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NCAA Basketball: In-depth look at Eastern Illinois senior guard Josiah Wallace

By Bryan Mauro

BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 13: Head coach Jay Spoonhour of the Eastern Illinois Panthers is seen during the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Assembly Hall on November 13, 2015 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 13: Head coach Jay Spoonhour of the Eastern Illinois Panthers is seen during the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Assembly Hall on November 13, 2015 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – NOVEMBER 20: Dennis Green #10 of the Eastern Illinois Panthers (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – NOVEMBER 20: Dennis Green #10 of the Eastern Illinois Panthers (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

Why you should know Josiah Wallance

The senior guard is entering his third year in Charleston and is no secret to anyone who covers the league. He is a two-time first-team all-conference member and he has yet to reach his full potential as a player.

The guard has already become of the best players to ever wear a Panther uniform. He is also on the verge of becoming one of the best players to ever play in the Ohio Valley, at least one of the best players in recent memory.

Wallace initially came to Eastern Illinois after one season at Olney Central. While at Olney, Wallace showed that elite scoring ability averaging 21.2 points per game and once he showed up at Eastern Illinois, he picked up right where he left off in JUCO ball.

In his first season in the league one that saw him earn first-team all OVC honors by averaging 15.5 points per game and scoring from every level including the free throw line. Last season for Wallace was the true breakout season as he averaged 15.6 points per game overall but saw that average balloon to just under 20 in league play.

That 20 point per game average in the league was good enough for fifth overall in league play. That speaks volumes to how good the individual players in the league are. To cap off his stellar offensive season he helped guide a huge comeback against the league winner Murray State.

He hit a buzzer-beating three to win the game for the Panthers and put his stamp on the OVC. That game is the game that put him in the conversation with Taylor, Adams and Brown as one of the best players in the league.

Wallace is heading into this season looking to be one of the only players to ever be named to three straight all-conference teams at Eastern Illinois, he is already one of only three players to ever be named to two in a row.

The rising senior also is second overall with seven straight 20 point games and fell way shy of the record of 16 in a row, but he is still second all-time at Eastern Illinois with the seven straight.  He has a career-high of 32 points and that is likely to get broken again this year. If Wallace plays up to his potential which nothing says he won’t, he is going to potentially take Eastern Illinois to new heights under Coach Spoonhour.