Mike Jackel's singular career began as a player with Simon Fraser University from 1978 to 1982. In those four years he accumulated 1940 points, second to Jay Triano, and a myriad of accolades including two time NAIA District All-Star (1981 & 1982) and NAIA All-American (the first Clan to player to achieve this status). In the 1981 - 82 season Mike scored 995 points and led the NAIA with 28.9 points per game, a Simon Fraser University single season record. In 1982 he broke another Clansman record when he scored 47 points in one game.

After graduating from S.F.U. Mike Jackel played professional basketball in Germany, scoring over 10,000 career points and winning four National Championships and four German Cups. He was a member of the German National Team for 9 years, appearing in three European Championships and winning the 1993 gold medal -- the first German national team to do so. He participated in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona finishing 7th and lists his personal highlight as playing against the Michael Jordan-led "Dream Team".