Malthe Mikkelsen's Bold Leap to Canada: Talata's Rising Talent Commits to NBA Pipeline Orangeville Prep
(3 min read)
In a milestone moment for Danish basketball and Talata Basketball Academy, 15-year-old wing Malthe Mikkelsen has committed to join Orangeville Prep, one of North America's premier high school programs for aspiring pros. The 2009-born stand-out, standing at 6'7" (200 cm) with an 86 kg frame and a commanding 6'10" (208 cm) wingspan, is set to spend the 2025-26 season honing his craft in Ontario, Canada, stepping straight onto their powerhouse Varsity team for high-stakes competition and daily elite development.
Mikkelsen, a versatile guard/wing with a silky shooting stroke, explosive athleticism, and an uncanny basketball IQ, embodies the next wave of European talent ready to conquer international stages. Still growing into his frame, his high ceiling screams two-way potential: a crafty scorer who can stretch defenses from deep, attack the rim with ferocity, and lock down wings with his length and instincts.
"Malthe's work ethic is unmatched, he's the first in the gym and the last to leave," says Talata head coach Deng Awak. "We've seen him evolve from a raw prospect into the player he is today, and this move is the reward for his relentless grind."
Orangeville Prep isn't just any program; it's a launchpad for NBA dreams. Housed at the Athlete Institute in Mono, Ontario, the academy has a storied track record of molding elite talent, with alumni including Denver Nuggets All-Star and NBA Champion Jamal Murray (7th overall pick, 2016), Golden State Warriors forward and NBA Champion Andrew Wiggins (No. 1 overall, 2014), Oklahoma City Thunder defensive ace and Luguentz Dort (undrafted 2019, now a NBA Champion), Milwaukee Bucks big Thon Maker (10th overall pick, 2016), Cleveland Cavaliers veteran Tristan Thompson, and Lithuanian NBA/EuroLeague guard Ignas Brazdeikis (47th overall, 2019). Other standouts like Kyle Alexander (pro in Israel) and Tyrese Samuel (Florida Gators) highlight its pipeline to NCAA Division I and overseas leagues. For Mikkelsen, joining the Varsity team means immediate immersion: world-class facilities, rigorous academics, and head-to-head matchups against top recruits, all while embracing a hoops culture that blends the Canadian grind with global flair. Mikkelsen arrived in Canada earlier this fall and has already hit the ground running.
Back in Copenhagen, the excitement is palpable at Talata Basketball Academy, where Mikkelsen's journey began. Under Awak's guidance, drawing from his own international coaching pedigree, the academy has become a forge for high-level players, blending shooting machines, sprint mechanics, mental conditioning, and position-specific mastery.
Talata doesn't just train; it creates opportunities, from U11 grassroots activations to exposure camps in Denmark, Canada, and Lithuania, plus school partnerships with Hellerup and Strandvejsskolen that are getting hundreds of kids moving.
"Malthe's signing is proof of our blueprint," Awak adds. "We pour in the work, and open doors to programs like Orangeville. It's about building players who compete anywhere, and Malthe's just getting started."
Looking ahead, Mikkelsen eyes a return to Denmark later this holiday season, with Talata pushing to be on the national youth program to accelerate his pro pursuit. Whether it's National team trials or NCAA radars, his trajectory points skyward. For aspiring ballers watching, this is the Talata way: Hard work meets opportunity, and the ceiling? Limitless.
Want to join the movement that's launching players like Malthe? Trials for our Academy, development sessions, and international camps are open, email Coach Deng Awak at coach@talatabasketball.dk.