The point guard of the Pella Christian boys basketball team has made his collegiate choice. Jack Vermeer will play for Northwestern College in Orange City, joining fellow Eagle Class of 2020 member Ryan Vande Haar with the storied Red Raiders program.

Vermeer says a rough end to the season at the state tournament last month fueled him to pursue basketball at the next level.

“I’ve been talking with Coach [Kris] Korver, talking with my family, and it just feels like continuing my basketball career is something that I definitely want to pursue, and Coach Korver definitely talked some good sense into me and I guess coming short gave me a fire and motivation to keep going.”

Vermeer played a key role in leading the Eagles to state for the 15th time in school history, averaging 9.5 points per game, and had some of his biggest games during the team’s biggest wins, including a 17 point performance against Des Moines Christian in the district final and 13 points in the Eagles upset of eventual Class 3A champion Norwalk.