GET TO KNOW HARON "H2O" HARGRAVE
A professional basketball player, community activist, philanthropist, and Hip-Hop advocate, Haron “H20” Hargrave has made a positive and lasting impact in basketball, his community, and music since graduating from Campus Magnet High School in Queens, New York as a standout student-athlete for the Bulldogs.
A pure shooter and lockdown defender, Hargrave earned a scholarship to Sacramento State University where he led the Hornets in scoring with 13.8 points per game during his Senior season and became known as a premiere guard in the Big Sky Conference. Following his time in Sacramento, Hargrave went on to play professional basketball overseas in Romania, Hungary, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Mexico and Puerto Rico from 2008-2014. Yet it was back home in New York where he earned the nickname “H20” after scoring 57 points in a Hoops In The Sun Tournament game in Orchard Beach, with the announcer praising his “pure like water” jumpshot.
In 2008, Hargrave was heavily impacted by the passing of a close friend from gun violence in New York, leading him to found Ballin’ 4 Peace in an attempt to bridge the gap between sports and establishing peace throughout New York City. What started as a neighborhood charity basketball game has grown into an annual sporting event series including a celebrity basketball game, a flag football game and “Back 2 School” supplies drive with the NYPD, and a “Battle of the Boroughs” bowling party benefiting local charities. Ballin’ 4 Peace has also gained support from local celebrities, political figures, activists, and athletes including Jim Jones, Mack Wilds, Webstar, Cortez, Lil Mama, DJ Trase, Jaquae, Fred Da Godson, Tara Wallace, Julito, D. Chamberz, and many more artists, entertainers, and celebrities, who join Hargrave in promoting a non-violent healthy alternative to conflict in minority communities.
In 2014, Hargrave used his H20 moniker, a hardworking entrepreneurial spirit, and dedicated passion for growing the game of basketball to launch H2O Basketball, a youth basketball training program benefiting upcoming players in Jamaica, Queens and surrounding communities. H2O BASKETBALL provides students and adolescents with the opportunity to learn versatile techniques through weekly training sessions specializing in strength and conditioning drills and professional 'Let It Fly' shooting clinics. Thanks to H2O BASKETBALL, Hargrave has worked with over 3000 students (ages 6 - 18) and partnered with organizations and youth programs including Game 7 Sports Long Island, Coaching AAU, Lightening Junior Knicks, and various adult tournaments.
Throughout it all, Haron Hargrave has kept scoring with the ball in hands by competing in The Basketball Tournament, Red Bull Midnight Run, and with the renowned Harlem Wizards.
In addition to his outreach and service work with Ballin’ 4 Peace and H20 BASKETBALL, Hargrave serves as Director of Marketing with PEAK USA SPORTS and is influential in producing PEAK sponsored basketball tournaments, events and developing partnerships with High School athletic teams.
For further information on Haron Hargrave, Ballin’ 4 Peace and H20 BASKETBALL, connect with Haron on his social media channels:
I N S T A G R A M : @ H 2 O 5
I N S T A G R A M : @ H 2 O B A S K E T B A L L
I N S T A G R A M : @ H 2 O M U S I C _
I N S T A G R A M : @ B A L L I N 4 P E A C E
I N S T A G R A M : @ P E A K U S A S P O R T S
T W I T T E R : @ S T A R G R A V E 3
Learn more about Haron Hargrave, Ballin’4 Peace, and H20 BASKETBALL:
When This Former Division I Baller's Career Ended, He Found A New Path In Community Service (BET)
Alumnus makes impact in community through basketball, non-profit charity (The State Hornet)
Haron Hargrave Gives Back To His Community (Queens Times)
‘H2O’ Pours On The Points And Personality (New York Post)
Haron Hargrave’s Heart Has Always Been In Queens (TBT)
Assisting The Community: Former Campus Magnet Star Staging Third Annual Charity Event (Queens News)
Haron Hargrave Featured On Big League Philanthropist Podcast (Tackle What’s Next)
Haron Hargrave Talks Basketball And How It’s Promoting Peace Across The Country (FOX News)