29 minutes against West Virginia in the NCAA Regional Semifinal (Mar. 23).
High School
McNeil High School in Round Rock, Texas (head coach Darrell Haggemann) ... all-time leading scorer in school history (2,559 career points) ... two-time Texas Association of Basketball Coaches (TABC) first-team pick (as a junior and senior) ... three-time all-region choice and three-time district MVP ... two-time Central Texas Player of the Year by the Austin American-Statesman (as a sophomore and a senior) ... while enrolled at UT and attending summer classes, he earned MVP honors for the winning North team at the Texas High School Coaches Association (THSCA) All-Star game in San Antonio (July 25, 2005), posting 22 points (5-of-10 threes) ... tabbed the City of Austin Male High School Athlete of the Year by the Greater Austin Sports Association following his senior year ... averaged 27.6 points and 3.1 steals per game as a senior ... led his team to a 35-4 record and a trip to the Class 5A quarterfinals ... earned regional MVP honors during the state tourney, scoring 37 points in the regional semifinal victory against Richardson Berkner and followed that up with 39 points in the regional final loss to Dallas Carter ... averaged 26.3 points, 8.0 assists and 4.0 steals per game during his junior season ... paced his squad to a 32-6 record and a trip to the Class 5A quarterfinals ... became the first sophomore ever to earn Central Texas Player of the Year accolades from the Austin American-Statesman ... averaged more than 16 points and eight assists per contest during his sophomore season.
Personal
Full name is Adrian Glenn Abrams II ... son of Andy (real name is Adrian) and Michelle Abrams ... parents gave him the nickname A.J. at birth ... A.J. is short for Adrian Junior ... father is a college basketball official and previously worked as a bodyguard for former Texas governors Ann Richards and George Bush ... born Oct. 16, 1986 in Sherman, Texas ... wears jersey No. 3 because he admires Allen Iverson[apos]s style of play.
Off the Court with A.J. Abrams
Favorite musician: Lil[apos] Wayne
Favorite TV show: The Simpsons
One TV show I can[apos]t believe that I watch: Seinfeld
Favorite TV announcer: Brent Musburger
Musical instruments played: I[apos]ve attempted to play the piano.
Which coach from a TV show or movie would you like to play for and why? Coach Carter. He was tough and demanded a lot from his players.
I chose my jersey number because: Allen Iverson is my favorite player. The number `3[apos] was taken my freshman year, but it became available before my sophomore year and I claimed it.
Describe your basketball game in three words: Smooth, quick, intense
In your dream 2-on-2 matchup, whom would you pick as a teammate and who would you play against? I[apos]d team up with Allen Iverson and we would take on Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O[apos]Neal.
What[apos]s been your best memory so far on the basketball court?
Advancing to the Elite Eight as a freshman and as a junior
What goes through your mind while you[apos]re defending an opposing
player on the court? Don[apos]t let him score
If you could change one rule in the college game, what would it be? Shorten the shot clock
