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Eiland Inks NLI with TCU Men's Basketball Program
May 6, 2009
TCU head men's basketball coach Jim Christian announced on Wednesday that Dernodo Eiland (Aurora, Ill. | Pratt Community College) has signed a National Letter of Intent and will join the Horned Frogs for the 2009-10 campaign. "Dernodo is a skilled wing player, who can really stretch the defense with his effortless shooting ability," said Christian. "Dernodo possesses the size, strength and toughness that allows him to really score points in a hurry. Playing at Pratt Community College, he has been coached to the fullest and will be counted on to bring that same blue collar mentality that made him successful in junior college with him to TCU." "I'm excited to be coming to TCU. I really think that the team has the right pieces coming back to make a good run next season, and I think that I can add a lot to it with my shooting ability. TCU really stuck with me all season, and that loyalty made a great impression on me and made me want to be a part of their program," said Eiland. The 6-6 shooting guard is coming off a tremendous sophomore campaign at Pratt Community College where he averaged 13.4 points per game to go along with 5.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. During the 2008-09 campaign, Eiland was selected as an honorable mention all-star in Region VI as well as the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference. "Dernodo is the most versatile offensive player that I've ever coached at Pratt. On any given night, he could put up big numbers. I believe TCU has signed a kid who will pay big dividends for them on the court over the next two years. Not only is Dernodo a great player, but he is an even better kid," said Trevor Rolfs, head men's basketball coach at Pratt Community College.
This past season, Eiland led Pratt Community College with 74 three-pointers and ranked seventh among all Region VI players in three-point field goals made per game (2.37 3FGM-G). In the Western Division of the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference, Eiland was selected as an honorable mention all-star selection in addition to ranking fourth in three-point field goals made per game and 13th in scoring average.
During the 2008-09 campaign, Eiland recorded 14 double-digit scoring performances, including five games of 20 or more points. The 6-6 shooting guard notched a career-high 27 points to go along with seven rebounds against Labette Community College while recording his first career double-double against Seward County Community College with a 25-point, 10-rebound performance. The newly-signed Frog was part of a Pratt Community College program that ranked fifth in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference in scoring offense, posting 78.5 points per evening. This past season, Eiland led the Beavers to an 18-13 overall record and a berth in the Region VI Tournament. Eiland spent his first season at Kankakee Community College where he was selected to the Region IV All-Freshmen Team after averaging 12.5 points per contest in 31 games. The 6-6 shooting guard recorded a team-high 71 three-pointers during his freshman campaign while connecting on 35.3 percent (71-of-201) of his three-point field goal attempts. A native of Aurora, Ill., Eiland played four seasons at West Aurora High School where he averaged 17.7 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game during his senior campaign en route to earning first team all-conference and all-area recognition. A standout in the Chicago area, Eiland was selected to play in the Windy City Classic where he scored 17 points to go along with six rebounds for the North Team. In addition, Eiland was selected to play in the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association All-Star Game and earned all-tournament honors at the Pontiac Holiday Tournament during his final campaign at West Aurora High School. The 6-6 shooting guard also competed with the Illinois Hawks, one of the top AAU teams in the Chicago area. Eiland becomes the fourth player to sign with the Frogs joining Garlon Green (Missouri City, Texas | Hightower H.S.), Xavier Roberson (Houston, Texas | Mississippi Elite Christian Academy) and Greg Hill (Gary, Ind. | Midland College). The Frogs are expected to add three more players to the upcoming 2009-10 roster. TCU Athletics Media Relations
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