Mijke van der Horst '26 Recruiting Profile

Growing up overseas, I started playing basketball when I was 5 at the international school in Norway and started playing the equivalent of AAU in Australia when I was 10.  When we left Australia, I was playing year round and that continued when we moved to Alaska. Playing competitively is part of who I am. I can’t imagine stopping which is why I would love the opportunity to play in college to continue my basketball experience. 

I’ve always been naturally athletic. Sports and other things, like art, have always come very easy for me. However, being naturally good at most things I try, I’m not complacent. It's not in me to just coast on my natural ability. I need to develop my skills as I want to be the best at what I do. This desire is amplified when it comes to academics and basketball. 

Although I play three sports, I’m pushing myself to work year-round on my two favorite, basketball and volleyball. I play on the High School Varsity team and club and plan to travel this summer with either a club team or by attending college camps. I run track during the spring as it’s great cross training and I enjoy it, especially hurdles.

I currently attend a private college prep school, Grace Christian School in Anchorage, Alaska, where I have a 4.0 GPA. I want to attend a college that will continue to challenge me academically. I hope to find a university where I can play basketball at a competitive level while keeping me academically engaged.