Helena Frye
Will Hartzell, a 23-year-old farmhand, became a TikTok star during the pandemic by turning his grandfather's farm into a basketball training centre. Known as LeBarn James on TikTok, Hartzell's videos caught the attention of ESPN, which began sharing his content. Hartzell's ingenuity, passion for the sport, and inventive ways of challenging himself as an athlete have propelled him to virality.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Will Hartzell |
| Occupation | Farmhand, TikTok star |
| Age | 23 years old |
| Known for | Playing basketball, engineering skills |
| TikTok username | @LeBarn James |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Will Hartzell's TikTok fame
Will Hartzell is a TikTok star famous for his creative workout and sports videos. Hartzell began posting on TikTok on April 26, 2020, and has since amassed 2.6 million followers and 66 million likes on his will.hartzell1 account. He also has 470,000 followers on Instagram, where he posts photos of himself working out, playing sports, and building equipment.
Hartzell's videos often feature innovative equipment that he has crafted out of wood, including treadmills and basketball hoops. One of his most popular videos showcases his outdoor, homemade gym, which has garnered over 38 million views. Hartzell's ingenuity in creating his own sports equipment, particularly during the coronavirus pandemic when access to gyms and basketball courts was limited, has struck a chord with viewers.
Hartzell, who is based on a farm in Mississippi, has also built a rebounding machine that gained widespread attention. The catapult-like contraption was featured by ESPN and showcased his unique approach to sports and fitness. In addition to his creative equipment builds, Hartzell also features his girlfriend, Destiny, in his videos, adding a personal touch to his content.
Hartzell's rise to TikTok fame can be attributed to his ability to combine sports, creativity, and entertainment. His videos not only showcase his athletic skills but also provide a glimpse into his life on the farm, giving his content a unique and captivating quality that has resonated with audiences worldwide. By sharing his passion for sports and innovation, Hartzell has inspired and entertained his followers, solidifying his popularity on the platform.
Deciding Basketball Tournament Participants: Selection Criteria Explained
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Hartzell's basketball training during the pandemic
During the COVID-19 pandemic, 23-year-old Will Hartzell, also known as "LeBarn James", turned his grandfather's Mississippi farm into a private, open-air basketball training centre. He affixed a hoop to the side of a barn and filmed himself making shots while dressed in boots and suspenders. He also made weights and crafted a makeshift elliptical and treadmill with wood, bolts, nails, and conveyor rollers.
Hartzell's training videos caught the attention of ESPN, which had been devoid of pro-basketball content during the pandemic. Hartzell's videos provided a welcome distraction for basketball fans and helped him build his "Farm Hoops" brand. Hartzell's passion and ingenuity shone through in his videos, which featured creative challenges and tricks. For example, he made a video of himself sinking a flaming basketball doused in lighter fluid. In another video, he affixed a hoop to the back of a pickup truck and made shots while the truck drove through a field.
Hartzell also showcased his engineering skills by building a homemade rebounding machine out of spare lumber, a net, a bucket, and string. He even built a moving scarecrow defender, a DIY VertiMax, and a weight machine made of plywood and concrete blocks. Hartzell's training and inventions during the pandemic not only improved his basketball skills but also entertained and inspired his followers.
UConn Men's Basketball: National Championship Dreams
You may want to see also
Explore related products
ESPN's interest in Hartzell's videos
ESPN's interest in Will Hartzell's videos can be attributed to a combination of factors, including Hartzell's basketball skills, creativity, and the unique setting of his content. When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down gyms and public basketball courts, the 23-year-old Hartzell transformed his grandfather's farm into a unique, open-air basketball training ground. This backdrop, coupled with his impressive basketball skills, created a visually captivating and fresh take on sports content.
ESPN, devoid of professional basketball coverage and other live sports programming due to the pandemic, took notice of Hartzell's videos in May 2020. They began intermittently sharing his content on their platform. Hartzell's videos showcased not only his athletic abilities but also his ingenuity and creativity in designing new challenges and tricks. For example, he affixed a hoop to the back of a pickup truck and made shots while the truck drove through a field, or he would leap over hay bales and make baskets from a floating rowboat. One of his most notable tricks involved sinking shots with a flaming basketball doused in lighter fluid.
Hartzell's authenticity and passion for the sport also contributed to the appeal of his videos. He connected with viewers by simply sharing his life and talents, presenting himself as a relatable figure. This charm, combined with his impressive skills, helped propel his online persona, "LeBarn James," and his video series "Farm Hoops" to viral success.
Exploring the Perimeter: 3-Point Line's Impact on Basketball Strategy
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$21.49 $29.99
Hartzell's inventive basketball tricks
Will Hartzell, the 23-year-old TikTok star, gained fame during the coronavirus pandemic by turning his grandfather's farm into a private, open-air basketball training centre. Hartzell, who goes by the name "LeBarn James" on TikTok, has a passion for basketball and a knack for inventing tricks and challenges that showcase his skills in entertaining ways.
In addition to his basketball trick shots, Hartzell has built several innovative devices, including a homemade rebounding machine constructed from spare lumber, a net, a bucket, and string. He has also created a moving scarecrow defender, a DIY VertiMax, and a weight machine made of plywood and concrete blocks. Hartzell's ingenuity extends beyond basketball; he has also built a pool table that flips over to become a ping-pong table and constructed a soccer goal from felled trees.
Hartzell's journey began when he affixed a hoop to the side of a barn and filmed himself making shots while dressed in his distinctive "farmballing" uniform of boots and suspenders. His inventive tricks and passion for the sport have propelled him to virality, with his videos even being shared by ESPN and SportsCenter. Hartzell's charm and talent have won over followers, and he continues to dream up new ideas and challenges to entertain his growing audience.
The USF Basketball Program's Ranking History
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Hartzell's engineering skills and DIY inventions
Will Hartzell, a 23-year-old farmhand turned TikTok star, showcases not only his impressive basketball skills but also his engineering prowess and ingenuity through his online content. Known as "LeBarn James" on TikTok, Hartzell has gained attention for his creative and entertaining basketball videos, often filmed on his grandfather's farm.
Hartzell's creativity and engineering skills are not limited to sports equipment. He also constructed a pool table that can be flipped over to transform into a ping-pong table, showcasing his versatility and attention to detail. In addition, he utilized trees from his family's farm to build a soccer goal, further emphasizing his resourcefulness and connection to his grandfather's farm.
Hartzell's engineering abilities were honed through his work on the family farm in Batesville, Mississippi. He credits his grandfather for teaching him the skills necessary to bring his inventions to life. Hartzell's passion for engineering and basketball has not only entertained his followers but has also earned him recognition from sports media outlets like ESPN and SportsCenter. His inventive content has become a source of inspiration and entertainment for his online audience.
Double Rimmed Hoops: Basketball's Toughest Challenge
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Will Hartzell is 23 years old.
During the coronavirus pandemic, Hartzell turned his grandfather's farm into a private, open-air basketball training centre and shared videos of himself performing basketball tricks online.
Will Hartzell is also known as "LeBarn James" online, particularly on TikTok.
