Anderson Horn is excited to play on the court again.
The Columbus North senior missed all of last season due to a shoulder surgery and has provided a big boost this year to the boys basketball team after last year’s losses to graduation. Horn and the rest of the Bull Dogs will look to finish the last six weeks of the regular season strong as they look to capture their second sectional title in four years.
Horn said he’s dealt with shoulder injuries since he was a freshman. He sat out his sophomore basketball season. He was planning to return to basketball last season, but while on the gridiron his junior year, Horn mentioned that his shoulder kept popping in and out of place. The discomfort from his shoulder injury hit the point where he went to see a specialist to have it checked out. It was discovered that his labrum was torn and surgery would be needed, thus his junior year of basketball was over before it began.
“My junior year not being able to play was obviously tough, but we have a great group of guys here, so they got me through it, and I was still a part of the team,” Horn said.
Anderson Horn
The youngest of three siblings, Horn grew up in a sports family. His father Will was a football player at North and Indiana University. His brother Cooper was a starter for the basketball team for four years and played football his junior and senior seasons and played one year of basketball collegiately at DePauw. Their sister Zoey was a cheerleader at North.
Anderson’s cousins, Zac and Kennedy, also were multisport athletes at North, and Kennedy currently plays volleyball at Seton Hall.
“A big part of why I do athletics at North is my family,” Anderson Horn said. “So growing up in a sports household and being competitive with my siblings and my father and all that really drove my competitive spirits up. I love competing, and most importantly, why I play sports.”
While he enjoys playing basketball and football, Horn mentioned football might have the slight edge. For his season senior of football, Horn led the Bull Dog defense with 65 tackles and was named to The Republic All-Area Football Team.
Cooper had a historic senior year in both sports. He set the football school records for most receiving yards in a game, the most receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns in a season. In basketball, he was part of the 1,000 points club and helped the school win its last sectional title. He was named All-Area Football and All-Area Boys Basketball Player of the Year, as well as The Republic Male Athlete of the Year in 2023.
“I would definitely say on the basketball court, for sure, he was a big influence. Watching his games growing up in elementary school and all his AAU stuff, that was cool to see,” Anderson Horn said. “Football, he didn’t start playing until his junior season. We still have that joke around the house that football is my sport. He was great at it, too. We joke about that. We played on two different sides of the ball. There’s a bunch a sibling rivalries there and all that.”
All the family banter aside, Anderson Horn has enjoyed having both sports as part of his life.
“I love competing and love the competitive spirit and hanging out with friends,” Horn said. “Sports are amazing. I love playing both. It’s a good time for both.”
Horn said he still has effects from from his shoulder and fears that it might be torn again. He said he doesn’t feel as much pain with his injuries because his body has gotten used to it. Nonetheless, Horn said he will finish out the basketball season for the Bull Dogs.
“I’m still dealing with them. I think the left might be torn again. I’ve had a bunch of shoulder issues. I can still play with it, so it’s all good,” Horn said. “It’s one of those that my body has gotten used to it. It’s pretty weak, and it can slide around, but it doesn’t hurt at all.”
Horn said he’s unlikely to pursue sports in college, but hasn’t ruled out playing in club or intramurals. He plans to study construction management but hasn’t decided where to attend. He’s narrowed down his choices to Purdue, Indiana and Ball State.
“I don’t think (my injury) will be an issue with club or intramurals in college, but that’ll definitely be something I’ll do, keep in shape and have some fun with some friends. I’m excited for all that,” Horn said.
For now, Horn is excited to play basketball one last time and hopes to bring the sectional back to Memorial Gymnasium.
“It’s really nice to get back on the court and compete with my teammates and play my role and get rewarded for my role and so it’s just nice to be back on the court with great teammates,” he said.
