For athletes who grow up in Hershey, success is often measured by more than points scored, innings pitched, or games won. It is shaped by the kind of community that shows up, remembers your journey, and makes a hometown feel like both a launching pad and a safety net. For Jack Argento, Danny Nelson, and James Campbell IV, athletics have opened doors to college competition and future ambitions, but each of them speaks just as strongly about the people and place that helped get them there. Their stories are distinct—basketball, baseball, and basketball again—but together they reflect the same Hershey values: discipline, gratitude, resilience, and a deep appreciation for community.

Born and raised in Hershey, Jack Argento describes the town as a place with “so much history” and a “great small town feel” that still offers plenty to do. More than that, he values how tightly knit the community is and the support that comes from growing up here. That support carried through a basketball journey that began early and became his primary focus in middle school. What drew him in was the nature of the game itself: its pace, the athleticism and skill it demands, and the way every player on a roster carries an important role.

     Now 22 and a graduate of Wilkes University, where he played guard for the Colonels, Argento looks back on scoring 1,000 points in college as a meaningful milestone. But even in describing an individual achievement, his perspective remains rooted in team culture. He sees the mark not simply as personal success, but as evidence of the trust his coaches and teammates placed in him throughout his career. That outlook shows up again in the advice he offers younger athletes: success does not happen overnight, and comparing your timeline to someone else’s can be a mistake. In a world built for instant results, Argento believes in patience, persistence, and trusting the process.

Danny Nelson has lived in Hershey his whole life, and what stands out to him most is how connected everyone is. He talks about the lifelong friendships that come from growing up here, and about the stability of having both of his parents still in town. That sense of closeness has formed the backdrop to a baseball career that started in tee ball and became more serious once he reached high school. Today, Nelson pitches right-handed for Clemson University, competing at one of the highest levels of college baseball.

     His favorite baseball memory so far is advancing to the top 16 of the WWBA travel tournament with his travel team, a milestone that reflects both talent and the competitive environments that helped shape him. Nelson is equally direct when he talks about balancing school and sports: practice and class come first during the day, then schoolwork gets done at night, with tutors helping him better understand the material when needed. Through the game, he says, he has gained discipline and made countless connections. His future goal is as clear as his approach: get drafted and play professional baseball. And for young athletes coming up behind him, his advice is refreshingly grounded—have fun with the sport you play, and have fun doing other things in life, too.

James Campbell IV, a Hershey High School graduate and rising sophomore at Case Western Reserve University, has lived in Hershey for about 14 years. For him, the town’s defining quality is its closeness. Growing up playing basketball, baseball, and football gave him the chance to build friendships that still matter deeply today. One of the clearest examples of that community spirit, he says, came when Hershey played in the PIAA State Championship at the Giant Center for the first time in school history. Seeing so many fans come out to support the team made the moment feel surreal.

     Campbell plays wing for the basketball team at Case Western Reserve, but his roots in the game run even deeper. He started playing around age 5, influenced by family members who also played college basketball, and he grew up admiring Malcolm Brogdon. Asked about the favorite moment of his athletic journey, Campbell points to that state championship game. Even though the final result was not what he and his teammates wanted, he still remembers the excitement of playing in front of a home crowd in the biggest high school game of the year. The three-pointer he made before halftime to put Hershey up by seven remains, in his view, the best shot of his career so far.

     Campbell’s perspective is also shaped by adversity. Injuries and broken bones have sidelined him at different points, and those setbacks taught him one of his biggest lessons from sports: gratitude. Being healthy, he says, is something athletes cannot take for granted, because someone else would trade places in an instant. He also credits mentors Emneko Sweeney and Andrew Fahringer with seeing his potential early and continuing to influence his development as he pursues basketball beyond college. His advice to younger athletes is to do everything with intent and purpose. If the goal is to play at the next level, he believes, that journey begins with having a plan.

Taken together, the stories of Argento, Nelson, and Campbell show what Hershey athletics can produce: not just strong competitors, but thoughtful young people who understand the value of work, support, and perspective. One is stepping from college basketball into a professional career in Chicago, one is chasing the dream of professional baseball, and one is determined to keep playing the game that has long given him purpose. Their paths are different, but each remains connected to the same hometown foundation. In Hershey, the scoreboard matters—but so do the people in the stands, the mentors who believe early, and the community that keeps showing up long after the final buzzer or last pitch.

Danny Nelson: IG @dannynelson41

James Campbell: IG @jdcampbelliv

Jack Argento: IG @jackargento_