Michael ’25 Shoots for his Dream with a Heart full of Falcon Pride

Michael ‘25 dribbled a basketball before he could write his name. At age four, he sat beside his father watching a professional game on TV - an ordinary evening that sparked an extraordinary journey. 

“I remember being completely drawn in,” he says. “I begged my parents to sign me up the next day.”

Fourteen years later, Michael is preparing to leave the only school he’s ever known. A proud Lifer at ASD, he will soon take the next step in his journey as a student-athlete at a prestigious college prep school in the United States, with his sights set firmly on playing college basketball afterwards.

From the playgrounds of Dubai to the courts of the world, Michael’s journey has been anything but typical. He trained with the Dutch national team and competed in elite youth tournaments across Europe. Yet, it was the courts just outside ASD’s elementary wing where it all began.

“My first real basket was at ASD,” he recalls. “It took me over a year to score on a ten-foot hoop. But the moment it dropped in, I knew this was something I wanted to do forever.”

Michael’s basketball career is defined not by flash but by substance. “I’m a winning player. I may not always show up on the stat sheet, but I do the little things - the cuts, the screens, the extra passes. That’s what I learned playing in Europe: team-first basketball wins games.”

His love for the game runs parallel with his love for his school. Representing ASD, Michael has played basketball, volleyball, and baseball. But it’s not the medals or trophies that stand out. It’s the values he’s taken with him. “ASD’s core values - compassion, respect, responsibility - they stay with you. You feel them in the way you show up for your teammates, your classmates, your community.”

It’s this loyalty to his school that led him to make one of the toughest decisions of his career. In February 2025, Michael chose to skip a major EuroLeague opportunity in Europe to stay with his ASD team for his final MESAC tournament.

“In my heart, there was never really a choice. ASD has given me everything,” Michael said. “I knew I had to finish what I started with my brothers on this team.”

The decision paid off. In his final MESAC tournament, ASD clinched the championship - an emotional moment Michael will likely never forget. “With two minutes left on the clock, our captain hit a baseline jumper. I started crying while I was still on the court. I just knew we were going to win.”

Behind Michael’s success stands an unwavering source of support: his father. “If I am half the person he is, I’ll be proud. He’s calm, rational, supportive - he’s the reason I’ve gotten this far. He filmed my games, found national team contacts, and set up my recruiting accounts. Everything I’ve done, I’ve done with him by my side.”

Academically, Michael has been accepted to the University of Notre Dame, where he plans to study international relations and business. But for now, he has deferred that offer to chase his basketball dream through the U.S. high school system. 

Off the court, Michael is reflective, grounded, and quietly driven. He’s a reader, anime fan, and strategic thinker. He’s also honest about the discipline it takes to balance school, sports, and friendships. “My mom taught me time management early. If you organize your day well, nothing is overwhelming.”

What drives him is something deeply internal. “I just know what I’m capable of. I want to keep pushing to become the best version of myself - not for anyone else, but because I know I can.”

As Michael prepares to trade his Falcons jersey for a new one, he does so with humility, gratitude, and unshakable determination. 

“ASD gave me more than an education. It gave me a home, a community, and the belief that I can do something special.”

And he will. Because Falcons don’t just fly—they soar.