Episode 37 - SWAU Hoops Classic 30th Anniversary - Origins of the tournament, the best teams and players over the years, and why it's a destination for out of state schools.

Episode 39 - Adrian Hargrove - Adventist academy to a D1 program, writing a student-athlete journal

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. Thank you for watching! Make sure to like, comment, and subscribe to help us grow this community! Follow on Instagram, and learn more at adventisthoops.com. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Episode 38 - Makana Stone - Walla Walla University Women's Head Coach - Professional ball in Europe, coming home to Walla Walla, and discovering the joy of the Sabbath

New Co-Host! Josh Boyko joins the podcast as a regular fixture. He is a 2024 graduate of Minnesota State University, Moorhead, with a degree in sports broadcasting and journalism, and has been contributing writing to the AdventistHoops blog. At the end of her first school year as the women's head coach at Walla Walla University, Makana Stone, grew up in Coupeville on Whidbey Island, Washington. She played basketball at Whitman College (D3) and later played professionally overseas in England, Norway, and the Netherlands. Coaching Transition: Following a career-ending concussion in the Netherlands, Stone returned to the U.S. and accepted the coaching position at Walla Walla University, where she values the program's alignment with her own beliefs. Coaching Philosophy: Stone emphasizes effort, hustle, and accountability in her players. She prioritizes intensity in practice to allow players to flow naturally during games. She values the holistic development of her athletes, noting that the Seventh-day Adventist environment—including the observation of the Sabbath—provides a healthy balance for students. Program Outlook: After finishing her first season with a small roster, Stone is looking forward to her first full recruiting cycle to increase team depth and improve the program's competitiveness within the NAIA and the Cascade Conference. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Episode 37 - SWAU Hoops Classic 30th Anniversary - Origins of the tournament, the best teams and players over the years, and why it's a destination for out of state schools.

On the 30th anniversary of Southwestern Adventist University’s (SWAU) "Hoops Classic” high school tournament, Dustin Comm visits Keene, Texas, to see the tournament for himself and learn about its history. He’s joined by SWAU’s head men’s basketball coach and athletic director, Tyler Wooldridge, and vice president of student services, James The. The guys discuss the tournament’s origins, which parallels the inception of SWAU's intercollegiate sports program; the goal was letting Adventist kids know there was a place they could play at the next level without compromising Sabbath beliefs.  They talk about why so many out of state teams come each year, the top teams to watch at the 2026 tournament, and some of the best teams and players over the history of the tournament. The guys reflect on the experience created for athletes, and what they’re most proud of about this tournament. Thank you for listening! Make sure to rate, review, and subscribe to help us grow this community! Follow on Instagram, and learn more at adventisthoops.com. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Episode 36 - Ramogi Nyagudi - NCAA Division 1 player, Canadian U18 national team, navigating Sabbath

A 6’9” forward from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Ramogi played a season at Division 1 Saint Thomas University in Minnesota before returning home this year to play at the University of Manitoba. Ramogi was a part of two provincial championship teams in high school, although he missed the first title game due to the Sabbath. The provincial athletic association was unwilling to change that first game, but the following year it was moved to a Monday and Ramogi got to play. He talks about his relationship to the Sabbath and how he has navigated his observance in different situations. He believes he missed out on the U17 Canadian national team because he wouldn’t play on Sabbath, and later decided to play on Sabbath on the U18 team, where he won a bronze medal. He’s transparent about his journey with the Sabbath moving forward as a collegiate athlete and how he will continue to honor it.  Ramogi shares his experience playing NCAA division 1 basketball, participation in an NBA academy event via the national team, and a low moment where he considered quiting basketball. Ramogi is excited for this season at the University of Manitoba and says he’s open to playing at an Adventist university at the end of his college career! Thank you for listening! Make sure to rate, review, and subscribe to help us grow this community! Follow on Instagram, and learn more at adventisthoops.com. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Episode 35 - Rob Wilson - Canadian national team member with Steve Nash, 13-year international pro, co-founder of SlamBall

Former Canadian national team member shares what it was like playing with Steve Nash, growing up Seventh-day Adventist in Toronto, and how he navigated the Sabbath throughout his university and professional career that took him around the globe. As one of the creators of SlamBall, Rob shares how that sport opened up opportunities in sports entertainment for him, and led to him represent players as an agent, which he still does today. Thank you for listening! Make sure to rate, review, and subscribe to help us grow this community! Follow on Instagram, and learn more at adventisthoops.com. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.