California Lands Forward
Eric Vierneisel, a 6-foot-7, 200-pound combo/small forward from Jacobs H.S. in Algonquin, Ill., woke up this morning with a decision. "He said 'Mom, I want to call coach (Ben) Braun'," said Eric's, mom. "So I said 'fine'."
Vierneisel, who gave Braun the commitment later in the day, had considered several other high division one programs. He had taken an an unofficial visit to Wisconsin (May 28). Eric also took a trip to California. He was also offered by Wisconsin.
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Vierneisel had a fine spring too. He helped the Illinois Warriors reach the title game of the Nike Memorial Day Classic. He scored 25 points in a semifinal round victory over Riverside Church, and added 11 points and eight rebounds in the title game loss to Martin Brothers Select of Iowa.
Vierneisel was also interested in Notre Dame, Vanderbilt and Illinois. Vierneisel has excellent passing and good rebounding skills. He's got a very nice midrange game from the perimeter and showed that he can create off the dribble.
Vierneisel averaged 17 points, eight rebounds and four assists per game this past season at Algonquin. He said he has a 3.2 GPA and scored a 26 on the ACT.
Vierneisel will compete at the Nike All-American Camp, the Nike Peach Jam Tournament, the AAU Super Showcase and the Tietze Tournament in Kansas.
"California has been there with Eric since day one," said Eric's mom. "They have a good bunch of people there. Even though it's far away no matter where Eric had gone he wouldn't have been home much. It's a great school. I am really happy for him. We are happy for him too."