KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Josh Townsend (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter) is a soft-spoken, fun-loving individual, who can always bring a smile to your face. That's not to say he's not a force to be reckon with on the basketball court, he just doesn't have to tell you about it.
 
But when the senior was named a team captain prior to the 2019-20 season, he stepped out of his comfort zone and began to find more of his voice.
 
"To be named a captain this year meant a lot to me," said Townsend. "Being the only four-year player, it showed growth from when I first came in. My role changed because I had to lead with my words and actions a lot more. I was a leader and younger guys looked up to me."
 
In his first two years with the program, the Philadelphia native waited his time and learned from upperclassmen ahead of him. As a freshman, he played in just nine games, and then as a sophomore, Townsend appeared in 26-of-28 games, making six starts. He made a big jump and became a regular in head coach Bernie Driscoll's lineup as a junior, starting 22 of the 30 games he played in, averaging career-highs with 10.6 points per game and 8.5 rebounds per game.

""JT is an outstanding young man who has become an integral part of the Kutztown Community," said Driscoll. "We are so proud of him. JT has worked extremely hard and overcome many obstacles during his journey here at KU."
 
It was a big jump in contribution, but one that he was ready for after hard work and dedication to his craft.
 
"I worked hard in the summer and preseason and always gave it my all on the court," Townsend said. "I just wanted to do whatever was asked of me and wanted to contribute to the team."
 
That continued in his final season in Maroon and Gold. While Townsend, who played in 25 games with 12 starts as a senior, split starts with sophomore forward Akello Mosby (Philadelphia, Pa./Carver) and junior Sean Griffin (Abington, Pa./Phil-Mont Christian Academy), his attitude and work ethic never changed. He was a captain and a team-player, and was a role model to his teammates. He never took a play off and every minute he was on the hardwood, he was chasing down rebounds or bumping elbows with fellow big men in the paint. Townsend finished eighth in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) in rebounding average (7.6) and also added 6.7 ppg. He also earned two PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Week honors this season.
 
"My time as a Golden Bear has been everything that I hoped it would be," said Townsend. "Playing in the PSAC showed me that there is talent everywhere, and to get what you want, you have to work hard."
 
Off the court, Townsend was an ambassador to not only his program, but to Kutztown University. Last summer, and into the fall, Townsend was featured on a billboard in the Lehigh Valley. His headshot appeared with the phrase "major in discovering myself," to show prospective KU students that at Kutztown, you can find yourself and your future.
 
"My time as a student-athlete at Kutztown has been the best years of my life," Townsend said. "I've played against top competition on the basketball court, while meeting a lot of good people around campus. Playing basketball and sitting in classrooms at Kutztown taught me a lot."
 
Townsend will graduate in May with a degree in communication studies. He has a job lined up at a marketing firm in Philadelphia.