As a young kid growing up in Scarborough, Ont., for Joshua Makwene, basketball was a way to connect. It started in his living room, watching the Toronto Raptors with his dad while asking a thousand questions, trying to make sense of the game. It grew on the court in Malvern Park, where other kids in the community would meet up, pick up a ball, and play.

Growing up in Malvern, Makwene often struggled to find guidance, but the game became his way forward.

Paying it back is second nature for Makwene – mentorship isn’t just something he does, but who he is. He currently serves as a youth director at Global Kingdom Church and in his spare time, volunteers as a coach and mentor at OFF THE 401, a program dedicated to providing safe spaces for youth to build connections and gain valuable life skills.

Through his work, Makwene remains committed to creating opportunities for young people to feel empowered both on and off the court.

“It’s about giving them an opportunity that people in my generation didn’t really get a chance to have. I know how impactful encouraging influences were on my life, and I want to be that for those who are coming up as well.” Makwene said with a smile.

On top of his mentorship efforts, Makwene also coaches for Scarborough Sports Club as part of the Jr. NBA program, an initiative in partnership with Canada Basketball and NBA Canada, designed to introduce young players across Canada to the fundamentals of the game.

“A lot of them haven’t played basketball before,” Makwene explained. “The programs that are available are very easy, so it gets them comfortable with just having the basketball in their hands. It builds their confidence.”

The Jr. NBA program is not only beneficial for athletes, but coaches as well. Through coach training, a comprehensive curriculum, and coach manuals, the program equips coaches with the tools to effectively teach and mentor young players.

For the Scarborough Sports coach, the program helped him tap into his creative side.

“When coming into coaching, I was coaching the way I was taught how to play basketball,” he said. “But with Jr. NBA, they use games that you would play in the schoolyard and then add in basketball. It’s like two things at once, bringing both worlds together.

“For parents, they get to see that learning doesn’t have to be just one way,” Makwene continued. “It’s really cool to see parents watching their kids excel in a safe space.”

Makwene’s ability to foster engaging and nurturing environments is a direct reflection of his personality. He brings his infectious energy and unwavering positivity into every single session.

How does he stay so motivated? Through the youth he works with.

“Just seeing how kids bounce back," Makwene said. “They can take a fall, but they get back up. They’re really persistent. And it’s like, wow, if you’re putting in that effort, I can definitely give a little bit more too.”

Makwene also understands that as a Black leader, his presence in these spaces carries deeper meaning.

“Typically, they don’t see Black leaders, especially people that are closer to them in age. It’s encouraging, even for parents too, to see that there are changes happening and that people are investing into their communities.” Makwene explained.

However, he doesn’t take his role lightly.

“There’s a lot of responsibility there for sure,” he said. “I live in Malvern and coach in Malvern as well, so a lot of times you’ll see the youth at the grocery stores… they watch what you do, even the little things. It helps because it keeps you on the straight and narrow.”

As he looks to the future of Canadian basketball, Makwene hopes the game continues to be more than just a sport–it can be a tool for personal growth and building a sense of community. He is excited to see how increased opportunities will uplift this up-and-coming generation of basketball players and leaders alike.

“It is definitely growing. If we look back maybe five years or so, there weren’t that many big Canadian names. But now, all these different names are emerging in the league,” Makwene said. “At the Jr. NBA level, it shows them that, hey, there’s a lot of people who started where you are right now. We have a place in this too.”

And for Makwene, that’s what it’s all about: showing the next generation that their potential is limitless and that the game of basketball is just the beginning.