TEAM GEMZ

Josiah is one of the elite talents we have seen come out of the northwest. Playing varsity all four years in basketball, football, and track. In his high school career he scored over 1,000 points in basketball and was ranked in ESPN’s top 300 during his junior and senior year in football. He received a scholarship to play basketball at Lewis-Clark state College, where he went 61-10 under coach Austin Johnson and was one of the premier guards featured on his team. Josiah then went on to play professionally overseas in Morocco. 

Goals for community

“I want the Northwest to get the respect they deserve with generating elite talent. I believe some kids get overlooked based on the area, I want college coaches and the nation to start taking notice of the talent we have up north.”

“I want to give back and share my experiences with the youth and ultimately help guide them to a successful and prosperous career in sports and life.”  

Hometown: Bellingham, WA

Damek, a Whatcom County standout played varsity basketball & football all 4 years at Squalicum High School. Receiving accolades like player of the year in the Northwest Conference and making the Storm a powerhouse in his stint. Receiving a scholarship to play basketball at Lewis-Clark state College, he made 2 final four runs, had a national championship appearance, and broke many school records. Damek also received player of the year honors in the cascade conference, while notching a defensive player of the year to add on. He then went on to play professional basketball overseas in Portugal. Damek is committed to giving athletes like himself and in the northwest a platform/opportunity to pursue their dream at the next level! 

Goals for community: 

1. Build strong relationships with student athletes and bring exposure to the Pacific Northwest. 

2. Guide and motivate teams and student athletes to excel in their lives.

3. Create a space we’re student athletes can be themselves.

The Early Spark

My journey in sports ignited during my high school days at Squalicum high school. I made history as part of the first-ever team from Squalicum to compete at the state level in football. My prowess on both the offensive and defensive lines earned me the honor of First Team All-NWC Offensive and Defensive Line, not to mention the Second Team All-State Defensive Line accolade in the 2014-2015 season.

Hoops and Dreams

Basketball was another realm where I left my mark. I was a key player on the Squalicum basketball team, contributing significantly to our 5th-place finish at the state championships in 2015.

The College Journey

Taking my passion for football further, I continued my journey at Washington State University (GO COUGS!), playing college football from 2015 to 2017. In 2019, I proudly graduated with a degree in Sports Management, equipping me with valuable skills to shape the future of athletics.

A Decade of Dominance

In 2020, I was honored as the Lineman of the Decade by Whatcom Preps, recognizing my enduring impact on the sport.

The Present and Beyond

Currently, I serve as an Athletic Director in Central Seattle, where I collaborate closely with Seattle Rotary and Darryl Hennings. My mission with Northwest Gemz is to shine a spotlight on the incredible talent hidden within the Pacific Northwest. I aim to provide a platform for young athletes to showcase their skills and build their personal brands, all while raising awareness about the untapped potential in our region. Together, we'll uncover the gems that make our corner of the world shine brightly in the world of sports.

Stay tuned for the future stars of the game!

Devin has developed a strong passion in helping High School athletes achieve their dreams of playing at the next level. He played basketball throughout his childhood, playing AAU and at Squalicum HS for his freshman year before stepping away the following year to focus on his family & job. After starting a Twitter page to help promote Pacific Northwest athletes to college coaches, and to help guide them in the right direction with the help of former and current collegiate athletes throughout the country. He was able to join PrepNetwork and write articles about athletes within the state of Washington for football, girls basketball, and boys basketball. Devin had the opportunity to make his dream of coaching basketball become a reality when he joined the Men’s basketball program at Whatcom Community College. He learned what it took to grow close connections & how to get through conflicts with the athletes on the team. After the season he had the honor to coach with Team 360 Hoops alongside Damek Mitchell. It was his first experience being a head coach for a team and made him realize this is something he wants to do in the long term to continue to connect with young players. He continues to work with athletes around the country in helping them find colleges at the next level and continues to cover athletes within the state of Washington for football and boys basketball.