Steady presence, strong purpose: Nathaniel Hosannah defines Black excellence on his own terms

Nathaniel Hosannah (second-year Business Administration student from Tacoma, Wash.) doesn’t need to be the loudest voice in the gym to make an impact.

Adjusting to a new country, league and campus, the six-foot-four basketball forward has embraced his transition from the United States with the same measured approach that defines his game: steady, accountable and intentional.

But for Hosannah, leadership is not about titles or attention. It is about presence –how you carry yourself when things are good and how you respond when they are not.

That mindset, he says, is inseparable from how he understands Black excellence.

“In short, I’d say Black excellence is embracing unique qualities,” Hosannah says. “When you’re part of a minority or a culture that’s seen a certain way, it’s about embracing the positives of that community and just trying to be the best that you can be.”

But for Hosannah, that definition is not theoretical. It is personal. It was taught at home.

Built on example

When asked who first showed him what Black excellence looks like, Hosannah answers without hesitation.

“My mom,” he says.

Desiree Hosannah was adopted at a young age and raised in Brooklyn, New York. From there, she built her own path, becoming a lawyer, running her own firm and serving as a judge.

“She made her future 10 times better than what her past was,” he says. “That’s inspiring.”

From both Desiree and Vernon Hosannah came structure, discipline and expectation. Growing up in predominantly white school environments, Hosannah says his mother was clear about what it would take to succeed.

“You have to do the same work as everybody else and then do more to be seen,” she tells him.

At a young age, that message felt heavy. Over time, it became fuel.

“It gave me a work ethic that could never be replaced,” he says.

It also shapes how Hosannah defines responsibility. Excellence, in his mind, is not about perfection – it’s about accountability.

“If I say I want to be a pillar in my community and I mess up, I have to own that,” he says. “Nobody’s going to be 100 per cent all the time.”

That mindset carries into the locker room.

A leap of faith and a plane ticket

Hosannah’s journey began with a simple weekend tournament in his home state. He and a group of friends were entering buy-in events with a men’s league team, chasing prize money and exposure. After a standout performance, one coach took notice and reached out to Hosannah, starting a connection that ultimately opened the door to United Prep Canada.

His timeline moved quickly. Within weeks, Hosannah was in Calgary, staying with his coach alongside teammate Randall Mongard (first year, Open Studies, Laval, Que.) while training at the Seven Chiefs Sportsplex & Jim Starlight Centre in preparation for an overseas showcase. The roster was still taking shape, with players learning and building chemistry at the same time.

From there, his team travelled to the Philippines and Malaysia for nearly a month, playing roughly 15 to 17 games. There, they faced Malaysia’s national team in back-to-back contests and later competed against a U-25 squad; experiences that offered a glimpse into the professional level. 

“It makes it more realistic,” he said of his professional aspirations. “Being able to get a small sliver of that experience makes it more desirable.”

The games were streamed online. Arena sections filled despite flooding in parts of the Philippines. Exposure was a different level there, as after one win he was interviewed courtside. Even when walking through malls, strangers asked him for photos.

“It was very humbling,” he said. “You don’t get that type of experience every day. But you still know who you are. You don’t let it get to your head.”

That grounding of knowing who you are when attention increases, is something he learned long before the spotlight.

Mentorship and maturity

Another defining influence in Hosannah’s life is Coach Benito at Charles Wright Academy in Tacoma.

As an assistant coach during Hosannah’s high school years, Benito became more than a coach — he was a mentor and steady presence. A Black coach leading with consistency and care, he challenged Hosannah to think beyond talent and to understand discipline, maturity and long-term vision. 

“He was somebody who always kept me grounded,” Hosannah says.

Benito emphasizes preparation, accountability and perspective, lessons that extend well beyond basketball. Years later, Hosannah returned to coach under him, a full-circle moment that reinforces the impact of intentional leadership.

“Making somebody else’s process easier with your knowledge. That’s the biggest thing you can do,” Hosannah says.

That philosophy now shapes how he interacts with teammates. Whether sharing rehab advice, offering perspective after a loss or simply listening before speaking, he approaches leadership as responsibility rather than recognition.

“You’re entitled to your moment,” he says. “But once you cool down, you’ve got to see other perspectives.”

For Hosannah, leadership is not about control. It is about service.

Choosing growth

When Hosannah’s Asia tour ended, he and teammate Mongard discussed their collegiate options together – weighing coaching styles, team culture and, most importantly, where they could continue building.

The decision to attend Lethbridge Polytechnic came quickly. By late August, they were in open gyms and early training with the Kodiaks.

“Two and a half weeks [of looking] and then boom, I’m a Kodiak,” Hosannah says.

The adjustment required discipline from Hosannah. Having previously played junior college basketball in the United States, he notices immediate differences. Academically, he viewed Canadian coursework as more exam-heavy. On the court, the shift is philosophical.

“In junior college, it can be very individualistic where it was two best players against two best players,” he says. “Out here, it’s more five versus five. It’s more team.”

That collective emphasis aligns with how he views leadership not dominance, but contribution. 

Visibility and perspective

Moving to Lethbridge brings new experiences of snow, wind and a less diverse population than he is used to.

“You get a lot of looks,” he says. “I’m 6-foot-4 with dreads and tattoos – I know I stand out. but I don’t assume it’s negative.”

Choosing that mindset is intentional. He has learned that assuming the worst only distracts, while assuming the best allows him to stay grounded and focused on what he can control. Hosannah’s perspective protects his focus and reinforces the example he wants to set, not just as a player, but as a person. 

Black excellence, he believes, does not need to be performed.

“If it’s celebrated within the community, that’s more than enough,” he says. “It’s your own process and your own love for yourself and your community.”

At the same time, he hopes progress stories receive as much attention as hardship.

“If there’s good being done, embrace the good,” he says. “History matters, but you also focus on what you can control.”

For Hosannah, that control lies in daily habits: preparation, accountability and character. Be consistent. Be accountable. Be prepared. 

Leadership, in his view, is not a spotlight. It is a standard.

And wherever basketball takes him next, Hosannah intends to carry that standard shaped by his parents, strengthened by his coaches and lived out through steady excellence.