What Valparaiso University can offer both academically and athletically led 6-foot-10 forward Jerome Palm (Almere, Netherlands / Echnaton [Hillsborough CC]) to the Valpo men’s basketball program.

Palm will join head coach Matt Lottich’s team as a junior college transfer for the 2022-2023 academic and athletic year. In doing so, he’ll achieve his athletic goal of reaching the Division-I level while working toward his academic goal of earning a degree in business.

“The business school was a big factor for me because I was going to have to change my major to attend a different school that I was looking at,” Palm said. “At the end of the day, it’s always good to get the education; that’s important to have. The coaching staff came to see our point guard play, and they noticed me. They liked me from the moment they saw me. It was very important to me that the coaching staff had seen me play.”

Palm forged bonds with Lottich and the assistant coaches and said the recruiting process made Valpo feel like a natural fit.

“Like a lot of international players, Jerome spent much of his youth playing soccer,” Lottich said. “I think that’s pretty evident when you watch him play and watch his foot speed. What stood out to me the most was his athleticism and ability to change the floor. He’s very communicative. I think his energy will result in an immediate impact for us. He’s a high-level rebounder and a high-level athlete. He has an ability to step out and hit open shots. I think he’s just scratching the surface of what he can be as a basketball player.”

Palm averaged 9.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game in 25 contests at Hillsborough this past season after beginning his collegiate career at Daytona State in 2020-2021.

“I’ll definitely be contributing on both the offensive and defensive ends,” Palm said. “The strongest aspect of my game is my defense.”

When asked for the highlight of his basketball career, Palm was quick to point toward his experience competing for a championship-winning Netherlands national team in last summer’s 3x3 national tournament.

“That meant a lot coming from where I come from,” Palm said. “I started playing at 15 years old. Representing my country with my family’s name on my back meant so much to me. That was a really special moment.”

Speaking of special moments, Palm also experienced one when the dream of playing Division-I college basketball became a reality when he made his decision to accept Lottich’s offer to join Valpo’s program. He joins a program with a rich basketball tradition and a member of the prestigious Missouri Valley Conference.

“It means so much to me after all these years,” Palm said. “I’ve worked hard for this moment from the time I started playing basketball. From multiple practices each day to traveling and playing at clubs back home and finally achieving this. People dream of playing Division-I.”

In his spare time, Palm enjoys cutting hair for fun as a makeshift barber. He cuts hair for friends and family members in addition to cutting his own.

Palm joins Quinton Green, Nick Edwards and Maximum Nelson as Valpo basketball newcomers for the 2022-2023 campaign.