Ethan Price had never been to the state of Washington when he committed to attend Eastern Washington University in 2020. In the middle of a global pandemic, Price made a life-changing decision to pursue basketball at the next level and leave his hometown in Bury St. Edmonds, England for the small town of Cheney, Wash.
“I didn’t do a whole lot of winning in High School,” said Price. “I was probably the best player on my team, but we didn’t do a whole lot of winning … and I never really won anything growing up, so to be able to win back-to-back championships at Eastern, that was a highlight.”
Price said David Riley, at the time an assistant coach at Eastern, spent months talking to him over the phone.
“My dad would come to games and record the games on a camcorder,” said Price. “Coach Riley reached out to my head coach, and we would talk on Whatsapp for eight to ten months, and kinda just catch up … would just have phone calls … he’d be phoning me during practices, at lunchtime… I just felt like there was something special between me and Coach Riley.”
After a virtual visit, in which Price got a Zoom tour of campus, he made his choice and committed to Eastern.
“I kinda put all my eggs in one basket,” said Price.
A few months before Price arrived in Cheney during the summer of 2021, Riley was promoted to head coach. Together, they helped lead the Eagles to an 18-16 record and the sixth seed in the Big Sky Conference.
While Price was finding his footing in a new country, Dane Erikstrup was busy winning freshman of the year and dominating the California Collegiate Athletic Association. He started 18 games for Cal Poly-Pomona (Division II), averaging 11.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.
Little did they know that soon, they’d be playing together against top-25 teams at the DI level.
“I was able to give coach Riley and the other coaches my opinion of what I thought of them,” said Price. “I remember Dane coming in on his visit, and I had never really ever seen someone the height of me and be able to shoot the ball quite as well … I was thinking damn, this kid can hoop!”
Erikstrup joined Price and Riley at Cheney for the 2022-23 season. As a sophomore, he came off the bench and put together a strong season. He averaged 6.5 points and 3 rebounds.
In addition to securing Erikstrup, Riley also brought in sophomore Cedric Coward, who also made an immediate impact. Eastern put together a strong season, winning the regular season Big Sky title.
“Cal Poly, that was just a building block. I got freshman of the year over there, that was fun,” said Erikstrup. “At Eastern, we won two Big Sky regular season championships, so that was fun.”
The trio of Price, Erikstrup and Coward carried much of the load during Eastern’s second Big Sky regular season title during the 2023-24 season. Price averaged 12.2 points and Erikstrup averaged 10.8, despite only starting two of the Eagles’ 32 games. He was a weapon off the bench, with plenty of highlights including a 32-point performance against South Dakota State.
Erikstrup credits his practice as a kid that allowed him to develop into the player he became at Eastern.
“I’d always get (to practice) an hour or two early,” said Erikstrup.
The pair of bigs have a unique skill set, as they both have developed strong three-point shooting. Price said they have pushed each other to grow and get better over their three years as teammates.
“We were going head to head for two years straight, practicing against each other every single day,” said Price. “We kinda knew what makes each other go and tick … and also at the same time, I think we did a great job of being able to support each other and build each other up.”
However, they’ve also grown close as teammates and developed a friendship that both say will continue past Pullman.
“I love those guys, they’re like brothers to me,” said Erikstrup on his relationships with Price and Coward. “It’s gonna be sad separating, but it’ll be cool to see all of our journeys continue … see where we all end up.”
Price would agree.
“I definitely have a special bond with Dane,” said Price. “It’s been super special just to be able to share the court with him.”
Their success at Eastern was what led Riley to take the job at Wazzu, and what led Price, Erikstrup, Coward and LeJuan Watts to come with him. At WSU, they started strong, going 13-3 to open the season. However, injuries began to build up.
“We had that conversation … everyone has to step up,” said Price. “I didn’t feel like that was pressure, I think we all looked at it like an opportunity.”
Price and Erikstrup stepped up to fill the void that was left with Coward out for the year and Isaiah Watts out for the month of January. A natural leader, Price said he enjoys being the guy the team could look to for leadership.
“It’s something that I naturally kind of fall into,” said Price. “I’ve kinda known how to approach people when they need help … I’m not perfect in any sense, and I make mistakes and I feel like guys definitely help me, and Cedric and Dane do a great job of that.”
He said that despite his mistakes he takes pride in being a leader.
“It’s something that Coach Riley definitely preached to me,” said Price. “I’ve loved being a leader of this team … I’m sure next year when I’m the young gun, the rookie on whatever team I’m on, I’ll fall into a slightly different role.”
Riley was impressed with both his seniors as they navigated the challenges of playing top-25 teams like Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s.
“Those two … they’ve poured their heart into this season, they’ve poured their heart into their college basketball careers,” said Riley. “They’ve come in every single day with great spirit, they’ve been keeping the guys focused … their focus has been a great example of what we want to build on.”
He also said that Coward, though injured, played a big part in helping the team find success.
“You guys see it on the sidelines in games how involved he is,” said Riley. “He’s giving me ideas left and right, and so, he’s just a unique kid.”
With the season now coming to a close, Erikstrup said he’d like to continue his basketball career.
“Overseas is definitely my next goal,” said Erikstrup. “In my head basketball is basketball. Everyone talks about the difference between American and European basketball, but my game style I feel just translates smoothly to both.”
He admitted that it still has not hit him that his time at WSU is up, but he is excited to see what the future brings.
“I feel like the moment I come off the court and we don’t have another game, that’s when I’ll be like, dang, everything’s gone,” said Erikstrup. “I couldn’t even tell you where I’m gonna be in the next six months … my whole life I’ve kinda moved around, so it’s just kinda the usual for me at this point.”
The 6’9 forward does have experience playing internationally. He played for the Danish 18u national team and has had the chance to travel around Europe playing against other professionals.
“You get to travel the world, play basketball, all for mostly free,” said Erikstrup. “Can’t really complain.”
He said the best place he’s gotten to travel for basketball was either Switzerland or Kosovo.
“(Kosovo) was not the most fun, but the city was a lot of fun, you got to meet all different kinds of people,” said Erikstrup.
Price would also like to keep playing basketball, and said he will soon begin looking into hiring an agent.
“I definitely don’t want to close the door on anything,” said Price. “Being able to make basketball my full-time job, play overseas wherever that is in the world, is definitely something that I plan on doing.”
His international experience has come from playing with the Great Britain national team. He played with their U18 squad before the pandemic and was “called up,” to play with their national team last summer against South Sudan in an exhibition game.
“Being proud to be British is definitely a big thing for me,” said Price. “Not shying away from where you’re from and who you are is definitely a thing I think I’ve learned over the years.”
He said that although his time at WSU was short, he hopes he has built a legacy of being someone who set a foundation for the future.
“Being able to set that foundation and show that a whole new team can come in, and if you have the right pieces, you can still have a successful year,” said Price. “That’s something I’d love to leave here.”
