In an already exciting season of Red Raider men’s basketball, Senior Alex Van Kalsbeek has added to the excitement. On Jan. 8 against Dakota Wesleyan, Van Kalsbeek scored with a late-game free throw to become Northwestern’s number one all-time career scorer. For the senior from Orange City, playing for his hometown Raiders has been quite the journey.
“It was a great feeling, seeing the years of work be shown off,” Van Kalsbeek said.
Van Kalsbeek’s entire life has revolved around basketball; he has had two older brothers, Daniel and Justin, play for the Raiders. His younger brother, Jesse, also plays on the varsity squad currently. Van Kalsbeek graduated from MOC-Floyd Valley in 2020 and began playing basketball for NW that fall. He has earned multiple awards in his career so far, including Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Freshman of the Year, multiple All-American selections and a GPAC All-Conference First Team selection.
Over his four and a half years at NW, Van Kalsbeek has demonstrated incredible skill, determination, and perseverance. Van Kalsbeek suffered an injury in his junior season that required surgery and kept him out for the rest of that season, but he believes that injury and rehab motivated him to come back even stronger and more competitive. “This taught me a lot about myself and how to persevere and to stay disciplined in the rehab and the process,” Van Kalsbeek said.
To Van Kalsbeek, the achievement is more than just a number. It is a testament to the hard work, perseverance and passion he has for the game. “I just want this record to show that there are going to be sacrifices and hard work that needs to be put in to achieve your goals,” Van Kalsbeek said.
“Alex is a very willing and unselfish passer, and he leads by example and with his work ethic,” Head Coach Kris Korver said. “He has been a joy to coach and invest on a daily basis. We have been through a lot together and we are very proud of who he is and who he is becoming!”
Van Kalsbeek will continue to be one to watch, whether he is adding more points to his record or being an inspiration to those around him.
