Meet Eric Wall, the starting 5-spot for the UW-Platteville men’s basketball team.

Photograph by Anthony Bauer


Junior Eric Wall stepped into the 5-spot position during the 2010-11 season after previous player Jeff Skemp graduated. Wall averaged 12.9 points per game and averaged 6.7 rebounds on the season.

Wall is a junior majoring in mechanical engineering. He is a Kaukauna High School graduate where he not only played basketball, but proved his all-around athletic ability by participating in football, baseball and track.

Having to fill the shoes of previous 5-spot Jeff Skemp, Wall knew he had his work cut out for him this season. Wall proved his ability by averaging 12.9 points per game and an averaged 6.7 rebounds on the season.

Although Wall said being in this position this year was his biggest challenge, he took the challenge head on and impressed his teammates as well as first year head coach, Jeff Gard.

“Eric Wall is one of the hardest workers that I have been around in my years of coaching,” Gard said. “He may have been undersized in some match-ups this season but he would never be out-worked. Not once had he given an excuse on why he couldn’t do what was asked of him, instead he just found a way to be successful.”

Gard said Wall’s “no quit” attitude will not only allow him and his teammates to have a successful 2010-11 season, but will also make him successful in life after college. Wall’s efforts will have a lasting impression on the program and how things are done on and off the court.

Although the season is over for the team, Wall is now looking forward to the 2010-11 year and “just being back on the floor again and competing,” Wall said. “We lost a lot of good players this year but I have no doubt that other guys will step up and fill those roles.”

Looking back on the season Wall said his favorite part about it were his coaches and teammates.

“We have a great staff here that makes you a better person and player every day,” Wall said. “My teammates are what make the game fun.”

With spring weather warming the area, Wall looks forward to riding his motorcycle and getting the chance to hang out with friends more now in the offseason.

Wall understands the hard work of being a student athlete and works hard on his engineering major. He hopes to head back to Fox Valley upon graduation and find an engineer job doing design work.