Meet Banji Bamidele: Panama City's new high school sports reporter ready to uncover local gems

Hello Panama City.

My name is Banji Bamidele, and I am excited to introduce myself as the new high school sports reporter at the Panama City News Herald.

I am the son of Nigerian immigrants and a first-generation American hailing from Powder Springs, Georgia, just 22 miles west of Atlanta.

Ever since I was young, my parents encouraged physical activity and creating bonds through sports. I took those words as motivation, playing football, basketball and soccer throughout my adolescence and early adulthood.

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I graduated from Georgia State University this past year with a degree in Sports Administration. During that time, I had the pleasure of attending many sporting events and enjoyed covering prep sports for the Marietta Daily Journal. The wide array of sporting events and people I met is something I will hold forever dearly.

My love for sports was amplified by the constant races and 1v1 basketball games in the driveway where my three older sisters would challenge me growing up. They would tell you they were 100-0 against me, but the few times they would let me win, I would not let them hear the end of it.

Naturally, I became a huge fan of my hometown team, the Atlanta Falcons, despite how pain-aching and mind-numbing they can be on Sundays. I remain loyal to them through and through. Yes, “28-3” still haunts me, but just as Buster Moon once said, “When you have hit rock bottom the only way is up.”

One of my favorite all-time Falcons is punter John James, a Panama City native, who never played high school football, but walked on at the University of Florida before a 13-year career in the National Football League, 10 seasons with the Falcons.

James left a legacy in the city and within me which I hope to leave, not only in the athletics scene in Panama City, but in the community as well.

As a former high school athlete, I always loved to read the recap of our games and see my name in the paper for an All-County team or for a big play I made.

I cannot wait to find the hidden gems waiting to be uncovered and shine a light on the bright stars and those athletes who have been working day in and day out patiently waiting for their time to shine and acknowledge their accomplishments.

I hope to be the medium that increases exposure in the athletics scene and look forward to meeting and interacting with the Panama City community.

Whether you are a coach, athlete, administrator, or simply familiar with local high school sports and have a noteworthy story or any helpful information, please feel free to contact me.

Banji Bamidele is a sports reporter for the Panama City News Herald. He can be reached at abamidele@gannett.com or through X, formerly known as Twitter, @AdebanjiBamide1.

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Meet Banji Bamidele: Panama City's New High School Sports Reporter