Lake City senior Josh Watson signs to play at North Idaho College

Josh Watson’s next stop keeps him close to home and inside one of Kootenai County’s most familiar sports pipelines: the Lake City High senior signed to play basketball at North Idaho College, linking a championship program in Coeur d’Alene with the county’s flagship college.

The signing photo showed more than a college decision. Seated with Watson were his mother, Tashayla Watson, his sister, Taleyia Watson, and his father, Josh Watson Sr. Standing behind him were teacher Azure Wilson, Lake City assistant boys basketball coach Tom Gasper, Lake City head boys basketball coach James Anderson and athletic director Troy Anderson. It was a family moment, but it also reflected how much local support sits behind a player reaching the next level.

Watson’s signing fits into a Lake City basketball program that has become one of the area’s most closely watched. As a freshman, Watson was part of an undefeated Timberwolves team that won the program’s first state championship in 2023. By the time Lake City reached the Idaho 6A title game again in March, Watson had grown into a key big man for another deep run. In the semifinal against Centennial, he scored 22 points on 10-of-11 shooting. In the championship game against Owyhee, he added 18 points and nine rebounds.

That production helps explain why North Idaho College came calling. The Cardinals compete in the National Junior College Athletic Association and finished the 2025-26 regular season 16-15 overall and 6-9 in conference play. Corey Symons leads the men’s basketball program, with Fred Brown Jr., Russ Giles, Josh Whitaker and Drew Wiley on the coaching staff. For a local prospect, NIC offers a chance to keep playing in front of familiar fans while stepping into a college program that still carries real athletic weight in the region.

The fit is also practical. North Idaho College says it offers more than 150 degrees and certificates, along with dual-credit opportunities for high school juniors and seniors. The college also says tuition costs about half of what it does at a four-year public college, a detail that makes the move attractive for families balancing athletics and academics.

For Watson, the signing marks the next chapter after a high school career tied to one of Lake City’s best recent teams. For Lake City, it is another example of a program producing players ready for college basketball. For Kootenai County, it is a familiar and encouraging sight: a local athlete, backed by coaches and family, turning high school success into a college opportunity close to home.