The real Too-Tall Foyle
Before he was a picture book hero, Adonal Foyle was a boy on a small Caribbean island who felt too tall to fit in. Today he's an author, a 13-season NBA veteran, an advocate and a dreamer who has spent his life helping young people believe in themselves.
Watch him grow
Every family has a doorframe covered in pencil marks. Here are Adonal's.
A small island, a big kid
Adonal was born and raised on Canouan, a small island in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. His village had few paved roads, shared books and electricity that came and went. He studied by kerosene lamp, carried water from the river and rode a donkey to school.
A coach sees something
His height made him feel different from the other kids, and there were no basketball courts in his village. He didn't know the game at all, until a visiting coach noticed his height and saw his potential.
Leaving home to learn
At 15, Adonal said goodbye to his family and moved to the United States to pursue an education. A big leap for a kid from Canouan.
Scholar and shot blocker
At Colgate University, Adonal became the school's all-time leading rebounder and left as the NCAA's all-time leader in blocked shots. His No. 31 is retired there. Just as proudly, he graduated magna cum laude with a degree in history.
The 8th pick in the NBA Draft
The Golden State Warriors selected Adonal 8th overall in the 1997 NBA Draft. He played 13 seasons in the league with the Warriors, the Orlando Magic and the Memphis Grizzlies, known as a defender, a teammate, a leader and an advocate.
Giving it back
Adonal founded Democracy Matters, a student organization working against political apathy on college campuses, and the Kerosene Lamp Foundation, which serves children in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. He earned a master's in sports psychology and an MBA, was inducted into the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame and was named the Warriors' Community Ambassador.
Standing tall
Today Adonal is the author of more than five books, from children's stories to personal finance and leadership. He's a national speaker and mentor, and he visits schools and libraries to share a message close to his heart: being different is what makes you stand tall.
From real life to the page
Illustrator Toni Pawlowsky brought young Adonal to life as Too-Tall Foyle, along with his donkey friend and the island where it all began.
The scorecard
- 13NBA seasons with the Golden State Warriors, Orlando Magic and Memphis Grizzlies
- #8Overall pick in the 1997 NBA Draft
- No. 31Retired at Colgate University, where he graduated magna cum laude
- 2Nonprofits founded: Democracy Matters and the Kerosene Lamp Foundation
- HOFInducted into the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame
- 5+Books for children, personal finance and leadership
The Kerosene Lamp Foundation
Founded in 2005, the foundation serves children in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, where Adonal grew up studying by kerosene lamp.
The full story
For Adonal's complete biography, speaking and other books, visit his personal site.
Bring Adonal to your school
Readings, his true story and a Q&A, in person or on Zoom.