Joshua K. Willis is a young basketball star who is looking to take his talents to the next level. A 6’5” guard who can also play small forward, Josh possesses the talent, basketball IQ, size, and strength to take over a game with his outstanding ballhandling and shooting skills. Furthermore, he is an unselfish teammate willing to do whatever it takes to help his team win.
Josh graduated from Morton East High School in Cicero, Illinois, in 2020 as the world began grappling with the coronavirus pandemic and is seeking the opportunity to compete at the NCAA Division I level or pursue a professional contract overseas.
His ultimate goal is to play in the NBA.
Josh is an outstanding dribbler and shooter. He uses his size and strength to protect the ball and has a virtually unlimited range to consistently makes shots, even with a defender’s hand in his face. His range forces opponents to come out and defend him, opening up lanes for him to either drive to the rim or find open teammates.
Josh compares his game to Michael Carter Williams and D’Angelo Russell because he is a tall guard able to dribble and shoot. However, others say he is more like Kevin Durant. Josh’s abilities and versatility are reflected in the different players his name draws comparisons to.
While defense is an area that Josh cited as needing improvement in the past, he has made tremendous strides in improving this aspect of his game. Teammates and coaches noted a significant improvement in his defense thanks to his commitment on the court and work of the court studying the game to learn more about defensive responsibilities.
From July 12-18, Josh will represent Team USA at the PhD Hoops Puerto Rico Challenge Tour which will feature some of the top college-aged players in the world. As he prepares for the Puerto Rico Challenge Tour, Josh is also busy practicing all aspects of his game, training to maintain and improve his basketball conditioning, and studying the game.
Josh played his final two years of high school ball at Morton East and competed with the Mustangs AAU team. He nearly averaged a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds per game during his senior year while also adding six assists, two steals, and one block per game.
As a senior, Josh led Morton East to a remarkable turnaround as the Mustangs posted a 21-8 overall record while going 9-1 in Western Suburban – Gold League games. Morton East capped its remarkable season by winning a regional championship after the squad went 14-16 the previous year. Read More Pooh Shiesty:
Josh began his scholastic career at North Lawndale College Prep – Collins Campus and played AAU for Team Rose and Adidas Grinders McDonald’s All-American Team in Chicago. His ability to compete against more seasoned competition was already apparent then. He played with the North Lawndale’s freshmen team in the summer league season while still an eighth-grader and helped lift the team to several tournament championships.
Josh has experienced many highlights throughout his career, including being invited to play for the In The Gym Hoops Camp. He led his team to an undefeated record while averaging a double-double with 12 points and ten assists, five rebounds, and one steal per game.
Josh has also been selected to compete in various All-Star games, where he has been able to compete with the most talented players from around the region.
Josh’s teammates describe him as an outstanding teammate who is excellent to have on your team and enjoyable to spend time with off the court. He is hardworking and believes anything is possible, but he is also chill and relaxed, which helps the team stay mentally level even during the most pressure-packed situations.
His coaches also describe him as an extremely hard-working player who puts in the work to succeed. He is the type of player who will go and get something rather than wait for it to come to him. While he can singlehandedly take over games, he is an unselfish player willing to do whatever it takes and assume any role to help his team win.
Josh comes from an athletic family where everyone played the sports they loved. His mother and father with both basketball players, while his father also played football. Josh himself also competed on the gridiron during his youth before turning his attention solely to basketball at the start of middle school.
Josh idolizes his mother, who he credits with doing so much for him and all he knows today. He would like nothing more than to repay her for all the hard work she did for him.
He also cites his entire family as his inspiration because they have always had his back and supported him to the best of their abilities.
A strong student with good grades, Josh says English was his favorite class in school because he loves to read and write. He also enjoyed gym class for the time it offered him to stay active and get more shots up.
He is always looking to continue his education and learn new things while constantly striving to improve as a student and person. He is interested in an academic program that helps him learn more about the human body, such as physiology.
Josh firmly believes in the full team concept and goes to great lengths to build camaraderie with his teammates while developing friendships with new people.
Josh is excited about his next opportunity and welcomes outreach from coaches and recruiters, who can learn more about him, view his highlight videos, and contact him via the information below.
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 773-484-0359
- LinkedIn: Joshua K. Willis – Basketball Player
- Instagram: @JoshuaKWillis7
