Adrian Stubbs is soft spoken.

On Tuesday night, he let his game do the talking, and news of his incredible performance during his team’s 109-25 win rapidly spread across the country. The senior scored an Arizona high school record 100 points against Kofa High in Yuma, a feat only accomplished by a dozen other boys basketball players in the U.S. 

The last one to do so was Tigran Grigorian of California 26 years ago. But Stubbs might be the only one who accomplished it in just three quarters. 

This season, Stubbs wanted to break Pinnacle product Nico Mannion’s Arizona big school single game points record of 57. Once he zoomed by Mannion on Tuesday after scoring his team's 70 first half points (yes, all 70), the next Arizona target was the all-conference record of 75 points, accumulated by Fredonia’s George McCormick during the 1965-66 season. 

But first, Stubbs remained on Kofa's court at halftime to practice his free throw shooting. He was dissatisfied with the six free throws he missed in the first half. 

Maryvale's Adrian Stubbs showed off his perfect form during a halfcourt shot he made Wednesday. (Jose Garcia photo/AZPreps365)During halftime also, Maryvale coach Jeremy Smith approached Kofa coach Brandon Lovings to tell him his team wasn't trying to run up the score and that Stubbs was 30 points away from Arizona state history. 

According to Smith, Lovings’ response was, “(Stubbs) is having a special night, coach. By all means, don’t take him out. Don’t tell him not to shoot. Play us.”

At a gathering for press held during Wednesday's shootaround at Maryvale, Smith said, “I have nothing but love and respect for (Lovings).”  

Stubbs scored his 100th point in the waning minutes of the third quarter. 

“It feels amazing accomplishing something many kids dream of,” said Stubbs Wednesday while being surrounded by his teammates. "It feels great.” 

During Tuesday's game, Maryvale’s coaching staff learned that the national record for points in a game was 135, recorded by Danny Heater of West Virginia in 1960. 

But Smith kept Stubbs on the bench in the fourth quarter.

“We want to respect the game and the integrity of it,” said the coach as to why he kept his star guard out.

A photo of Stubbs holding a piece of paper with “100” written on it, similar to the one Wilt Chamberlain held after reaching that lofty total, went viral. A Kofa student presented that paper to Stubbs.

On Wednesday, Maryvale athletic director Richard Verduzco said that Kofa’s athletic director LeAnne McCall complimented the sportsmanship Maryvale's basketball team displayed during its one-sided victory.  

“The fans were gracious,” Smith said. "From the principal, athletic director, announcer, scoreboard operator, and custodian, they were a class act.”

Any thoughts of Stubbs being a ball hog is likely hogwash. 

As of Wednesday, on maxpreps.com, he was Arizona’s co-big school leader in assists at 7.1 per game. Stubbs’ teammates apparently hold him in high praise.

Adrian Stubbs treats his teammates like family. Stubbs and coach Jeremy Smith (sitting) made sure to include the entire team in Wednesday's press conference. (Jose Garcia photo/AZPreps365)“Adrian is an amazing person,” said Maryvale’s Keith Harrison, a freshman. "There’s a saying that goes, ‘Are you a 6 p.m. or 2 a.m. friend?’ I feel like he’s a 2 a.m. friend, because you can call him and he’ll be there for you no matter what at any time. If you need a ride. If you need somebody to talk to. You need help with something. You need advice. He’s always there for you.”

During Tuesday’s game, teammate Abram Moreno Salazar had a clear pathway to the basket but passed the ball to the trailing Stubbs, allowing the senior to keep adding to his point total.

Another teammate, Junior Garcia, dove on the floor for a loose ball to give Stubbs another scoring opportunity.  

What Stubbs accomplished last year, when he started to make a name for himself after scoring 56 points in a game, and Tuesday night are points of pride for Maryvale and its blue collar community. 

"It helps our program and culture,” Harrison said. "People give Maryvale a bad rap. It hurts us, but we don’t let it get to us. Adrian scoring 100 and then 56 last year, it was amazing. So it just helps us and our culture.”

After Tuesday's postgame celebration in Kofa’s visitor’s locker room, Maryvale prayed.

“We thanked God for letting Adrian get his 100 points,” Harrison said. "We pray before every game. I feel like God is a heavy thing in our program. It’s really centered around that.”

Before heading home, Maryvale made a stop at a Slim Chickens in Yuma, where the party continued. 

To recreate Giannis Antetokounmpo's famous 50 chicken nuggets order from a Chick-fil-A after Game 6 of the 2021 NBA Finals, Slim Chickens employees allowed Stubbs to get behind the counter as one of his teammates ordered 100 tenders. 

That was followed by a Yuma TV reporter inviting the team to do a live interview at a studio. Maryvale obliged. 

Before just loading the bus to finally head home, another media request came in, which Maryvale did as well during a live stream. 

Once on the bus, sports media company Overtime and other influencers DM’d Stubbs. Maryvale didn’t get home until about 2:30 a.m. 

Stubbs spent the night at a teammate’s home. Smith only slept for two hours before his phone went off with more interview requests. 

The New York Times, ESPN and even TMZ also were chasing down Stubbs. His English teacher was also looking for him. 

Stubbs had to give a speech at about 11 a.m. on education activist Malala Yousafzai. Stubbs is enrolled in Maryvale’s gifted academy.

A Maryvale teammate was supposed to help him out with the speech but was a no-show. Not to worry, though. 

Stubbs’ always has his teammates’ backs and did the speech by himself. 

When asked by his English teacher how his Tuesday game went, Stubbs simply replied, “OK.” 

So far, his performance hasn’t reeled in any Division I offers for the 5-10 guard. 

But D-I programs are taking notice of the all-around standout. Pepperdine attended a Maryvale game, and Northern Arizona University coach Shane Burcar texted Smith on Wednesday to congratulate Maryvale and Stubbs. 

Stubbs' nickname, Ace, befits his talents. His mom/rock, Traci, who’s experienced her share of ups and downs, gave her son the nickname when he was five, because she believed Stubbs would grow up to do special things, he said. 

She was right all along.

Be Better. Be Different. Adrian Stubbs was certainly that Tuesday night. (Jose Garcia photo/AZPreps365)