Brewer High School

Philip L. Adams Jr., 1977, Basketball

Phil Adams Jr.’s impact on the Brewer High School basketball team was historically significant and reinvigorated not only the basketball program but athletics as a whole at Brewer High School.  Adams developed his athletic fundamentals in basketball and baseball while attending Holbrook Junior High School. He excelled in both sports as a member of the 7th and 8th grade basketball and baseball teams. Both teams experienced success while winning the Penobscot Valley JHS League Championships in 1972 and 1973. In the fall of 1973, Adams entered Brewer High School and played on the Freshman Basketball and Baseball teams. Again, both teams had a great deal of success being in the top one or two in their respective leagues. As Adams’ younger brother David (Class of 1980) states, “When Phil was selected to the Varsity Basketball Team as a sophomore, it was a very big deal in our household and in our small school district community (Eddington, Holden and Clifton) as very few athletes from our community were able to make the transition to Brewer, compete at the varsity level, and start.”

With his exceptional offensive and defensive skills, the impact Phil Adams Jr. had on the basketball court was undeniable.  For his entire high school career, Adams was “the one to watch”.  It was well known throughout the state that Adams, standing at 6’8" tall, caused fear in many an opposing coach and player as they found it quite difficult to match up against Adams’ imposing athletic frame! Throughout his four-year high school athletic career, the Varsity Boys’ Basketball Team became one of the major basketball power forces in the State of Maine and was on the radar of every High School Class A basketball program statewide. It had been nearly 20 years since the boys’ varsity basketball team had seen such a high level of success on the court particularly since the playing days of Dan Coombs (Brewer Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee Class of 2014) who had a major impact on Brewer basketball in the late 1950’s. All-State Running Back, Ralph Payne (Brewer Athletic Hall of Fame inductee Class of 2015) had an equally significant impact on the Witches’ gridiron in the early 1970’s and from that period, BHS athletics centered primarily on football. When Phil Adams Jr. came to the high school, he ignited a renewed sense of excitement and interest in Brewer High School Athletics. Adams started and lettered on the varsity basketball teams his sophomore, junior and senior years and was a Co-Captain on the 1976-77 team with Scott Stymiest.  All three years the Boys’ Varsity Basketball Teams qualified for the Eastern Maine Class A Basketball Invitational Tournament which was a feat only attained a few times in our school’s basketball history.  As Adams’ mother Hilma and younger brother David state, “Unless you were around to experience that era of high school basketball, we are not sure today’s high school athletes could understand how well attended the games were, that capacity crowds were common, and media coverage was excellent.  To make the Eastern Maine Invitational Basketball Tournament was a noteworthy achievement.”  Adams’ mother and brother were very loyal supporters and never missed any of his games throughout his high school career.  Adams helped to lead the Witches to the quarterfinal game in 1975 and to semi-final appearances in 1976 and 1977.    

Adams’ postseason honors include being named to the 1976 and 1977 Eastern Maine Basketball All Tournament Teams as well as a spot on the 1977 Bangor Daily News All-Maine Boys’ Basketball Team second squad.  Adams received numerous letters of interest for his basketball talents from well-respected college coaches including Richard Whitmore (Colby College), Chris Kiernan (Saint Joseph’s College), Len MacPhee (University of Maine at Farmington), Skip Chappelle (University of Maine), and Bruce MacGregor (Husson College). 

Adams also excelled in varsity baseball during his sophomore, junior and senior years as a pitcher and first baseman.  On the pitcher’s mound, his sheer size alone was enough to intimidate even the most gifted hitter; coupled with a relentless fast ball, he became one of the most dominant forces in Eastern Maine.  In 1977 the Brewer High Baseball Team tied with Bangor High School for the Penobscot Valley Conference Class A Championship.  Adams was selected to be on the First Team Penobscot Valley Conference Baseball All-Star Team as a first baseman.  He was named the Brewer High School Athlete of the Year in 1977 and given the Ohmart and Hinkley Award for this achievement. 

After graduating high school in 1977, Adams decided to attend Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida, playing baseball as a pitcher four years and one year of basketball.  During his senior year at Eckerd College, the baseball team finished the season ranked number 1 in the country in Division II baseball.  He also had the opportunity to play in the prestigious Cape Code League during the summer of 1980 as a pitcher/first baseman.  Adams graduated from Eckerd in 1981 with a degree in business. 

In 1995, Phil Adams Jr., along with his parents Philip Sr. (deceased) and Hilma Adams of Eddington, established Adams Real Estate in Bangor, an enterprise in which Adams and his mother, Hilma, continue.  Adams and his wife of 34 years Kimberly (Blum) of Holden (Brewer High School Class of 1980) reside in Bangor and are the parents of three grown children:  Ashley Amendola married to Angelo Amendola of Florida, Philip III of Clifton and Alexandra of Bangor.  Adams and his wife Kim enjoy their grandchild Jaxson and when not spending time with his family, he enjoys golf, notching his first hole-in-one in 2012 on hole number 16 at the Penobscot Valley Country Club!

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE INDUCTION AND ACCEPTANCE SPEECH OF PHIL ADAMS

                         Presenter David Adams and Phil Adams