Eitel Twins Headed To ISU

Eitel twin brothers, Logan (#10) and Lucas (#23), committed to ISU's men's basketball program this past week after helping lead their undefeated Marshall Lions to victory in the Wabash Valley Classic. Photo credit to Marshall Assist Club.

The Tribune-Star's Todd Golden discusses my nephews' decision in the Sunday edition:

Raise your hand if you live in the Wabash Valley and you think you had a bigger week than Marshall High School boys basketball players Logan and Lucas Eitel.No one’s going to accuse you of lying, but the Eitel twins have enjoyed a week that will be difficult to top for the rest of their lives.

With their team unbeaten and fresh off an eye-opening Pizza Hut Wabash Valley Classic championship Tuesday, Logan and Lucas Eitel of Marshall, Ill., sweetened their week by committing to play men’s basketball at Indiana State.Both Eitels confirmed to the Tribune-Star on Friday night that they are bound for ISU, where they will walk on next season.

“It’s kind of been a blur over the last week or so. Winning games, winning tournaments, it’s unbelievable. And now we’re playing basketball at ISU? It’s a dream come true,” Lucas Eitel said.

Both Eitels made a visit to ISU on Friday and made their decision after consultation with friends and family. Both have been fixtures at ISU games. They attended ISU’s loss to Creighton on Wednesday, even before they were sought by the ISU coaching staff to play there.

“We’ve always wanted to go there. Division I has been our goal all the way through high school. [Friday] we talked to the coaches, players and went to the practice. We really liked what we saw. We think it’s a great fit,” Logan Eitel said . . .

Both Eitels are 6 foot 4, 180 pounds. Lucas Eitel averages 17.3 points per game, while Logan Eitel averages 15.1 points.

They play all over the floor in Marshall’s balanced attack, but project as guards at the collegiate level, with the possibility of playing the three in a small lineup.

They would seemingly be a very good fit in ISU coach Kevin McKenna’s spread offense. Both are adept outside shooters who cut well to the basket and can score inside. Both also have rebounded well at the high school level . . .

According to Logan Eitel, the twins did not present themselves as a package deal to potential recruiters.

“No, I’d say it was more than likely going to happen out of circumstance, we’d like to play together, and we thought that was the way it was always going to turn out to be, but it didn’t have to turn out that way,” he said . . .

The Eitels join Rockville’s R.J. Mahurin and Terre Haute South’s Jake Odum as local products slated for the ISU roster, starting next season.

Not to be overlooked in the Eitels’ growing Terre Haute-based family athletic footprint is brother Derek Eitel, the starting quarterback on Rose-Hulman’s football team.