Inspiring Conversations with Darius Westmoreland of Skywest Sports Academy

Today we’d like to introduce you to Darius Westmoreland.

Hi Darius, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started working in the film industry in 2018. I have been blessed to work on numerous shows and Films such as Walking Dead, Sunday Best, Young Rock, Heels, Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist, and more. Also in 2018 my best friend and business partner Schulyer Neely started Restoration Community Basketball League. This league was an attempt to bring young men closer to God and to help have a positive affect on their lives overall. We utilized my background in film to create high quality media surrounding the league. This made the league appealing to all levels of talent. In 2021 we went into full business with this league, and SkyWest Sports Academy was born.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
We have become very successful as we have become one of the top leagues in the city. It was not easy to get to this point. We have faced a lot of competition along the way. We even had issues getting guys to show up to games if they had another game in rival leagues at the same time. We’ve also had instances where people have wanted us to abandon our formula and operate more like other leagues. However, we stuck to the way God gave us to run the league and we have experienced great success.
We want the world to know that every week at SkyWest we are breaking stereotypes, coming together in high-level semi-pro competition, and building a culture of men that will be equipped to lead our community into the future.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
The name is a mash=up of Schulyer aka Ski (pronounced Sky) and the first part of my last name West (Westmoreland).
As stated earlier, we pride ourselves on the authenticity of Brotherhood and that sets us apart. What also sets us apart is our product. We basically provide an NBA experience for the community. Our program includes: Try-outs, Draft, Media Day, Full Regular season, All-Star Weekend, Playoffs, Championship. and Awards Ceremony. We also host a weekly show, that talks about games, stats, rivalries, Top 10, etc.

What’s next?
On the film side, new creative projects are underway with short films already in progress. These projects are laying the foundation for something even bigger: a potential feature film with a major studio partnership on the horizon. The goal is to bring powerful stories to life on the big screen, combining cinematic excellence with impactful narratives.

Meanwhile, SkyWest Basketball is preparing to take its next big leap forward. Expansion plans are actively in the works, opening the door for broader opportunities both on and off the court. Discussions are being shaped around forming strategic partnerships with NBA players, NBA franchises, and other key industry influencers. These connections will strengthen the brand, elevate the level of competition, and expand the SkyWest footprint in ways that will impact players, fans, and the wider basketball community.

This is only the beginning. Whether through film or basketball, the vision is clear: growth, innovation, and impact at the highest level.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://skywest-basketball.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skywest_basketball?igsh=MTRpc3BhdmF1eHU4dw==
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SkyWestBasketball