Multitasking is nothing new for Elliott Eliason.

He managed to earn a 3.58 grade-point average, get a 26 on the ACT and qualify for the National Leadership Conference of Future Business Leaders of America.

The 6-foot-11 Chadron senior-to-be also caught the eye of Division I basketball coaches around the country. He's already received scholarship offers from Nebraska, Creighton and Colorado State, and has drawn interest from Minnesota, Virginia and Stanford, among others.

But for the next three weeks, Eliason will focus on just one thing - playing basketball for the Bison-Nebraska team in tournaments in Tulsa, Okla.; Kansas City, Mo.; Las Vegas; and Los Angeles.

"I'm in a holding pattern on that," he said of his college decision. "I'm waiting for all this to get over and then I'll think about that stuff. I'll start hammering it out and narrowing down the schools.

"I'll go on a couple of visits if I need and have a decision by November."

That's when he'll sign a letter of intent with the school of his choice.

"I want to get my mind clear before high school basketball season starts," he said. "But it's great to be wanted by so many schools."

Eliason averaged 14.5 points, 10.3 rebounds and 3.7 blocked shots per game last season when he was all-state in Class C-1 and third-team Super-State.

Summer play on the Bison-Nebraska team will give him a chance to work on his game.

"I need to work on post moves and my ball handling and, of course, strength and conditioning," he said. "I took a break after the season with an injury and sat out a bit. I just like to go to the lake and be a normal kid."

Eliason said playing against some of the top talent in the country will help him.

"It will force me to be more physical. We don't have a big banger, so I'll have to bang around down there. We have some 6-7 and 6-6 guys, so it will be on everybody," he said. "Every time out, even in practice, you have to bring your game. You don't get this at Chadron or any other school in the state. If you're not playing at the top of your game, somebody's going to take your spot.

"Playing on a team like this opens your eyes to all the different players and different styles. Just getting used to that and knowing their tendencies is important because they are all so different."rhambleton@journalstar.com.

Reach Ryly Jane Hambleton at 473-7314 or