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Former Armwood hoops star returns from Italy to dole out skills to Seffner kids

 
ALESSANDRA DA PRA   |   Times Adam Sollazzo, 28, international pro basketball player and Armwood High School alumni, center, explains a drill to Nathanial Smathers, 13, of Valrico, right, and Hunter Croslin, 16, left, at Seffner Christian Academy Monday, June 4, 2018, in Seffner, Fla. Monday was the first day of Sollazzo's Rising Stars Camp, a summer basketball clinic for local kids.
ALESSANDRA DA PRA | Times Adam Sollazzo, 28, international pro basketball player and Armwood High School alumni, center, explains a drill to Nathanial Smathers, 13, of Valrico, right, and Hunter Croslin, 16, left, at Seffner Christian Academy Monday, June 4, 2018, in Seffner, Fla. Monday was the first day of Sollazzo's Rising Stars Camp, a summer basketball clinic for local kids.
Published June 18, 2018

SEFFNER — Walking down the cobblestone roads of Florence, Italy, Adam Sollazzo sees just about every imaginable bright color painted on buildings and homes.

Sollazzo, 28, finds himself surrounded by vineyards, coffee and pizza places. His favorite sight: The Duomo, a Gothic-style cathedral still standing after more than 700 years.

While he enjoys soaking up the Italian sights, he never loses focus of what brought him to Florence. Basketball.

Sollazzo, an Armwood High graduate who went on to play at East Tennessee State, recently finished his sixth year in professional basketball overseas.

Back in 2012, league officials told him to polish his play after workouts with teams like the New York Knicks, so he went abroad in that pursuit. First stop: Romania.

Since then, he's played for teams in Germany and Argentina, but he's spent most of his career in Italy.

"I have a love for Italy because that's where my grandparents are from," Sollazzo said. "For the longest time my wife [Kari Sollazzo] and I would hop on a train and go see a new city after I competed."

Every year he returns home to be with family and enjoy some time off. He also spends June and July working with his younger brother, Scott Sollazzo, 22, and father Paul Sollazzo, 65, at their Rising Stars Camp.

This year the camp runs from 5:30-7 p.m. every Monday from now until July 30 at Seffner Christian Academy, 11605 U.S. 92. Adam Sollazzo started the camp six years ago to give back and help community youth not only grow their basketball skills, but their passion.

"I want kids to feel like it's possible for them to make it as big as going to the NBA," Sollazzo said. "I also love teaching little kids. It comes from my dad, so I guess you could say it runs in my blood."

The first Rising Stars class took place on June 4 with players of varying age groups and skills.

Sollazzo often models his play after San Antonio Spurs shooting guard Manu Ginobili. With his rising basketball stars huddled around him, he teaches them Ginobili's famous Eurostep, an up and under technique that works well for him overseas.

Paul Sollazzo, who has coached basketball and physical education in Hillsborough County Public Schools for 34 years, served as Adam's first and most influential coach. For Paul, it's a thrill to partner with his sons during the summers.

"I get to work with them and see them working with kids and teaching them things I used to teach them," Paul, currently a teacher at Burns Middle School, said. "[Adam] continues to work hard, he's a good teammate with a strong work ethic. He's not out there to be a star, but play the game."

Scott Sollazzo believes it's great to give back to the community through the program. Doing it with his brother and father makes it that much more special.

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"It's great to be with family and it's fun to spend time together," Scott said. "We're doing what we love with the people we love."

Scott, being a college basketball player for Florida College, says his brother is a role model for him.

"It's amazing to see how far he's come and it's amazing to say my brother plays professionally overseas," Scott said. "We're always watching his games when he's away. It's one of the first things we do as a family in the morning. We put the game on around 11 or noon and have our Google translate ready."

The family respect runs both ways.

"My parents are both teachers, and I prided myself on my hard work on and off the court," Sollazzo said.

Throughout Sollazzo's time playing overseas, he's had to adjust to many cultures, but relishes Italy's focus on enjoying life.

"In America, it's always go, go, go, which isn't a bad thing, but I've definitely grown to like the Italian culture where it allows you to slow down and really enjoy the best parts of life," Adam said. "My wife and I always eat dinner and breakfast together and take the time to really be together as a family."

Sollazzo takes pride in working with each and every kid as he runs drills with them and challenges them to go beyond their limits. Their sweat-stained shirts reflect their work and dedication, the same tangibles that have helped Sollazzo succeed as a basketball player.