“It really was quite unexpected for me to pick up basketball again at Union,” graduate recruiter and student management specialist Naomi Van Nes said. “All other doors closed apart from basketball, so I took that as a sign and figured it would be God’s will for me to pursue that.”
Naomi and I sat across from each other in her minimalistic yet welcoming office in the BAC. I was nervous that it would be challenging to understand athletes’ love for sports and that I would inevitably fail at capturing those emotions.
It was only when Naomi expressed how her love for basketball was eternal, even if she was not playing it, that I understood it. Even when Naomi was away from the sport, she always found herself slowly gravitating toward it again, no matter what.
Naomi grew up in England and moved to Connecticut when she was thirteen. She then went to college at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she played basketball for three years, and then one year at Mercer University, where she graduated in 2021. After playing at both universities, Naomi decided she no longer wanted to play basketball and chose to open a new chapter of her life.
When asked what inspired this decision, I noticed that Naomi grew somewhat quiet. Despite this slight hesitation, Naomi answered the question in a way that reflected who she was as a person, which was mature and peaceful.
“It’s just very competitive, and you’re valued by what you can bring on the court, nothing more, nothing less,” Van Nes said. “I am still grateful for my previous schools, and the people that I met, and the things that I learned along the way.”
Even though I have never played basketball a day in my life, it was easy to see that she was indeed extremely grateful for every opportunity her previous schools presented to her. I could also tell that the break she got from basketball had more to do with the experience than the game itself.
Naomi has worked in the graduate program at Union University for almost a full year. When asked if she expected to be in this position at Union, Naomi explained that she did not know the direction she wanted to go.
“I had no expectation of which career field I would go in after college,” Van Nes said. “My main focus was just being able to be around family again and being in a positive work environment, and I knew Union would provide both of those things.”
Naomi worked at Union in the BAC before being recruited by Coach Mark Campbell and Assistant Coach Sean Blackburn to play on the women’s basketball team at Union University.
“We wanted her to be a part of the team no matter what,” Blackburn said. “She has a very soft heart that’s loving and wants to serve Jesus. Whether she was playing or not, we had decided that we just wanted her to be around our girls; because she could be a great leader for them.”
Naomi agreed to play for Union, despite taking a year break from her beloved sport. Her decision to play again was interesting, and I was curious about what made her agree. When I asked what made her decide to start playing again, she had a full smile as she explained how she always loved basketball, but your environment influences everything.
“The culture here is really what drew me in,” Van Nes said. “I knew that coming here, I would get something different. It’s just so much more worth it and more fulfilling here.”
Her previous schools were both Division I schools, and she reflected on how they were very blessed at those schools.
“It was very glamorous,” Van Nes said. “We had way more gear than we needed, catered meals after every practice, and our rent was paid for. We took charter flights to our games so we were the only people on the plane. We got to go on trips every year, so we were definitely very very blessed, but it’s a business.”
Naomi explained how those experiences were pleasant, and she valued them greatly, but that Union offered something that she valued more and that being a Division II school did not diminish that.
“Coaches here are invested in a real relationship with you. I’ll take that over the gear and private planes any day,” Van Nes said. “That relationship doesn’t depend on what you’re producing in the court. They want you to grow not only as an athlete but also in your faith, in your relationships outside of basketball, and that was something that I hadn’t experienced before so it really wasn’t a thought in my mind the division or the conference or anything. I knew that the experience itself would be what made it worth it.”
Naomi is playing basketball at Union this season and explains how she is learning more at Union and how she loves the sport even more now.
“I’m super grateful to be playing again,” Van Nes said. “I think even though we’re still early in the season, it’s been a very almost like a healing experience because I’m unlearning all of the things I was taught at previous schools. I’m learning it’s okay to make mistakes.”
Naomi wants to continue working as a recruiter at Union, but she also wants to continue playing basketball at Union. She views her experience as a sign from God, and she knows that this is what she is meant to be doing.
“I felt like I have really grown to enjoy it [her job at Union] and learn a lot of new things,” Van Nes said. “I feel like I am able to make a positive impact.”
