Ohio native makes third early-period signee for Tech

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee Tech added 7-foot center Eric Weisenbach to its growing list of early-period signees recently, head coach Steve Payne announced.

Weisenbach, a senior center at Dublin Coffman High School in Dublin, Ohio, is Tech's third early-period signee, joining Anthony Morse and Shaqueille Calhoun, who inked their names with the Golden Eagles last week.

Weisenbach, who is remarkably versatile for a seven-footer, averaged seven points, five rebounds and 3.5 blocks for Dublin Coffman in 2010-11. He is a three-year letterman for coach Jamey Collins.

"He's not your typical type of player you see at Tennessee Tech," Payne said. "He's seven feet tall but he handles the ball like a guard and he can really shoot it. He plays in a fantastic high school program that is used to winning. He is late bloomer, but we feel his upside is so high as he continues to develop his body and build strength. His game is fluid. You're not going to find many kids his size as fluid as he is at 17 years old."

Weisenbach helped Dublin Coffman to a district championship in 2010 and was named Honorable Mention all-league in the Ohio Capital Conference (OCC). Academically, he is an Honor/Merit Roll student.

He scored a career-high 18 points in a 65-51 victory in the second round of the district tournament in 2011, helping the Shamrocks to an 18-4 overall record before they fell in the district semifinals.

"It's safe to say he has high-major potential with his ability to move, slide his feet and get up and down in transition," said Collins, Dublin Coffman's head coach. "For his size, he's very gifted. It's going to be a matter of putting on size and continuing to develop. Tennessee Tech got to him early, and he turned down a lot of schools who tried to get in later."

Weisenbach cited comfortability with the coaching staff and his predicted role with the Golden Eagles that enticed him to come to Cookeville.

"Coach (David) Boyden came up multiple times to see me in open gym, and he came to my house and got to know my family," Weisenbach said. "He showed a lot of interest, calling me pretty much every day. I love all the coaching staff, and the team was really welcoming. The coaches tell me I'll be a power forward who can shoot the ball. I feel like I'm quick for a guy my size and I can run the floor well."

The son of Phil and Pat Weisenbach, he has not yet decided on a major at Tech.