Josiah Dotzler has been around Creighton basketball virtually his entire life. His brother, Josh, was a star at Creighton from 2005 through 2009, so when Josiah announced his commitment to Creighton on Monday, it seemed appropriate.

“Right after Peach Jam ended, coach Mac (Greg McDermott) said he wanted to sit down and have a conversation with me,” the 6-foot-3, 180-pound Bellevue West guard said. “We didn’t know what it was going to be about. I went on an official Wednesday and it was great. He explained everything to me and I loved it. He thinks I’m perfect for their team.”

Dotzler toured the facilities and spent some time with the academic staff. It was a deeper dive than the numerous times throughout the summer that he had unofficially visited to play pick-up with the CU players.

“After meeting with coach Mac in his office when he offered I kind of was processing it for a long time,” Dotzler said. “I was watching them practice or workout with my dad, I turned to him and said I think this is where I am supposed to be. I told coach Mac after practice and everyone was happy and welcoming me.”

Creighton has produced some of the best guards in the Big East since joining the league in 2013. The 2022-23 roster includes 10 guards — two seniors, three juniors, four sophomores and one freshman.

Dotzler is aware of the potential competition at the position when he hits campus as a freshman.

“Anything can happen and they have everything in mind as far as maybe players going to the draft or transfer portal,” Dotzler said of the roster makeup. “They just kept telling me I am perfect with the system and they need someone like me on their team.”

Josiah is the second youngest of 14 Dotzler children. Older brother Josh has been through the recruiting process and was one of the trusted resources Dotzler looked to for advice throughout his recruitment.

“I mean really going into the recruiting process my brother wanted to be a part of it. I really went into the process that I’m not my brother and I want to create my own path,” he said. “It is ironic that the place I feel is best for me is where my brother played too. He was one of the first people I called. It was a special moment. It is great to finally call myself a Bluejay.”

Living The Dream

Some of Dotzler’s fondest memories as a youngster weren’t just watching his brother play at Creighton. As a middle-schooler, he was a ball boy for Creighton home games and dreamed of one day putting on a Bluejay uniform.

“My best memories as a kid were at my brother’s games,” he said. “Everything about the atmosphere was amazing. Watching the team, growing up around them in the locker room and now being on the team is going to be so special.”

July has been a whirlwind month for Dotzler. His AAU team, Mokan Elite, won the EYBL Peach Jam title and days later his dream school offered a scholarship. Dotzler is the first Nebraskan to be on the roster of a team that won an EYBL Peach Jam title.

“It was really cool to know that I made history,” he said. “It was really cool for my family to look back at my AAU career and know that it ended with a Peach Jam title.”

Bellevue West guard Josiah Dotzler played AAU for 2022 Peach Jam Champion Mokan Elite. Photo Credit: Mokan Elite