NEK Basketball

About

NEK Nighthawk Basketball offers a competitive homeschool basketball league for both girls and boys ranging from 6th to 12th grade. The season commences from the end of October and concludes in March. Our schedule includes games and tournaments with other area homeschool organizations as well as private and public schools. Our program goes beyond the fundamentals of basketball skills and focuses on character development as well. We aim to instill values of honesty, respect, and sportsmanship through devotions and life lessons in athletics. Our mission is to provide a well-rounded opportunity to help athletes flourish, both physically and spiritually. We take pride in helping our athletes become the best version of themselves, on and off the court.

Whatever you do, do it from the HEART, as something done for the Lord and not for people.
Colossians 3:23

Our Coaches

Ryan and his family joined NEK in 2021 and right away got involved in serving our athletes. Ryan began helping the Junior High Boys basketball team and started coaching the Jr High Girls basketball team in the 2022-23 season. Ryan fell in love with the game of basketball in middle school and played competitively throughout high school and has coached girls/boys youth basketball for approximately 9 years. Coach Ryan focuses on teaching the girls about Godly character, teamwork, sportsmanship, and hard work. At the same time, he always encourages the players to strive for excellence in both practices and games. Ryan and his wife Christina have lived in Topeka since 2015 and have four children, two of which participate in NEK basketball.

Jeremiah Devine and his family joined NEK in 2024, with his children actively involved in basketball, soccer, and choir. As Head Coach of the Junior High Girls Basketball Team, Jeremiah’s mission is to use basketball as a platform to shape young women into athletes of strong character, resilient grit, and unwavering faith—preparing them to be leaders both on and off the court. He brings a passion for the game, having coached youth basketball for Shawnee County Parks and Recreation (2018–2021), served as Junior High Girls Assistant Coach at Cair Paravel Latin School (2019), and led youth girls teams at SportZone in Topeka (2022–2023). In addition, Jeremiah has officiated youth, middle school, and adult league games with the YMCA of Hutchinson, Shawnee County Parks and Recreation, and the Hardin County League in Iowa. Jeremiah and his wife Amanda have lived in Topeka since 2014. They have three children, Presley, Paisley and Pierce.