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Son of Northwestern Basketball Legend Gets High Praise From Coach Chris Collins
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- Son of Northwestern Basketball Legend Gets High Praise From Coach Chris Collins
The Northwestern Wildcats basketball program appears to be in good hands under coach Chris Collins but still has a lot to prove coming off of a 15-19 season last year.
The Wildcats have the makings of a team that will work to find its identity, and the right lineup combinations during this offseason as several new faces, including preferred walk-on Elijah Eschmeyer, enter the mix.
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Eschmeyer is the son of former Wildcats center and program legend Evan Eschmeyer, the program's all-time leader in field goal percentage and one of the larger-than-life figures of the mid-to-late 1990s Big Ten.
Evan Eschmeyer played four NBA seasons after two averaging a double-double in two straight seasons (four seasons total) with the Wildcats basketball program in Evanston.
Now, his son has a chance to follow in his footsteps, raising the bar on levels of familiarity and excitement with coach Collins' program.
Mar 12, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Northwestern Wildcats head coach Chris Collins talks with his team against the Purdue Boilermakers during the first half at United Center. Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
Collins Welcomes Eschmeyer
Collins welcomed Elijah Eschmeyer in quotes attributed to the Wildcats' official X account .
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"Great to have Elijah in our program, you know, the history of the Eschmeyer name, need I say more," Collins said.
Elijah Eschmeyer is excited to put on a Wildcats jersey and contribute to the team he grew up watching.
"It's an honor to be able to wear the same jersey as my dad, you know I've grown up watching every game, hearing stories about my dad's time here, it's incredible to be able to have my own journey here but also to be able to honor his legacy," Elijah Eschmeyer said.
Collins believes that the younger Eschmeyer, who came to Evanston by way of Boulder, Colo., can help his team become better.
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"Just to have Elijah come in and to be able to be a sponge, to learn, to come in, to do what's asked of him, to make us better (are good things), and I know he's excited to carry on that role," Collins added.
Eschmeyer Bolsters Class of 2026
Elijah Eschmeyer is in his first year and was a part of the Class of 2026, which is stacked with high potential prospects including Jayden Hodge and Symon Ghai.
He graduated Lafayette Peak to Peak Charter School before heading to Lake Forest (Ill.) Academy north of Evanston for a post-graduate year last season.
Eschmeyer averaged 13.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.1 blocks per game in his final year at Peak to Peak, areas where he can help improve Collins' team.
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He watched Northwestern in the NCAA Tournament as a fan and now has a chance to live his dream on the court as a member of the Wildcats hoops squad.
"It means a lot to be a part of the program at a time where playing (in the) tournament is part of the conversation," Elijah Eschmeyer said of Collins' team, which broke a 78-year tournament drought in 2017.
