[2] Played in the 2005 Wallace Prather Jr. Memorial All-Star Classic, which features the top players from the adidas camp.

His career-high 28 points at Creighton (Jan. 1) tied the third-highest single-game total by a freshman in Illinois State history.

[2] First-Team All-Missouri Valley Conference and the Larry Bird MVC Player of the Year runner-up.

[2] The Illinois State men's basketball team has been projected to finish third in the Missouri Valley Conference, according to the 2008–09 preseason poll determined by a panel of league sports information directors, head coaches and media members.

As a first-team All-Missouri Valley Conference selection last season, Eldridge averaged 15.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.3 steals per game.

He scored a career-high 34 points at Indiana State last season, and posted his first-career double-doubles at Eastern Michigan and Bowling Green.

Joining Eldridge on the Valley's Preseason All-Conference Team were Drake's Jonathan Cox and Josh Young; Southern Illinois' Bryan Mullins; and Creighton's P'Allen Stinnett.

He decided to enter his name in the 2009 NBA draft but did not hire an agent so he could still retain his right to return to school the next season.

Eldridge went into his senior season as the preseason favorite for Missouri Valley Player of the Year by Blue Ribbon Yearbook.

Adam Koch of Northern Iowa won the Missouri Valley Player of the Year award.