OKINAWA, Japan – Former Washington State men's basketball standout Josh Hawkinson (2013-17) represented Japan at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup Aug. 25 – Sept. 2 across Japan, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Hawkinson and Team Japan defeated Cape Verde, 80-71, in front of a sold out crowd at Okinawa Arena to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
 
The Japanese team earned a second-straight Olympic bid after Hawkinson helped the team top Group O, ahead of Finland, Cape Verde, and Venezuela, and as the best-placed team from Asia. Hawkinson led the team with 21.0 points per game and 10.8 rebounds per game. Hawkinson spearheaded Japan's win over Cape Verde, Saturday night in Okinawa, with 29 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and four blocks.
 
The Shoreline, Wash., native earned his Japanese citizenship while playing professionally in the Japanese B.League. Hawkinson began his pro career with the second-division Toyotsu Fighting Eagles in 2017, before being signed by the top-flight Shinshu Brave Warriors in 2020.
 
Hawkinson finished his WSU career with 40 double-doubles, third in school history, and grabbed the eighth-most rebounds in school history with 700. In his time on the Palouse, Hawkinson played 119 games and finished with a .523 field goal percentage, averaged 11.9 points, and 8.5 rebounds per game.