On Monday, Isaac Ericksen announced his commitment to further his playing career at Illinois State—choosing them over the likes of Mercer, Arkansas State, Furman, Eastern Kentucky, UNC Asheville, and UMass Lowell. The move is significant for a myriad of reasons. On one hand, it removes one of the top available prospects from the recruiting board. However, it also provides the Redbirds with a skilled, versatile forward who can cause various matchup problems for opponents. Ultimately, the commitment is no surprise. Ericksen has been a noteworthy prospect since middle school and has maintained an upward trajectory since then. We spoke with Ericksen in order to get a deeper understanding of his commitment and expectations for the future…
JB: Talk about your recruitment process and what ultimately led to your decision to commit to Illinois State?
IE: I chose Illinois State primarily because of the culture and belief the coaching staff has in me. The way the broke down my game and understood me as a player and person is what ultimately led to the commitment.
JB: How do you see yourself fitting with the system/structure?
IE: I think I’m going to fit in great and be a valuable asset [by] using my versatility to have success at the next level.
JB: What are you looking to improve going forward?
IE: I want to keep improving physically and my ability to control the game going into college.
For those who haven’t watched or followed Ericksen, he’s a fluid athlete with size, length, and a quality skillset. Ericksen is a useful shooting threat who spaces the floor, excels in the midrange, and scores well around the basket. He’s made steady strides as a defensive piece and two-way rebounder. Although his game blossomed over time, Ericksen was above his peers early on. He transitioned to high school and immediately stood out as the most productive player on the team despite being only one of two freshmen on the roster. Ericksen led the team in scoring and rebounding for three straight seasons while showing considerable improvement in his game. While it was certainly a group effort, there’s no denying the role Ericksen played in elevating this team’s record from 12-14 to 19-9 to 29-2.
After playing with Team Loaded for two summers, Ericksen concluded his travel ball career as a focal point for SW15H Elite. The program’s founder, Scott Wood, speaks highly of Ericksen, “The Redbirds are getting a high IQ, hard worker, and an absolute gym rat. He might arguably spend more time in the gym than the janitor. Isaac is a very versatile player who can play multiple positions. One that will only continue to get better. Isaac is the type of player that all coaches would regard as an honor to have coached.” SW15H Elite assistant coach, Cooper Hart, also had glowing praise for Ericksen, “Isaac is one of the most professional players I’ve been around. He’s an incredibly consistent worker and has come into his own as a leader. He’ll add as much value to a program off the court as he will on it. He’s been integral in the rise of our program and is a shining example of what it means to do things the ‘SW15H Elite’ way.”
The production, success (both team and individual), and achievements have followed Ericksen throughout his playing career. All signs point to him enjoying a special senior season before departing for Illinois State. Beyond the size, skillset, and on-court ability, Ericksen has shown the maturity, humility, and work ethic to ignite a winning culture. Don’t be surprised when he blossoms into a major difference-maker for the Redbirds.