There were major minutes up for grabs at the shooting guard position due to the graduation  of 4-year starter Chad Pulkkinen. Eric quickly jumped on the opportunity and never looked back. He understood what the coaching staff wanted and did not disappoint ... his biggest attribute and a quality he brings to the Monks program is his competitive nature, always willing to take on the fight and never giving in to the opponent ... a big guard who possesses   an outstanding basketball IQ and skill set ...  has the ability to hurt you off the dribble with the drive, knock down perimeter shots, or cut apart the opposing defense with his outstanding vision ... combine this with his athletic ability ... Eric    must improve his overall strength and stamina to take the next step  in   his development in the Monks system. He will be starting the year off behind the eight ball due to a freak knee injury that has kept him out pre-season, but with this young man's heart, it can't be counted as an insurmountable obstacle.

2007-08: Started in 23 of the 26 games he appeared in last year ... averaged 21.3 minutes, 6.1 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game as a freshman ... he shot 63-of-148 (.426) from the floor, including 15-of-53 (.283) from behind the arc ... he registered a career-high 20 points going 9-for-12 from the floor, including 2-of-4 from the three-point line, with one of the three point field goals a three-quarter court game-winner to beat Colby College on their home floor ... he grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds versus Mount Ida in only 19 minutes of action ... he also registered double figures in scoring on four more occasions with the most recent against Emerson College in the GNAC semi-final playoff game. Once again, Eric's brilliance was more of doing whatever was asked and most of the time it was defending the team's best guard, something that went unnoticed in the box score.

High School: A standout performer at Cheverus averaging 15 points, 8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1 block a game ... helped lead his team to a 73-6 season record and an appearance in the semifinals of the State Sectionals ... had a career-high 26 points against Portland, dished out 11 assists versus Westbrook, and was a monster on the glass versus Deering, registering an impressive 15 rebounds ... was voted to the Maine All-State Team, to the SMAA Senior All-Star Game and received SMAA All-Conference honors ... was also voted to the Cross Country SMAA Second Team and placed fifth in the State in the high jump.

Personal: Full name Eric M. Friend ... born on April 27, 1989 in Lewiston, Maine ... son of Angela Bisson ... majoring in Business Management.