Order on the court: Goodeill brothers have unique relationship

There's a fine line a basketball player shouldn't cross if he wants to stay in the good graces of his coach.

Devin Goodeill learned that lesson during his junior year at Sterling Christian High School. Doling out the lesson was his coach and brother, Chase Goodeill, who wasn't happy with what he perceived to be loafing on the court.

"We were in overtime against Faith Christian in our conference tournament," Chase said.

"He kind of dogged it back down the floor and let one of the Bierdeman boys score a layup on him, so I called a timeout. Devin gives me a bunch of excuses – it wasn't his man, so and so was closer, this and that – so I told him, 'If you say another word, you're done.'

"He goes, 'I'm done then,' thinking I was joking. In the middle of the overtime, he walked down to the end of the bench and was done."

Incidents like that have been few and far between for the Goodeills, who have been together at Sterling Christian the past four seasons.

Chase, 22, graduated from the school in 2006. As a senior, he averaged a team-high 18.1 points per game for the Trojans. One of his teammates was his younger brother, Devin, a varsity player as a freshman.

The next season, Chase returned as an assistant coach and Devin began a three-year run as a varsity starter.

The past two seasons, Chase has been the head coach and guided the Trojans to a 48-23 record. One of his top performers was Devin, who averaged 15 points, 9.1 rebounds and a block this past season and was named a second-team All-American by the National Christian School Athletic Association in Division III.

Off the court, the Goodeills work in their family's pest control business. They had to learn to not bug each other when it came to basketball.

"I felt like he definitely ripped into me more than anyone because I was his brother," Devin said, "but he was just trying to make me better. It was kind of difficult at first, but I got used to it, learned to respect him and tried not to mouth off too much."

"What I love about him is he's passionate, he's hungry and he loves the game as much as I do," Chase said. "His enthusiasm and his love for the game is something not all players have, so I respect that about Devin."

The brothers will have one more chance to work together as coach and player Thursday night during the annual Sauk Valley Newspapers All-Star Basketball Classic, but they're hardly done with basketball.

Chase, who is married (Rachel) and has a 4-month-old son (Eli), is looking to move up the coaching ladder. He inquired about openings at Morrison and Fulton this offseason, and hopes to get his foot in the door at a larger school than his alma mater.

Coaching in the all-star game, he hopes, will make him more visible in basketball circles, even in some small way.

"I'm not really looking at it to show everybody my coaching skills, or my Xs and Os or my knowledge of the game," Chase said. "I certainly think it's more about the players than it is about me."

Devin is still undecided between Sauk Valley and Judson University, an NAIA school in Elgin, as to where he'll go to school next. He plans to play basketball at whichever one he attends.

As for Thursday, he'll have a bit of a chip on his shoulder.

"Coming from Sterling Christian, I kind of want to go out and prove that I can play with these guys," Devin said.

All-Star Classic

When: Thursday (girls game at 5 p.m., boys at approximately 7)

Where: Sauk Valley Community College

Tickets: $4 at the door

FYI: Festivities include boys and girls 3-point contest, boys slam dunk contest


Chase Goodeill file

Resides: Sterling

Family: Wife, Rachel; son, Eli 4 months

FYI: Coached Sterling Christian boys basketball team to 25-11 record in 2008-09. ... Also played for the Trojans and averaged 18.1 points as a senior in 2006


Devin Goodeill file

Resides: Dixon

Family: Father, Steve; mother, Lori; brother, Chase

FYI: Averaged 15 points, 9.1 rebounds and was NCSAA second-team All-American this past season at Sterling Christian. ... Will attend either Sauk Valley or Judson University this fall