Catching up with Ben Eisenhardt

Published 11:27 am Friday, January 29, 2010

Almost one year ago to the day, Ben Eisenhardt scored 25 points in Bainbridge’s upset of top-ranked Franklin.

Now a redshirt freshman at Cal Poly, Eisenhardt is majoring in business administration and looking forward to taking the court in 2010-2011.

Q: What was on your mind at this time last year in the thick of your senior season?

A: I had already signed to go play for Seattle U., and Cal Poly wasn’t on my mind at all.

Q: How did you end up at Cal Poly?

A: When (Seattle U.)Coach (Joe) Callero left (for Cal Poly), that kind of shocked me. Then the next day I think I may have seen it on a Seattle U. player’s Facebook status. (Callero) just said, ‘It’s going to be shocking, but don’t do anything or leave the school. Don’t do anything big. Take a few days and swallow it.’

Q: How did you process the news?

A: I talked to my AAU coach as to what my options were, and a few days later I called Coach Callero and he said ‘Yes, there is a place for you (at Cal Poly) but I want you to wait and see who Seattle U. hires.’ The day Cameron Dollar was hired, he came over to Bainbridge and we talked a little bit. The next day he called and I wasn’t sure I wanted to stay.

Q:Why did you decide to redshirt?

A:Throughout the whole recruiting process (coaches said), ‘We love the way you play, but you’re really skinny.’ Weight’s always been an issue for me. I have the skill right now but I just don’t have the body yet.

Q:What are your weight goals?

A:I have to think about where I’m getting meals. I’m always eating during class. Since the first day I got here I’ve put on 10 pounds. I’ll probably only be able to put on five pounds a quarter. Hopefully by summer I’ll be up to 220 or so.

At the beginning of my senior season I was a bit over 200.

Q:What position will you play next year?

A: I think the vision is sort of as a power forward or a small forward. Hopefully I can develop to the position where I can guard the small forward so we can go to the bigger lineup. There’s a versatility when I’m in the game – the other team has to make a decision whether they’re going to put a second person or a smaller person on me.

Q:How have you adjusted to the life of a collegiate student-athlete?

A:This is the first time where I’ve been allowed to treat basketball as a job so everyone around me is helping me with that – where basketball’s 24/7. So this is the first place where I’ve been able to truly focus on that.

Q:What have been some highlights of traveling with the team?

A: Going to South Dakota State where I don’t think it got above zero. You get to see parts of the country that you wouldn’t see. I got to check South Dakota and Arkansas off the list.

Q:How are you acclimating to southern California?

A: There are many similarities between San Luis Obispo and Bainbridge. They have a farmer’s market and that community vibe.

Q:Do you still keep in touch with your BHS teammates?

A: I still talk to those guys every so often and when I was back in town. That’s the strength of the Bainbridge program.

Q:With your redshirt season winding down, how do you feel about next season?

A: I find myself looking forward to next year and that fifth year. Who knows how my body and my skills will be at that point.