Mark Veenstra starred at Hudsonville Unity Christian, and then turned down offers from NCAA Division I schools to stay home and play for Calvin College where he was the MIAA Most Valuable Player for four consecutive years.
At Unity Christian the 6-foot-9 post player averaged 30.8 points per game in 1972-73, which as of 2020 was the 12th best season scoring average in Michigan High School history. He led Unity to the Class B state championship game that year, sometimes scoring over 30 points and grabbing over 20 rebounds in games. Unity was state runner-up, losing for the first time that season to Dearborn Divine Child, 58-54.
At Calvin he remains the only four-time league MVP in men's basketball history (1974-77) and holds the MIAA records for most league points scored (1,233), career league scoring average (25.7), and single season scoring average (29.2).
He also holds Calvin records for best scoring average for a season league and non-league combined (28.0) and career (25.4), and for the most rebounds in a game (36) and career rebounds (1,260). He had three of the top four scoring averages in Calvin basketball history as well and had career bests of 56 points in one game and 36 rebounds in one game.
The Knights were 74-14 during his career and won four consecutive MIAA titles under Coach Ralph Honderd.
After graduating from Calvin, Veenstra played professional basketball in Germany before earning a medical degree from Wayne State University’s School of Medicine. He has been an orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine for over 30 years in Kalamazoo.