Four Unity Christian seniors will play together at Calvin University
Unity Christian players, from left, Luke Tubergen, Kyler Berghuis, Jack Kamminga and Owen VanderWaal pose for a photo on Thursday, Feb. 2026. All four will go on to play basketball at Calvin University. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).
HUDSONVILLE, Mich. - Kyler Berghuis has known most of his basketball teammates since he was in elementary school.
So the Hudsonville Unity Christian senior is pretty excited that many of them will play in college together, too.
“We’ve known each other for like seven years,” Berghuis said. “So we know how each other plays on the court. Might as well keep playing together with the boys.”
Four of the Hudsonville Unity Christian starters will be sticking together for another four years after they graduate this spring. And all four are going to be playing basketball at Calvin University.
Owen VanderWaal, 6-foot-7, 215-pound forward
Kyler Berghuis, 6-foot-2, 165-pound guard
Jack Kamminga, 6-foot-4, 180-pound guard
Luke Tubergen, 6-foot-9, 250-pound center
“I chose Calvin because my buddies will be going there and I love playing with them,” Kamminga said. “And to do it in college, that’s pretty cool. Having four guys that have played together for a long time, it’s unheard of, really. The relationships we’ve built is pretty special.”
From left, Josh Bremer, Owen VanderWaal, assistant coach Josh Berghuis, Kyler Berghuis and coach Scott Soodsma of Unity Christian basketball on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).
Scott Soodsma has coached Unity Christian since 1993 and has never had four players from one team go on to play in college. Let alone the same college.
“It’s pretty impressive,” Soodsma said. “They’re good kids and Calvin’s a great place for them. They’ve spent a lot of time together throughout the years. It’s excited that they’re all going to the same place.”
Tubergen became the fourth starter from the Crusaders to commit to play basketball at Calvin University.
“He’s getting better,” Soodsma said. “We’ve been watching him in practice take it to another level. He’s so coachable. The game is just starting to slow down for him. He’ll get better and better.”
Tubergen had 12 points and 12 rebounds as Unity Christian beat Holland Christian on Feb. 6. He was too tough to handle for the Maroons 6-foot-6 forward Davis Alderink.
“Davis was doing his best to play against a 275-pound hoss with Tubergen,” Holland Christian coach Brad Jansen said. “It was a tough matchup.”
Luke Tubergen of Unity Christian basketball on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).
Many of the four seniors have ties to Calvin already.
“My dad played basketball at Calvin,” Tubergen said of his parents Josh and Ann. “My mom went there and my sister currently goes there.”
Berghuis’ dad Josh Berghuis played basketball at Calvin, too. He’s been an assistant coach at Unity Christian for a few years also.
VanderWaal’s older brother, Hugo, is on the Calvin football team.
“I had some other offers, but I chose Calvin because it’s close to home and my family and friends,” VanderWaal said. “I love the community they have there.”
He also knows who his roommate will be.
“I’m gonna room with Jackson Kamminga in the dorms,” VanderWaal said.
Who do you think will be the sloppiest roommate?
“None of guys are sloppy,” Kamminga said. “We’re not sloppy guys. We’re pretty disciplined.”
Soodsma is just excited to have this group of seniors - including Cody Walters, Brogan Sherd and Kaden Bareman - for a few more weeks.
“It’s been a good group,” Soodsma said. “We’re getting better. I think, last year, we leveled off during the year. But this year we keep climbing the hill. They’re not there yet. But the effort they give me is second-to-none. They play so hard. I’m really proud of the effort.”
Unity Christian is the No. 5 ranked team in Division 2 with a 16-3 record.
Unity Christian seniors, from left, Kyler Berghuis, Cody Walters, Brogan Sherd, Jack Kamminga and Owen VanderWaal at the Hudsonville Showcase on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).