A FAMILY BASKETBALL REUNION : Bill and Brad Soucie Are Together Again, and Christian Heritage Is the Beneficiary

After a 3 1/2-year intermission, the Soucie brothers are back together on the basketball court, hoping to make their final season on the same team as successful as the last one.

In 1985, Bill and Brad helped Inter-City Baptist High School in Allen Park, Mich., to a state title under Ray Slagle, now co-coach at Christian Heritage.

Christian Heritage is having its most successful season (15-3) since the program began 3 years ago and has a chance of contending for the NAIA title in March. The Soucies are a big part of it.

Brad, a 6-foot 6-inch junior, joined his older brother this semester after transferring from Eastern Michigan. In his first game for the Hawks, against Point Loma Nazarene, he scored 46 points to break the school record of 34 that Bill had set last season.

“I was glad he was able to do it,” Bill said. “Let’s keep it in the family. I’d expect him to do that because he’s more of an offensive player than I am, and he’s a 3-point shooter.”

Since his debut six games ago, Brad has been averaging 32 points a game and 5 rebounds. He was recently named NAIA District 3 athlete of the week.

“I was worried coming in the middle (of the season) because that can mess up the whole chemistry of the team,” Brad said. “They played 10 games before I came, and they all played together last year, so there’s a chemistry there. They know what’s going to happen in certain situations. Then for someone to come in, I was worried that I’d throw the team off and be a disadvantage. So far, it has been a positive experience.”

Bill, a 6-5 senior forward, has been averaging 12 points a game and 7 rebounds. He was a member of Christian Heritage’s first basketball team as a sophomore. Only three others--Jeff Steffen, William Cunningham and Rundy Foster--remain from the original team.

“There are three words to describe our first year: young, inexperience and surprise. No one knew each other, and we were just thrown together,” Bill said. “The next year, Dave Kirksey, John Burkhardt and Mark Kraatz came in, and we gained respect as a team. This year, with Brad joining us, we have a very potent team.”

Bill, like Brad, transferred to Christian Heritage but from a smaller school, Northland Baptist College, 2 years ago. He came for the opportunity to play a higher level of basketball and also because of the school’s liberal arts department.

Brad, on the other hand, arrived after a successful season at a Division I school (he scored an NCAA record eight 3-point baskets in the first round of the NCAA tournament last season).

“The coach and I weren’t on the same base, and he thought one way, and I thought the other,” he said. “I thought it would be best for both of us if I’d leave.

“I knew a lot of guys on the team, Mark (Kraatz) and Bill and I played together in high school, and Coach Slagle was out here. I just guess the Lord directed me out here. I never thought about any other school.”

Bill and Brad got into basketball because their parents, William and Bonnie, began taking them to the gym to run off energy before--and sometimes during--church.

“We were little rambunctious kids,” Bill said, “and there was a gym inside the church, and either Mom or Dad would take us out and let us play around with the basketball. We had the potential, and we enjoyed it, so we continued.”

Brad recalled the first basketball game they played in. He was in fourth grade, Bill in the fifth, and they organized a game between the classes to see who was better. They played together for the first time on a team of fifth and sixth graders.

Bill began as a center, but when he entered college at 6-5, he switched to forward. It took time for him to adjust to facing the basket, and he has carried over some habits.

“In high school, Bill was the biggest player on our team,” Slagle said. “He always went against the biggest person on the other team. As a result, when he shoots, he almost always falls away. He has made great improvements and has developed a perimeter game.”

Brad started out as a guard, but after a 5-inch spurt between his freshman and sophomore years, he switched to forward. In Michigan, Brad was a top college prospect as a guard, Slagle said. He has always been a successful long-range shooter, even before the 3-point rule was installed.

“Brad played in high school before the advent of the 3-point shot, but he shot from 3-point range even in high school,” Slagle said. “He’s always took more 3-point shots than 2-pointers. We’ve tried to help Brad develop a more full game when he’s shooting.”

Brad has practiced long hours to be a successful shooter and retreats to the court whenever he can.

“Brad is extremely motivated in basketball,” Slagle said. “He begs for gym time and will work on his game for hours during the day. He’s very goal-oriented and is constantly upgrading his goals and looking at his game to become the best he can be.”

The Soucies also played soccer, Bill at Northland Baptist, earning all-NCCAA honors as a goalie. Brad saw soccer as a way to stay in shape. Basketball practice usually began a week after soccer ended.

Although Bill and Brad share many beliefs and attitudes, they have two very different personalities on and off the court. Brad is the talker, while Brad politely sits back and listens. Their temperments on court are also different.

“Bill is a real emotional player, and Brad has a laid-back personality on the court although he works hard,” Slagle said.

Both agreed that the most difficult thing for them as student-athletes was learning how to deal with fellow students. Since they attend a smaller college, and the Hawks are having a successful season, people recognize them on campus.

“It bothers me when people come up and compliment me a lot,” Brad said. “I mean, it’s nice and it’s flattering, but like Bill said, we’re just like they are. A lot of those people excel in grades, and they should get praise, but it’s just that basketball is a media thing.”

One thing Brad has had to adjust to is that Christian Heritage doesn’t have its own court. The team usually practices and plays at Granite Hills. Sometimes practice has to be juggled between area schools depending on the gym availability.

Bill said that has made the Hawks a stronger road team. Since the team has no home court, they can easily adapt to any facility.

If the season keeps up the way its begun the Soucies could find themselves on another strange court in Kansas City in March, playing their final game together at the NAIA championships.