Basketball in the Family: Dool brothers take on STU

Still of brothers Zach and Ben Dool (Credit: STU Athletics)

Brothers Ben and Zach Dool both play for the St. Thomas University Tommies basketball team. Surprisingly, this is the first time the brothers have been on a roster together.

Their three-year age difference didn’t allow for them to play at the same level previously.

Last year, Ben decided to suggest that Zach, who plays shooting guard, come to STU for his second year of university so that they could play together for the first time. 

“I always knew that Zach could play university basketball because I thought he was better at 18 than I was at 18. I probably persuaded him a little bit. I liked [playing for the Tommies], so I thought maybe he would too,” said the older brother.

Point guard Ben started playing in Grade 6 and is now in his fourth year at STU. However, he had never imagined playing university basketball with his younger brother.

“I never dreamed of it because I always thought Zach would do his own thing. He was in Halifax his first year, so I thought he liked it out there, but having him here is awesome.” said the oldest Dool. “Not many people get the opportunity to play with their siblings.”

Although they never got the chance to play together properly until STU, Ben and Zach are no strangers to driveway one-on-ones. 

Ben and their older brother Alex played with each other more often growing up, as Alex is only 17 months older, but that did not stop Zach from wanting to play with them.

“When we were younger, there would have been a big size difference, but Zach was still chippy and he wanted to come play against me, Alex and our other friends who were bigger. You can see it in how he plays now,” said Ben.

When asked who would win in a one-on-one in their driveway back home, Ben figured he’d win, but only on a technicality.

“I probably would [win] because there would be no roughing calls. He’s my little brother; I can’t let him beat me.”

Much on the contrary, Zach said that Ben would be more essential on the court in an intense moment.

Zach didn’t play basketball in his first year of university, but he wanted to get back into it. 

Knowing that Ben was a part of the team and the team’s head coach was John Hickey made it an easy decision for Zach to leave Halifax and join the Tommies. 

He and Ben both took inspiration from their older brother Alex, who Hickey used to coach.

“I didn’t know Ben and Zach as well because I hadn’t coached them until STU, but people forget that Zach didn’t play basketball last year. He’s getting back into the flow of things and getting more comfortable with the people around him and just getting more time on the court,” said Hickey.

The Tommies’ coach thinks that despite the family name they share, they are certainly their own players with their own skill sets.

One of the most noticeable similarities between the two is their do-anything-to-win attitude. Hickey said he is proud of the first-year player, but he is more excited for this coming summer, where the two will work together to expand their skills with specific training.

One aspect of basketball, according to Hickey, is that your teammates are like your brothers and being there to support each other unconditionally is important. For Ben and Zach, it’s like second nature.

“It’s a team sport, so you have to trust your teammates a lot, you already have that when it’s your brother, so it’s a pretty cool experience,” said Zach. “We both want the best for each other, we’re always looking out for each other.”