Honderd, Steve (2016)

Steve Honderd, a 1989 graduate, is considered to be one of the all-time best basketball players in the long and storied history of Grand Rapids Christian High hoops. Among Steve’s favorite memories is the team in his senior year which had a season record of 23-3, losing in the Class A quarterfinals to the eventual state champions. Steve’s coach at GRCH was fellow Hall of Fame member Rich Schrotenboer.

Steve’s basketball career demonstrated steady and marked improvement year by year. He joined the varsity team at GRCH late in his sophomore season and by the end of his junior season had earned All-City honors. In his senior season, he was named to the All-City, All-Area, and All-State teams. Statistically, in his varsity career Steve averaged 18 points and 8 rebounds per game, while shooting 69.3% from the floor and 88.4% in free throws.

Turning down scholarship offers from larger schools, Steve chose to follow in the footsteps of his father Ralph to attend Calvin College. He immediately made a major impact in the basketball program there, earning all-conference honors in the MIAA in his freshman season, as he would do for each of the remaining three seasons. He was the leading scorer in the MIAA for his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons, and was the MIAA Conference MVP in both his junior and senior years. In Steve’s junior year he led Calvin to its first-ever National Championship in basketball and was named the Final Four MVP. In his senior season, Steve was named the NCAA Division III Player of the Year. In addition to his excellence in basketball, Steve earned the status of GTE Academic All-American in his junior and senior seasons.

Following college, Steve was awarded a NCAA post-graduate scholarship. He also participated in the Athletes in Action 1993 Fall Tour and had multiple opportunities to continue his basketball career as a professional abroad. Steve serves as the Director of Finance at Visteon Corporation. Steve and his wife Shelly have four children: Luke, Levi, Isabelle, and Malachi.

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11