Oakwood Adventist Academy: Success Without a Post-season
After exceeding the state limit of regular season games and self-reporting this to the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA), the association banned Oakwood from post-season play. Their season came to an abrupt and disappointing end.
Faith-Fueled Defense Propels Hamilton Craik
Craik, a 2025 AdventistHoops All-American, is a 6’5” senior defensive stopper for his hometown Walla Walla Valley Academy. He’s never been the highest scoring threat on the court. Instead, he’s built his identity on effort, discipline, and a calm leadership style rooted in something deeper than basketball.
Matthew McKenzie and the #16 takoma Academy Tigers
The junior guard is now leading by example, averaging nearly 22 points per game, hitting the milestone of 1,000 career points, and pushing his team to a #16 ranking in the state of Maryland. “Our season, it's had some ups and downs, but I feel like we're on this steady trend up, and we'll make a great run in Maryland private schools. Hopefully make it all the way to state and win our conference championship,” says McKenzie.
New Look For AdventistHoops
The original AdventistHoops logo was created in 2023 when I started the Instagram account and needed a symbol to represent the celebration of Seventh-day Adventist basketball.
For God’s Glory, No Matter Where: Luke Deininger
2025 AdventistHoops All-American Luke Deininger played his freshman season at Forest Lake Academy in Florida, before considering a transfer to another local Christian school. “It was tough because it wasn’t an Adventist school. But I just felt like in order to really fulfill my potential in basketball, I needed to make a change. I prayed about it a lot and ended up making the switch.”
THE RISE OF MICAH SAMUELS
Recent Takoma Academy graduate Micah Samuels is arguably the best Adventist player in the class of 2025. Born with a basketball in his hands, Micah’s journey started early, dribbling around his house before most kids learned how to tie their shoes. By the age of six, Micah was already stepping into organized basketball, setting the stage for a future fueled by passion, faith, and determination.
San Gabriel Academy Boys Win California State Championship
The San Gabriel Academy boys basketball team not only made history by winning its first California state championship ever—it also made denominational history by becoming the first Seventh-day Adventist school in the largest state in America to win a Golden State title in any division.
Calling All Writers!
If you’re a writer, submit an article about a player, program, noteworthy event, or relevant opinion piece in Adventist basketball. This blog will go beyond the highlights and stats, to discuss topics we’re passionate about and to share in-depth profiles on the people of AdventistHoops.