Eberhardt Fills Void For Billikens

Barry Eberhardt’s recruiting process was long, filled with twists and turns and one big surprise. The 6-foot-7, 245-pound power forward from Coffeyville Community College was being recruited by St. Louis University coach Brad Soderberg when the coach was fired in mid-April.

Not long after that, Eberhardt was signing a letter-of-intent to play for new Billikens coach Rick Majerus.

“I was surprised,” Eberhardt said of the hire. “I saw him on ESPN a few weeks before that. When I was younger, I used to watch him coaching Utah.”

Eberhardt’s long recruiting process ended with the power forward picking St. Louis U. over Nevada and Western Michigan. Once he finishes up a Spanish 2 class at Coffeyville, Eberhardt is looking forward to working with the former Utah coach.

“He said he can help my game,” Eberhardt said. “I fit the style of play he wants to run. He can help me get better.”

Eberhardt said he likes to play in the pick-and-pop system. With his size and shooting ability, the power forward is able to take bigger defenders away from the basket and knock down perimeter jumpers or post up on smaller players and score in the post.

The Billikens needed to add size to the roster, as 6-9 center Ian Vouyoukas and 6-8 forward Justin Johnson had used up their eligibility and young post players Obi Ikeakor and Horace Dixon left the team during the season.

Luke Meyer, a 6-5 forward, is a natural small forward who was often the team's next tallest player on the floor after Vouyoukas.

Before Eberhardt’s signing, the only returning post players were 7-0 center Bryce Husak, who will be a senior next season, and 6-9 forward Adam Knollmeyer, who will be a sophomore.

Husak averaged 2.1 points in 10.2 minutes per game last season. Knollmeyer, slowed by an ankle injury early in the season, averaged 0.5 points in 4 minutes per game.

It was important for SLU to bring in another post player, and Eberhardt fits the bill for the Bills.

“Barry gives us a low post scoring presence with the ability to pick and pop,” Majerus said in a press release. “We are excited about his developing rebounding game in conjunction with a defensive commitment. For the way we play, Barry’s skill level will be an asset to the returning team. I have no doubt that he can become an even better player given the dedication of our staff and my commitment to multi-faceted players. Over a 12 year span, I was fortunate to put three four-men into the NBA — Keith Van Horn, Hanno Mottola and Britton Johnson.”

Eberhardt was a third-team NJCAA All-American this season. His 17.4 points per game scoring average ranked sixth in NJCAA Region VI and his 6.2 rebounds per game average was second on his team. He also shot 55.9 percent from the field and 40.3 percent from behind the 3-point line.

He was the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Most Valuable Player was named the NJCAA Region VI Tournament MVP. Eberhardt scored 25 points in a semifinal win over Cloud County Community College and had 16 in the championship game victory over Barton County Community College.

Eberhardt is the third member of SLU’s recruiting class, joining guards Marcus Relphorde (American Christian School) and Anthony Mitchell (East St. Louis High School).