A Journey Fueled by Grit
Adam Benhayoune never expected an easy road in basketball. Growing up in Helotes, Texas, he just knew he loved the game. That passion carried him through four years on a Division I SEC basketball team, even when the stats didn’t show the full story.
“I wasn’t the most athletic guy,” Adam says. “But I used my IQ to my advantage. That was my edge.”
He played only 14 games in his career. His highest-scoring game came in 2023 against Mississippi Valley. He dropped six points, going 2-for-3 from beyond the arc.
“I shot 64% (7-11) from three during my college career, scrimmages included” he says. “If I was open, my teammates would find me.”
Where It All Started
Adam’s competitive edge began early at Sandra Day O’Connor High School. He started varsity as a freshman and went on to become the all-time leader in wins and rebounds at the school. In his senior year, he was just five points shy of the all-time scoring record.
“We got shut down by COVID,” he says. “That’s the only reason I didn’t break it but Wenzel deserves it, he was the best scorer in program history.”
He was named 6A All-State, District Offensive MVP, and Overall MVP. He played through a painful knee injury during the playoffs against Westlake, matched up against KJ Adams, now with Kansas and an NCAA champion.
“I didn’t know the full damage until after the season,” Adam recalls. “I had missing cartilage behind my kneecap. Every time I bent it, it hurt.”
Beyond the Box Score
Adam joined the team in 2021 as a walk-on. He played under Coach Will Wade and became a key part of the team culture. He didn’t see many minutes, but his role went beyond the court.
“I hosted five-star recruits,” he says. “Sometimes it was just me and the recruit’s whole family at dinner. I had to sell the program.”
He was trusted with behind-the-scenes work, representing the team on visits, helping with team culture, and keeping morale high.
“My relationship with Coach Wade shaped my passion to coach,” Adam says. “He believed in me when he didn’t have to.”
Life With a Chronic Injury
During his collegiate career, Adam continued dealing with his knee injury. The missing cartilage caused his kneecap to dislocate multiple times.
“There’s no cure,” he says. “It’s a career-ending injury for a lot of guys.”
Instead of quitting, he adapted.
“I built workouts around the injury. I learned how to train smarter, not just harder,” he says. “It forced me to understand the body.”
That experience now fuels his approach to player development. He focuses on mechanics, injury prevention, and mental toughness.
“I know what it’s like to push through something most people don’t see.”
Building a Brand
In 2021, Adam also helped launch Players Inc, an NIL brand focused on licensed college gear. The company signed over 200 athletes and earned licensing rights at 30+ Power 5 schools.
“I worked on everything, design, athlete signings, pop-up shops, even the website,” he says.
That hands-on work gave him business skills and real-world marketing experience, something he plans to use for his future coaching brand.
The Pivot to Coaching
Now back in San Antonio, Adam is building a basketball training business. Recently agreed to join Behind The Scenes, New Balance sponsored AAU organization. He’s working with players across the city and inspiring the next generation and teaching winning habits.
“I’m not just teaching drills,” he says. “I’m teaching what I learned over years of adversity.”
He hopes to become a graduate assistant and eventually coach at the college level.
“My dream is to coach in the NBA one day,” Adam says. “But I’m starting with the players in my city.”
Grounded in Service
Adam also has a long history of giving back. Since middle school, he’s volunteered with students who have special needs. In college, he took part in multiple community outreach events through university athletics.
“I’ve always connected with that work,” he says. “It keeps me grounded.”
He was also LSU basketball rep for the Student-Athlete Committee and a four-time SEC Honor Roll honoree.
What’s Next?
Adam just launched his website. It serves as a portfolio of his basketball background, training services, and coaching philosophy.
“I want it to be one place people can go to see what I’m about,” he says. “My experience, my value, my story.”
Adam Benhayoune isn’t the most famous name in college basketball. But his journey, from high school standout to walk-on to injury-aware trainer, shows how far grit, loyalty, and self-awareness can take you.
“I love this game too much to ever quit,” he says. “That’s why I’ll be in the gym for the rest of my life.”
Interview with Adam Benhayoune
What was the toughest moment in your basketball journey?
Playing through my knee injury in high school was the hardest. I didn’t know at the time I had missing cartilage behind my kneecap. Every time I bent it, it hurt. Playing in the 4th round of the Texas 6A playoffs, with a steroid shot being the only thing keeping me standing. I just kept playing because I wasn’t going to let the injury be the reason I never wore my O’Connor jersey again.
What was your role on the team beyond game time?
I hosted recruits, helped keep team morale up, and did a lot of the work behind the scenes. Coach Wade and Coach McMahon trusted me with stuff that didn’t always show up on paper. That meant a lot.
How did your injury shape how you train today?
It made me smarter. I had to adjust my workouts and focus on mechanics and recovery. That experience is why I train people with intention now, not just intensity.
What’s something people get wrong about walk-ons?
People assume walk-ons are either rich, bad at basketball, or mean nothing to the program. But at least I was none of those things. We’re part of the culture, we help prep the team, we make practice better. Just because you’re not playing 30 minutes doesn’t mean you’re not contributing.
What inspired your coaching path?
Coach Will Wade. He believed in me, poured into me, and treated everyone with respect. Being apart and witnessing first hand how he ran his winning program at LSU made me want to coach.
What’s your focus now that you’re back in San Antonio?
Helping players here get better. I want to train athletes who want to grow, and from there I’ll work my way onto a coaching staff as a graduate assistant. This is just the beginning.
