Josh Hawkinson

Josh Hawkinson's Biography

Joshua Haakon Hawkinson, often known as Josh Hawkinson, was born on June 23, 1995, in Seattle, Washington. Originally hailing from an athletic family, his parents Nels and Nancy Hawkinson had significant basketball careers at Trinity Western University and the University of Washington, respectively. Josh followed suit, eventually becoming a professional basketball player and a significant asset in the international court. As part of his early life, Hawkinson attended Shorewood High School in Shoreline, where he showcased exceptional basketball talents. Driven by his consistency and passion, he led his team to achieve a 32-14 record during his junior and senior seasons, averaging 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 blocks per game.

Notoriously underrecruited, Hawkinson drew interest from only one Power 5 conference school, Washington State University (WSU). Subsequently, he began his collegiate athletic career there in 2013. Although he played a minor role as a freshman, over time, he saw his role vastly change, especially after the transition in coaching with the entrance of Ernie Kent. As a sophomore under Kent’s tutelage, he saw a substantial increase in game time and his scoring improved significantly.

Over several seasons, Hawkinson became a significant pillar for the Washington State Cougars. The young athlete stood out, leading the team by setting single-season WSU records in total rebounds and double-doubles. Moreover, he earned esteemed awards such as the Pac-12 Most Improved Player of the Year and All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention.

As a junior, he assumed the role of team captain. He concluded his tenure at WSU with several accolades, including Pac-12 Second Team honors and Senior CLASS Award First Team All-American, the first for a Washington State player. Simultaneously, he managed to complete both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in only four years, earning exceptional academic honors like the Pac-12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year. His collegiate career ended with him being 10th in WSU’s all-time points scored and setting university records for double-doubles and rebounds. He made the remarkable achievement of being the first-ever WSU player to accumulate over 1,000 points and rebounds.

Upon the completion of his college basketball journey, Hawkinson ventured into professional basketball. On June 26, 2017, he started playing professionally in Japan with the Toyotsu Fighting Eagles of the B.League. His early career in Japan proved fruitful, leading to a renewed contract for 2018-19 and the 2019-20 seasons. After his stint with the Fighting Eagles, he continued his career with the Shinshu Brave Warriors, where he played from the 2020-21 season to 2022-23.

In June 2023, Hawkinson switched teams to join the Sun Rockers Shibuya, marking another key juncture in his professional basketball career. Around this time, Hawkinson also formalized his affinity for Japan by becoming a Japanese citizen. This move enabled him to represent Japan at distinguished international events such as the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup and the 2024 Olympics. Throughout his career, Josh Hawkinson has made it apparent that his passion for basketball knows no geographical bounds. Raised with basketball in his veins and having made some remarkable achievements on court during his college days and professional career, he continues to make significant contributions to his team and the sport.