May 17, 2005
Normal, Ill. -
Guiaka "Eric" Vianney (pronounced GEE-eck-oh VIA-nay), a 6-foot-2, 210-pound guard from Yaounde, Cameroon, Africa, became the latest addition to the Illinois State basketball roster when he signed a national letter of intent Tuesday, according to head coach Porter Moser.
"I really liked Illinois State on my visit because the people reminded me of the people in Picayune," Vianney said. "The people (in Bloomington-Normal) are very nice and I really like the coaching staff. They have a good program and the coaches are very concerned about the players' academic progress."
Vianney, who has played basketball since the age of eight, played his senior season at Picayune (Miss.) High School as a foreign exchange student. The Maroon Tide finished the season with a 31-4 record and claimed the Class 5A South State Championship, while averaging 13 points, four rebounds and eight assists per game.
"The style of play is very different here and I took a little time to adjust to this style," Vianney said. "My coaches in Cameroon always said `the ball can go faster than the players,' so I try to play like that. I like to be unselfish and pass the ball around."
"Eric is unbelievably, physically strong. He is a strong combo guard," Moser said. "When Trey (Guidry) saw him on Eric's visit, Trey asked `What junior college is he from?' - he is that developed. He has a great work ethic and he will be able to be in the mix right away. He is just a powerful, explosive guard."
Vianney, who speaks five languages, joins fellow recruit Dodie Dunson and sophomore Khalif Ford to give Moser the most depth the Redbirds have had at the point guard spot during his tenure.
"With Eric, Dodie and Khalif it gives us so many options," Moser said. "All three are bigger guards and if the situation calls for two of them to be on the floor - we can do that. It will also open up the opportunity to push the ball more. I'm really excited about these young guards."
Vianney, the honorable mention all-state selection, chose Illinois State over New Orleans, Tulane and Kansas State. He prefers to go by the name Eric, but also is called by his first name, Ayunjma (EYE-yung-mah) and his middle name, Guiaka, back in Cameroon.
