Faulkners going own way

By MARK MAYNARD / The Independent

SANDY HOOK December 01, 2008 06:52 pm

— The twins are separating.
Elliott County’s 6-foot-1 backcourt duo, brothers Evan and Ethan Faulkner, will be playing together for the last time this season.
Last week the Faulkners signed letters of intent to play basketball at different colleges.
Evan will be going to Radford College and Ethan to Northern Kentucky University. The twins weighed the possibility of signing with the same college, but, since they would basically be competing for the same minutes, decided it was best for them to make the right choice for each individual.
“If was best for me to go to Northern and best for him to go to Radford,” Ethan Faulkner said.
NKU actually offered both Faulkners the chance to stay together.
Evan was recruited by Gardner-Webb, West Liberty State, Georgetown College and could have gotten an appointment to the military academies.
He chose Radford because of how hard they recruited him since last spring.
“I wanted to go somewhere where I feel like they wanted me,” Evan said. “Playing early was a deciding factor, too.”
Second-year Radford coach Brad Greenberg told Elliott County coach Rick Mays that Evan Faulkner was the No. 1 recruiting priority. Faulkner will probably play point guard for Radford.
“It’ll definitely be an adjustment for me,” he said. “But I’m ready for it.”
Evan Faulkner averaged 16 points and seven assists per game for the Lions last season. He also has a reputation as a lockdown defender.
“I can’t wait to coach Evan Faulkner,” Greenberg said in a release. “He is a natural leader, has a passion for basketball, can shoot with range, pass, handle and defend. He is capable of running a team or playing off the ball. But what separates Evan from most young players is the mental focus he brings to the court. He plays every possession like it’s the most important possession of the game.”
Ethan Faulkner, regarded as one of the best point guards in the state, chose NKU because of a close relationship with coach Dave Bezold, the chance to play immediately and the opportunity to compete for a national championship four years in a row.
“I’m confident,” Ethan said. “I know I could play at the Division I level but I’m going to play where I’m most comfortable. It’s a program on the rise right now.”
Bezold was thrilled to sign Faulkner, who averaged 16 points, 7.2 assists and 7 rebounds a game as a junior.
Ethan is an outstanding all-around basketball player, because he scores, he plays defense and he knows how to play the game,” Bezold said. “He is a very tough kid who plays with a lot of intensity, and we are very excited he has chosen NKU.”
Faulkner enters his senior season at Elliott County with 1,652 career points and 687 assists. He was named the Eastern Kentucky Conference defensive player of the year last season and is a three-time All-EKC selection.
“I know Ethan is going to be a great addition to our program,” Bezold said. “He can play the point, but he can also really score and knock down shots from the outside.”
NKU christened a new arena recently with an exhibition game against Louisville. Ethan was on hand for that one.
“Their new arena is unbelievable,” he said. “It’s as impressive as Rupp Arena, even though it doesn’t seat as many people. I’m looking forward to playing there.”
Faulkner will be playing with a couple of other former area stars — Jonathan VanHoose of Russell and Dennis Gagai of Ironton. VanHoose, who started his college career at Evansville, transferred to NKU and was recently ruled eligible. He is sidelined with a high ankle sprain.
“With VanHoose and Gagai there, that’ll be a lot of fun, too,” Ethan said.
For now, both players are looking forward to extending their high school careers as long as possible.
“This year the stakes are higher than ever for us,” Evan said. “We know we have a shot at a state championship.”
MARK MAYNARD can be reached at mmaynard@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2648.