About
Northwest Magic Basketball offers structured practices focused on development, weekly practices, and year-round training opportunities that include skill development training, position development sessions, game IQ training, and shooting sessions. The program includes youth fundamentals programs, offensive and defensive skills work, agility and strength training programs, mini camps, weeklong pro-style training camps, and team-building activities. Players participate in competitive local, regional, and national play through Development Teams, Legacy & Premier Teams, and Nike Circuit Teams.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
Northwest Magic Basketball was founded in 2007 and has been preparing basketball players for the next level for over 20 seasons, with a stated focus on “Northwest Magic 20 Years of Proven Development” and “20 Years Building Players The Right Way.” The program offers a complete development pathway that includes the Headstart Program (K–3rd Grade), Development Teams (3rd–8th Grade), Legacy & Premier Teams, Nike Circuit Teams for elite athletes competing on national stages, and College Preparation Support for athletes pursuing the next level. Its Basketball Path Model outlines phases of Playing for Fun, Playing for T-Shirts and learning what it means to compete, Playing for Scholarships, and Playing to Go Pro.
Northwest Magic describes itself as a development-based program focused on structure, accountability, and high-level training environments, with a mission of “Developing College Ready Players.” The stated mission is to provide a positive and structured basketball environment where athletes can develop their skills, build confidence, and learn life lessons through the game, and to help athletes work hard, compete with purpose, lead with character, and prepare for opportunities. The program’s philosophy is summarized as “Built Not Born,” and it includes a college development program with a defined recruiting philosophy that emphasizes development, intentional exposure, honest evaluation, and academic and character standards.
Northwest Magic is a proud member of the Elite 40, a national league spotlighting top programs and players across the country. On the girls’ side, teams compete in the Nike EYCL Championship League (15U), Nike Junior EYBL (7th and 8th Grade), MADE Hoops Circuit, Elite 40 Circuit, and NE2K Circuits, and on the boys’ side, teams compete in the MADE Hoops Circuit, Super 24 Circuit, and Elite 40 Boys National Circuits. The program also offers mini camps and weeklong pro-style training camps prior to NCAA viewing period events.
The leadership team includes Coach Vanessa Selden-McClendon, Founder and Director of Northwest Magic; Coach Gerald McClendon, Co-Owner, Director of the Boys Program, and Assistant Coach for the Girls High School Nike EYCL Team KV; Coach Edwina Martin-Arnold, Co-Founder, Strategic Development, CFO, Associate Head Coach for the Girls Nike Jr EYBL 14U, Associate Head Coach for the High School Girls Program, and Director of the Boys Side of the program; and Coach Kevin Strozier, Coaching Director, Associate Head Coach for the Girls Nike Jr EYBL 14U, and Head Coach for the Girls 15U Swoosh High School (Team Rice). Coach Vanessa Selden-McClendon is a former professional basketball player and University of Oregon Women’s Basketball alum, is recognized as one of the top trainers in Washington State, is an inactive Family Therapist, and was inducted into the Antioch High School Hall of Fame in October 2012 for her athletic achievements. Coach Gerald McClendon is a 20-year retired U.S. Army veteran with over 20 years of playing, training, and coaching experience. Coach Edwina Martin-Arnold has over 40 years of coaching experience through the Catholic Youth Organization and the Rainier Beach Recreation Center, served as Varsity Head Coach at Rainier Beach High School, is an accomplished attorney and best-selling romance author, is an Inclusion Advisor for the City of Seattle, and was honored as Coach of the Year for the 2025 season. Coach Kevin Strozier has over 19 years of high school coaching experience, played three sports at Flint Central High School in Michigan, was All-State Honorable Mention averaging 23.5 points per game, was a two-time Conference Player of the Year, Junior College All-American, and national JUCO All-Star at Mott Community College, and earned a full scholarship to St. Louis University where he started every game, earned All-Metro honors, and was voted Team MVP.
Program leaders describe their approach with statements such as “Player development is bigger than basketball — it’s about preparing young people for life” from Coach Vanessa Selden-McClendon, “Discipline, energy, and teamwork — the building blocks of Magic success” from Coach Gerald McClendon, and “Sports build more than athletes — they build confident, capable young people ready to thrive in life” from Coach Edwina Martin-Arnold. Northwest Magic is known for developing college ready players and emphasizes leadership and accountability development and a positive and supportive culture.
