Thanks to my dad and my sister Roos, I got the idea to start playing basketball. My dad played basketball for a long time and is obsessed with sports. My sister also plays, and through her, I joined a local club. That’s how I started playing for the Dunckers in Hilversum when I was eleven. I quickly discovered my love for the sport. My focus shifted towards basketball, and I left other activities like going out and gaming behind. After three years with the Dunckers, I transferred to MBCA in Amstelveen. Unfortunately, school started to suffer because I had to travel an hour and a half each way for practice, so I’ve been playing closer to home in Bussum since then. It wasn’t a big change, though, because most of the guys from my old Dunckers team were already playing there too. We became a close-knit team right away. 

I Know I Can Keep a Group Focused and Motivated

I got involved with 3X3 Unites through my sister Roos as well. She’s been active as a 3X3 Leader for quite some time. She told me about the 3X3 Leader Course happening in Hilversum and was really enthusiastic about it, which convinced me to join. A lot of people hesitate to join when they hear it takes three months, but for me, the weeks flew by! I really enjoyed it and got a lot out of it. It didn’t feel like school, which just seems like an obligation.

What became clear to me during the course is that I enjoy taking the lead in a group, especially in situations where no one else steps up. I know that I can keep the group focused and motivated, making sure that nothing gets overlooked. I’ve been doing this for as long as I can remember during sports, and now I enjoy applying this life skill off the court as well.

Right now, we have the goal of renovating a basketball court here in Hilversum. To get inspired, I like to visit courts in other cities. By playing basketball there, you can really experience the courts. I pay attention to how the courts are adapted to their surroundings, and that always inspires me. For a new court in Hilversum, I’d love to see a cool ground design created by a real artist—something like the courts that recently opened in Leidse Rijn and Barendrecht. In terms of the environment, I’d want a really open layout. By making the court open, more people can see it—the more, the better, because that way, more people will be drawn to it!

You can tell that 3x3 basketball has become much more popular since Worthy won gold. In Hilversum, you see a lot of younger kids starting to play basketball, especially on the outdoor courts. You don’t see as many people my age yet, so that’s something we want to work on. We hope to attract more young people with the open pick-up games on Sundays, where everyone between the ages of 6 and 20 is welcome! We also want to organize more activities and clinics.

My Eyes Are Set on the U.S.

I’m currently in my fifth year of pre-university education (VWO) studying Economics & Society, but I have no idea what I want to do with that yet. Right now, my focus is on the U.S., where I hope to become a professional basketball player. I’m already trying to compile as much game footage as possible and make connections in the U.S. so I can find a good place there. The first step is to participate in a summer program, which means spending three weeks in the States and competing in a tournament.

After that, I’d love to go to California. A city like San Francisco sounds amazing, especially because of the weather! You can always play basketball outside there. It’s tough to get a scholarship, especially if you want one for sports and you’re coming from the Netherlands. We have fewer facilities here to help you reach the top. I’m getting help from two organizations to find a suitable school and connect with a coach. Of course, I have a preference for a college, but my main goal is just to play basketball!

Even if I succeed and get the chance to play basketball in the U.S. and stay there, I will always remain part of the 3x3 Unites family. They’ll always be a big part of my life, and if they ever want me to organize something there, I’d help out without hesitation!