Will Hartzell, aka “LeBarn James” on TikTok, went viral during the pandemic when he transformed his grandfather’s farm into a one-of-a-kind basketball training spot. After the gyms and courts got shut down, he got creative, setting up a hoop on a barn and shooting in farm gear like boots and suspenders. His fascinating “Farm Hoops” videos that you can’t take your eyes off showcase his skills and innovative ideas. It blew up on social media and even caught ESPN’s attention.
This super creative man was not done yet. He upped the ante and built all sorts of basketball setups, from a rebounding machine to a flaming basketball trick, all of which managed to add to his insanely growing online fame.
LeBarn James really built his own rebounding machine 😯
(via will.hartzell/Instagram) pic.twitter.com/SCBNqdFkp1
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 21, 2021
Away from his creative genius, many fans are eager to learn about his romantic journey. What is his relationship status in 2024? Does he have a new girlfriend? Let’s find out.
Will Hartzell Deletes All Traces of Destiny Gardner—Is Taya Hawkins His New Love?
Based on his latest social media activity, Will Hartzell appears to be dating a woman named Taya Hawkins. His rumored new girlfriend is a welder from Kentucky and goes by the username ‘tayahawkins18’ on TikTok. However, neither of them has officially confirmed their relationship.
@will.hartzell1
🏀🔥 forgot I had to help her down😂 @T A Y A
Previously, Will Hartzell was dating Destiny Gardner, better known as ‘destinygar22’ on Instagram, a former college basketball player turned social media personality. However, it’s unclear why, when, and how they broke up. Their split is all but confirmed, though, because Will has deleted every trace of his ex-girlfriend from all his socials. The duo no longer appears together, so it’s safe to assume they’ve gone their separate ways, although it’s difficult to ascertain when they might have separated.
Meanwhile, Hartzell isn’t just a fitness guy, viewers usually get a glimpse into his personal life in his content. In the past, he often featured his girlfriend, Destiny, giving fans a peek into his world outside of workouts. Now, the latest entry into his TikTok page is Taya, which all but confirms their dating endeavors.
Farm Hoops: How Will Hartzell Turned a Tennessee Farm into a DIY Sports Haven
Will Hartzell, who lives on his parents’ farm in Tennessee, is as much about creativity and innovations as he is about showing off his physical strength. He has a video series called ‘Farm Hoops,’ where he’s often seen playing in jean shorts and rubber boots. He has even built his own rebounding machine.
LeBarn James getting it done on the farm 👌💦
(via will.hartzell/Instagram) pic.twitter.com/gSIEUUsHXU
— ESPN (@espn) May 11, 2020
Born on June 7, 1997, in the United States, Will gained widespread recognition on TikTok thanks to his cool and creative workout and sports clips. His talent for building his own exercise gear out of wood stands out, offering his content a unique edge that’s grabbed the attention of millions of viewers. His projects, ranging from DIY treadmills to homemade basketball hoops, are loved by a huge online crowd, earning him 2.5 million followers and 47.2 million likes. The man is not just about fitness, he showcases remarkable resourcefulness and innovation.
Will Hartzell started his TikTok journey amid the pandemic back in April 2020 and he hasn’t looked back ever since. The 27-year-old regularly drops videos that show off his athletic skills and DIY projects. Over on Instagram, where he’s got 473k followers, you’ll find tons of pics of him working out, playing sports, and building all kinds of gym equipment. One of his standout moments is a viral clip that gives viewers a tour of his outdoor homemade gym. The video has racked up over 40.5 million views, which is incredible yet unsurprising since many of his videos hit millions of impressions.
@will.hartzell1
2 steppin #farmhoops
The TikTok star’s creativity and innovation come from his time spent working with his grandfather on their Batesville, MS farm. That’s when Will learned to build and innovate, and he hasn’t altered course since. While basketball is his favorite activity, he’s also shown he’s got the talent in other sports, sharing content of himself excelling in sports like baseball and boxing.
Despite the rapid fame, Will Hartzell prefers to stay humble and believes his success comes from his love of sports and the fun of sharing his creations with others. Will has no intention of slowing down as he wishes to take his “Farm Hoops” concept even further. It’s fair to say his followers can expect to witness more cool and exciting ideas in the future.
