Rosanna Araujo (She/Her)
Rosanna is a proud first-generation Canadian to immigrant parents from Ecuador. She is the co-founder and serves as executive director of West Toronto Hustle. Growing up in Toronto, basketball captivated her early on. She has fond memories of being inspired by Patrick Ewing's flashy orange and blue shoes and going to her first basketball game at the age of ten with her dad at the Skydome. Although not an elite basketball player, she wrote about sports, namely basketball, for her college newspaper, Humber Et Cetera, and continues to play recreationally.
Community involvement is central to Rosanna's life; she volunteers at charities, not-for-profits, and her children's schools. Recently, she coached the intermediate girls basketball team at St. Bernard C.S. When not serving others, Rosanna trains for endurance sports by running the trails of the Humber River. Her hope is to build and foster community in the young individuals she has the opportunity to connect with.
Our Coaches
Brandon Lee (he/him)
Brandon is the co-founder and chair of West Toronto Hustle. Originally from Kitchener, ON, he played competitive basketball both on his high school team and with the AAU team the Kitchener Vipers. Despite being invited to try out for a junior college in Indiana, he opted not to attend. Brandon made the decision to forgo taking the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT), anticipating potential failure. This missed opportunity serves as a driving force for Brandon, influencing his approach to parenting as he emphasizes the significance of education to his own children.
Transferring this valuable life lesson to the basketball court, Brandon dedicates his time as a volunteer coach for the intermediate boys basketball team, the St. Bernard Bears. In this role, he teaches these young men that they are students first and athletes second. Drawing inspiration from basketball legends Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, Brandon aims to in-still a holistic perspective on life and success.
Darnell Simpson (he/him)
Darnell Simpson (he/him) is an enthusiastic and dedicated coach with a passion for developing players both on and off the court. Known for fostering a disciplinary and competitive team culture, he brings nine years of coaching and mentoring experience to empower athletes to reach their full potential. He believes in the transformative power of sports and approaches coaching as a holistic journey. Darnell’s coaching philosophy revolves around instilling discipline, teamwork, and a strong work ethic while nurturing the unique talents and character of each individual player.
Off the court, Darnell is a health professional and coach. He is driven by the belief that the skills and lessons learned on the court extend far beyond the game itself.