Eargle: YSU’s sultan of swat
The Warren Harding High graduate set the Horizon League record for blocks in a season
By Joe Scalzo
YOUNGSTOWN
Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell once said, “The idea is not to block every shot. The idea is to make your opponent believe that you might block every shot.”
YSU junior Damian Eargle tries to accomplish the second by ignoring the first.
That can get him in trouble, foul and otherwise — “Sometimes [Coach Jerry Slocum] gets mad at me because I try too hard, but it’s just habit,” Eargle said — but the approach usually works.
Despite standing just 6-foot-7 — relatively small for a Horizon League center — Eargle has emerged as one of the best shot blockers in conference history.
On Thursday night, he set Horizon League single-season records for blocks, both overall (he has 113, besting the 111 by UIC’s Scott VanderMeer in 2006-07) and in conference-only games (he has 65, two more than Marquette’s Jim McIlvaine had in 15 games in 1990-91).
“He’s got a gift,” said Slocum. “There’s nothing involved with that that’s coaching. That’s all god-given and that’s Damian.
“He sees it. He has great anticipation skills and has bailed us out time and time again when the ball gets to the basket.”
Eargle, who ranks third nationally with 4.0 blocks per game, is the second-most prolific blocker in YSU history. This year’s total ranks behind Ricky Tunstall’s 138 blocks in 1982-83 and Eargle’s two-year total of 204 ranks second to Tunstall’s 221 from 1982-84.
If he stays healthy, Eargle should pass the career mark early next season.
“It’s just timing and my long arms,” said Eargle, who also holds Warren Harding’s career blocks record. “I know when it’s going up so I can time it good.”
Eargle had 57 blocks as a freshman at UNC-Greensboro in 2008-09 before transferring to YSU. While he’s also a solid scorer (his 10.5 points per game rank third on the team) and rebounder (entering Thursday, he was third in the league with 7.4 rebounds per game), Eargle’s biggest strength is his defense.
At just 215 pounds, he sometimes struggles with bigger centers — Loyola’s 230-pound forward Walt Gibler, in particular, gives him fits — but Eargle’s length and quickness allow him to also guard the perimeter, a huge weapon against pick-and-rolls.
“He’s had a tremendous season for us at the defensive end of the floor,” said Slocum. “When the officials let him play a little bit, he is really a factor.”