Adrian Hargrove shares his experiences growing up as a standout at Oakwood Adventist Academy (OAA), and compares his squad with this year's team. He reflects on his high school experience at OAA, noting that, at the time, they were independent of the Alabama High School Athletic Association because the school lacked its own gym. He likened the program to a modern-day AAU team, traveling extensively for games against other Adventist schools and participating in tournaments. 

Adrian tells the story of his recruitment to Alabama A&M via a men’s summer league game, emphasizing the culture shock and intense demands of Division 1 basketball, especially coming from OAA, where the team relied on a full-court press, did not run many plays, and did no weight lifting. He eventually transferred to then Oakwood College, and finally to Pacific Union College (PUC).

During his time at PUC, Adrian began working at a local group home, which solidified his passion for youth mentorship. He brought youth to the gym to interact with college athletes, and helped them through challenging life situations. Today, Adrian is the regional director for the Boys and Girls Clubs of North Alabama, where he focuses on mentoring youth and fostering their growth. He is the author of a new student-athlete journal titled "Master Your Slingshot," which is being adapted into a special AdventistHoops All-American edition for the upcoming 2026 All-American weekend.

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