.st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By <a class="byline__authorLink" href="https://www.mlive.com/staff/brvanochten/posts.html" title="Brian VanOchten at grsports@mlive.com">Brian VanOchten | grsports@mlive.com</a>Pedja LazicGRAND RAPIDS -- Pedja Lazic
a former Forest Hills Northern High School and Aquinas College basketball standout
has signed a professional contract to play in France this fall
the sixth all-time-leading scorer in Aquinas history
has agreed to terms with Feurs Fores Basket in the French National 2 league
Lazic played professionally in Germany last season
&quot;I feel very fortunate that I was given an opportunity to play in France,&quot; he said in a press release
&quot;Germany taught me how the business works and what to expect
I am very excited to help out a young team that is trying to move up to the French National 1 league -- along with polishing my French
learning the French culture and their traditions
&quot;This opportunity will allow me to gain valuable life experience and can be a stepping stone for my basketball career
I plan to take full advantage of it.&quot;
Lazic led the Saints to a 94-43 record and three Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference regular-season titles
He also guided the Saints to two WHAC tournament titles and four consecutive trips to the NAIA Division II national tournament from 2005-09
He was named WHAC Player of the Year and a first-team NAIA-II All-American after averaging 16.9 points and 9.4 rebounds in his senior season
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Given how his senior season unfolded at Gonzaga
it may be surprising to some that Zach Gourde has constructed a lengthy
successful professional basketball career in France
As Gourde prepares to leave Spokane for his sixth pro season
he packs the satisfaction of rekindling his love for the game along with his faithful miniature Australian shepherd Riley and two suitcases of belongings that will sustain him for the next nine months overseas
“I’m enjoying it quite a bit,” Gourde said
“It took a while for me to be able to say that.”
Gourde’s passion for basketball was severely tested during his senior season (2002-03)
He slid from first-team All-WCC as a junior to a diminished role as Ronny Turiaf emerged on a deep frontcourt that included Cory Violette and Richard Fox
averaged 13.2 points and 6.4 rebounds as a junior
but dropped to less than five points and three boards in a senior season that ended with a double-overtime loss to Arizona in the second round of the NCAA tournament
Gourde’s confidence sagged and he acknowledged that he soured on basketball “when I’d invested so much and it ceased to be fun because I wasn’t being successful.”
He gave serious thought to quitting basketball and finding a job but decided to give the game one more shot in Feurs in south-central France
Gourde consulted with the Frenchman Turiaf
but Gourde said the residents were welcoming
have some fun and I’ll give it one year,’ ” he said
has discussed a long-range plan that involves him becoming an assistant and transitioning to head coach
He has started the paperwork process toward receiving French citizenship
Gourde produced big numbers in his first three seasons with Feurs
division of France’s three national leagues
a Pro B team that ranks above the national leagues and below Pro A
Gourde led Le Portel in minutes played and was second in scoring and rebounding
He left this morning to return to Le Portel for the upcoming season
he’ll settle into his team-provided apartment and renew acquaintances with the 50-60 non-basketball playing residents he knows by name
Gourde said the basketball is a step higher than the college game
The game is fast-paced with a 24-second shot clock
who appears stronger and leaner than during his GU days
shoot my odd touch shots with bizarre footwork that a lot of people probably look at as
‘That’s a travel,’ or ‘How did that go in?’ ” Gourde said
Rules limit the number of Americans on French teams
Gourde’s confidence returned quickly in France because he was counted on to fill the stat sheet and was given the freedom to do so
“I had a green light like you can’t imagine,” he said
Learning how to say “green light” in French was a different matter
He essentially had no exposure to the language prior to stepping on French soil
the cerebral Gourde took a studied approach and picked it up the fairly quickly
comfortable in three and fluent in four,” said Gourde
adding that it helps he speaks the language daily with his girlfriend
Gourde has occasionally helped review contract documents for Le Portel teammates who hail from the U.S
Gourde purchased a house in Spokane three years ago that he rents out while he’s in France
Returning to Spokane each summer allows him to stay in shape with quality pick-up games at GU
see numerous former Bulldogs and stay in touch with other friends
although a few people have confused him for current Zag Josh Heytvelt
probably because both are tall and sport a buzz cut
Gourde hears two common reactions from Spokanites
“It’s probably split about 50-50,” Gourde said
“People are very surprised (he’s still playing)
And the other is that they’ve never seen a player who would fit in over there better than me.”
but he’s always enjoyed tackling a variety of challenges
I’ll probably go to law school,” said Gourde
who doesn’t rule out the possibility he could still be playing in five years
“There’s a constant broadening of perspective
The situation I’m in allows me a lot of time for informal education
but it’s broken up so I can spend hours just browsing and trying to educate myself in depth to my fancy of the moment
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