Last updated June 11, 2026.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
Northwest Magic Basketball was founded in 2007 and has been preparing basketball players for the next level for over 20 seasons, with a stated focus on “Northwest Magic 20 Years of Proven Development” and “20 Years Building Players The Right Way.” The program offers a complete development pathway that includes the Headstart Program (K–3rd Grade), Development Teams (3rd–8th Grade), Legacy & Premier Teams, Nike Circuit Teams for elite athletes competing on national stages, and College Preparation Support for athletes pursuing the next level. Its Basketball Path Model outlines phases of Playing for Fun, Playing for T-Shirts and learning what it means to compete, Playing for Scholarships, and Playing to Go Pro.
Northwest Magic describes itself as a development-based program focused on structure, accountability, and high-level training environments, with a mission of “Developing College Ready Players.” The stated mission is to provide a positive and structured basketball environment where athletes can develop their skills, build confidence, and learn life lessons through the game, and to help athletes work hard, compete with purpose, lead with character, and prepare for opportunities. The program’s philosophy is summarized as “Built Not Born,” and it includes a college development program with a defined recruiting philosophy that emphasizes development, intentional exposure, honest evaluation, and academic and character standards.
Northwest Magic is a proud member of the Elite 40, a national league spotlighting top programs and players across the country. On the girls’ side, teams compete in the Nike EYCL Championship League (15U), Nike Junior EYBL (7th and 8th Grade), MADE Hoops Circuit, Elite 40 Circuit, and NE2K Circuits, and on the boys’ side, teams compete in the MADE Hoops Circuit, Super 24 Circuit, and Elite 40 Boys National Circuits. The program also offers mini camps and weeklong pro-style training camps prior to NCAA viewing period events.
The leadership team includes Coach Vanessa Selden-McClendon, Founder and Director of Northwest Magic; Coach Gerald McClendon, Co-Owner, Director of the Boys Program, and Assistant Coach for the Girls High School Nike EYCL Team KV; Coach Edwina Martin-Arnold, Co-Founder, Strategic Development, CFO, Associate Head Coach for the Girls Nike Jr EYBL 14U, Associate Head Coach for the High School Girls Program, and Director of the Boys Side of the program; and Coach Kevin Strozier, Coaching Director, Associate Head Coach for the Girls Nike Jr EYBL 14U, and Head Coach for the Girls 15U Swoosh High School (Team Rice). Coach Vanessa Selden-McClendon is a former professional basketball player and University of Oregon Women’s Basketball alum, is recognized as one of the top trainers in Washington State, is an inactive Family Therapist, and was inducted into the Antioch High School Hall of Fame in October 2012 for her athletic achievements. Coach Gerald McClendon is a 20-year retired U.S. Army veteran with over 20 years of playing, training, and coaching experience. Coach Edwina Martin-Arnold has over 40 years of coaching experience through the Catholic Youth Organization and the Rainier Beach Recreation Center, served as Varsity Head Coach at Rainier Beach High School, is an accomplished attorney and best-selling romance author, is an Inclusion Advisor for the City of Seattle, and was honored as Coach of the Year for the 2025 season. Coach Kevin Strozier has over 19 years of high school coaching experience, played three sports at Flint Central High School in Michigan, was All-State Honorable Mention averaging 23.5 points per game, was a two-time Conference Player of the Year, Junior College All-American, and national JUCO All-Star at Mott Community College, and earned a full scholarship to St. Louis University where he started every game, earned All-Metro honors, and was voted Team MVP.
Program leaders describe their approach with statements such as “Player development is bigger than basketball — it’s about preparing young people for life” from Coach Vanessa Selden-McClendon, “Discipline, energy, and teamwork — the building blocks of Magic success” from Coach Gerald McClendon, and “Sports build more than athletes — they build confident, capable young people ready to thrive in life” from Coach Edwina Martin-Arnold. Northwest Magic is known for developing college ready players and emphasizes leadership and accountability development and a positive and supportive culture.
Last updated June 11, 2026.
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