18/03/2026
LEADERS OF UNITES NO. 131 - Jorn Loots
Long before Jorn Loots was a coach on the court, he was a boy in the woods with a pocket knife. In the quiet of Utrecht’s forests, he carved swords and chisels—finding a sense of control and focus amidst the heavy silence of a family divided.
But sometimes, the wood isn’t enough to hold the weight of everything you’re carrying. For Jorn, the pent-up anger of his childhood finally found its release not in a workshop, but on a basketball court. The first time he picked up a ball in gym class, everything shifted. The sweat, the energy, and the “fight” of the game became his safe place. It wasn’t just a sport; it was freedom.
Even when a torn cruciate ligament threatened to take that freedom away, Jorn refused to stay on the sidelines. He pivoted. He traded his jersey for a whistle, discovering that his true strength wasn’t just in his jump shot, but in his ability to lift others up.
“The mini-saxophone symbolizes who I am as a person. I like to help other people, and it’s a tangible reminder of that.”
Today, Jorn carries a small, silver saxophone—a gift from a stranger he once helped—as a reminder of his North Star. Whether he’s organizing glow-in-the-dark tournaments with 3X3 Unites or dreaming of his future as a primary school teacher, his mission remains the same: to be the guide he once needed.
From carving wood to molding the next generation, Jorn’s story is a reminder that our past doesn’t define us—it prepares us to lead.
📷:
