It’s going to be interesting to see how Van Norden fits into the McNamara frontcourt rotation that’s filled with length, athleticism, and prospects with an extremely high ceiling. What he does bring is a no nonsense, physical presence that allows him to bang with the imposing bigs in the paint. He operates well with sound footwork around the bucket and has soft touch on over the shoulder hooks or floaters. He uses his strong base and broad shoulders that allow him to standout on the football field to translate in maintaining his post presence on the hardwood and scooping up rebounds in bulk.

This former Odessa HS (DE) player spent the 2024-25 season at Neumann-Goretti where he averaged 3 points and 3 rebounds per game on a deep squad that captured the 5A state title. Van Norden is an interior force who can score in close via dives to the rim, post ups, pick-n-rolls and by crashing the offensive glass. This off-season Van Norden is transferring to Bishop McNamara in Maryland.

Matching up with Zelic in the middle coming off a high school season getting his feet wet in the Philly Catholic League, Van Norden didn’t quite match his counterpart tit-for-tat but had a handful of occasions where he got the better of the taller defender and showed the upside he possesses in his own right. A bruising presence on the interior, the football standout has continued transitioning bulk into muscle while playing much swifter and lighter on his feet as a result. He operates comfortably around the rim even amid congestion, using his wide frame and soft touch to maneuver through the lane and finish out of the post. He’s still shaking some rust off after limited minutes this winter in a guard-oriented system, but D1 coaches should be checking in on Van Norden before too long if his play to start the spring is any indication.

NR to 97…This former Odessa HS (DE) player has cracked the rotation on a deep NG squad thanks to his defense and rebounding. His long wingspan, quick lateral movements and hops help him to succeed in both of those departments. So far this season, his offensive touches have been limited. But Van Noden can dive to the cup for lay-ins or post up and then finish over either shoulder. He can also operate as the big man in pick-n-roll action. Plus, Van Noden can attack the offensive glass for second chance points.