Joe Gaiter: What does basketball mean to you?
Jada Hargrove: Through basketball, I find challenges to push myself and others. I’m at peace with how I impact the lives of people I connect with. Also, I admire the journey and how productive one must be to get better everyday. In that journey, I found resilience and hunger within myself that I can take and apply in the business world. Basketball gave me opportunity, a free education, and a platform to take the world by storm. And for that, I am forever grateful.
Joe Gaiter: What are your fondest memories of Charles R. Drew High School?
Jada Hargrove: My fondest memories of Drew we’re experienced in the relationships I developed. In fact, I still withhold a lot of those relationships with my faculty and staff. I miss team and our chemistry when we touched the floor. Somehow, it made running stadium steps, running countless suicides, and getting yelled out mean so much more. I also grew fond of the many programs I was involved with including guitar, yearbook, AFJROTC, science clubs, honor society’s, etc. my ability to connect with so many groups of people and connect is where I was so successful. I’m very proud of how versatile I was in school and how much fun I had with my friends and teammates.
Joe Gaiter: Tell us about your recruitment experience.
Jada Hargrove: Recruiting was actually one of the hardest times of my life, definitely top five. I tore everything in my ankle my senior year cutting off my volleyball season short and also missing out on my senior year to play. I was offered many academic scholarships; however, I was only given one scholarship opportunity to play at the Alcorn State University. God had placed a new head coach in my life, Virgil Amey, which would connect me with Alcorn Head Coach Courtney Pruitt. My history of being a great student-athlete is what got me my scholarship.
Joe Gaiter: Why did you choose Alcorn State?
Jada Hargrove: I did not choose Alcorn. Alcorn chose me. I know that sounds cliché’, but I never heard of Alcorn until I got the offer. I enjoyed the HBCU atmosphere and the pride alumni had for the school and I had the sole desire to cultivate the vision that Head Coach Courtney Pruitt had for our team. Alcorn was just enough distance for me to grow on my own. I knew that the experience would change my life and it did.
Joe Gaiter: Alcorn State was 13-18. What challenges did your team face this season?
Jada Hargrove: Our challenges throughout the season were scoring droughts. We led the nation in steals and making the team turnover the ball but we weren’t always able to convert on the other side of the floor as a team.
Joe Gaiter: What has been your biggest accomplishment as an athlete?
Jada Hargrove: My biggest accomplishment as an athlete, in my opinion, is the relationship that I built with my teammates. I find the most success in some of the things I’ve shared with them because that’s what they are able to take on their separate journeys of life. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get a ring, but I was able to show my growth every year I played. I added midrange, shooting the three, moving and scoring without the ball, etc.
Joe Gaiter: What are game days like at Alcorn State?
Jada Hargrove: Game days at Alcorn are cool. At our games, we have what all HBCU’s consider to be detrimental to the HBCU experience. That includes Greek life, modern hip-hip music, strolling, band and majorettes, and aggressive fans.
Joe Gaiter: What are some of your career stats?
Jada Hargrove: My game highs are 19p, 9r, 9a, and 7r my senior season. My final game ended with 7p, 5a, and 5s. I prided myself in stacking stats. My goal this year was to touch all realms of the game and find multiple ways to create a win, even doing some of the work that isn’t shown on the stat sheet. Against Memphis, I took 5 charges in one game. I may not get a lot of credit for it, but I also had 13 points and 7 rebounds. That was my favorite game of my senior year.
Joe Gaiter: What are keys in playing guard?
Jada Hargrove: Playing point guard takes mental toughness and a lot of assertiveness. With those two significant attributes, he/she can lead a team to victory. However, it also comes with great responsibility. Playing point guard isn’t what you do to win, it’s what you do to ensure that you bring every strength of your teammates together to make the team win. Getting others uncomfortable and being respected is very important. Point guards must be leaders and must have confidence to do their jobs. Lastly, point guards must be mature. It’s always most difficult for a point guard to learn limiting mistakes, playing with great stamina, and effectively executing the desires of the coach.
Joe Gaiter: What is your major and how do you plan on using it?
Jada Hargrove: I received my Bachelors in Biology, Pre-Physical Therapy. However, I am one semester away from my Master’s in Biology Education. I plan to teach and coach at my previous High School, while gathering the funds to get my DPT in Physical Therapy.
Joe Gaiter: What is next for your athletic career?
Jada Hargrove: I would like to play professionally overseas; however, I am currently awaiting a coach to give me the opportunity. I am certain that I can compete, but I rest those worries in God’s hands.
Joe Gaiter: What motivates you?
Jada Hargrove: I am motivated by the passion and love I have for basketball. The person I am when I touch the floor to practice, play pick-up, etc. creates an atmosphere that I’ve thrives in for years. No matter the opponent, I’ve always been out there trying to out compete myself. The interpersonal battle is what makes me the player I am today.
Joe Gaiter: How can we as a sports culture help women’s sports overall?
Jada Hargrove: Women’s sports can be elevated if we were better respected. We can’t control the uncontrollables that men who can’t beat us have against us. However, we continue to put people in power to cultivate some of the fresh changes they’ve made in both the WNBA and NBA. Professionally hiring women and raising the salaries of women’s sports is where many people have chosen to initiate both the respect and change.
Joe Gaiter: What is your advice to the 2020/2021 Alcorn Team?
Jada Hargrove: My advice would be to not make the same mistakes twice, forget your mistakes, but never forget what it taught you. Be sure to cultivate a positive atmosphere early-on and have the desire to be coached. It’s tough to withhold the responsibilities of being a leader, but in those moments you grow the most. Welcome the pressure and thrive in it. Remember, that you have your sisters to comfort you.
Joe Gaiter: Any regrets?
Jada Hargrove: No regrets, I solely aspire to use what I’ve learned to inspire others and to credit my failures as the reason why others will become successful. I am solely grateful that God didn’t leave me out, when several others girls would’ve gave up considering the odds I was against. I went to Alcorn and learned a lot about the business world, the needed improvements of HBCUs, and other real world realities.
Joe Gaiter: What is your untold story?
Jada Hargrove: I have no untold stories; however, many people who don’t know me are welcome to keep in touch with my social media handles to obtain updates on my next book. In detail, I’ll aspire children in my local community to learn more about becoming a commodity as an athlete, being resilient in your path, and making the most of your experiences using basketball.
Joe Gaiter: What do you want your legacy to be?
Jada Hargrove: My legacy has already been left. While great success was not obtained in reward of a ring, I was able to persevere against the stigmas of African-American women in the city where I was raised. A lot of kids my age are shot and killed, in jail, or living a life that is nothing they dreamed about. I lived my dream as a college basketball player. My legacy will be defying the stigma. I carried on my academic successes graduating which school with a 4.25 and soon graduating with two degrees in four years with a 3.9 and 4.0. Many people saw my passion on the floor and the fight and will I had to win. Taking charges, doing extra reps, etc. That will be my legacy, even if many people didn’t understand why or how I could do so much on and off the court despite the circumstances.
Joe Gaiter: Final Words?
Jada Hargrove: Thank you, Alcorn.
Joe Gaiter: Shout outs?
Jada Hargrove: Thank you to the staff and alumni that supported our team. Shoutout to my teammates, the 2020-2021 SWAC Champions. Shoutout to the world’s best HBCU.
Ig: iamthreetwo
Twitter: jadahargrove
