Easton High School senior guard Jared Hafford has verbally committed to enroll at the University of Maine at Fort Kent and play for the men’s basketball team next year.
The combo guard, who is currently in line to be the salutatorian at his school when he graduates in June, helped lead the Bears to an upset win over top-ranked Jonesport-Beals in the Eastern Maine Class D basketball tournament this winter. In the semifinals, the Bears came within two points of upsetting Hodgdon.
Hafford averaged 18.8 points per game, dished out 4.4 assists, grabbed 4.9 rebounds and shot 40 percent from three-point land and 71 percent from the free throw line this past season. He played in the Aroostook County Senior All-Star Classic last month and received honorable mention on the Bangor Daily News Class D all-tournament team.
Hafford has represented Easton at several Northern Maine Community Recreation Association state Hot Shot competitions over the years.
Hafford is a member of the National Honor Society and student council and is the Varsity Club vice president. He has been on the Varsity Club all four years of high school and was also Student Council treasurer in 2011-12. Hafford also helped lead his math team to capture the state championship the last two years and he was second highest scorer both his junior and senior years.
“We love Jared’s skill set on and off the court. He is an exceptional student, shoots the ball at a high percentage, handles the ball well and plays with a great basketball I.Q.,” UMFK men’s head basketball coach Eric Werntgen said. “The Bengals are happy to welcome him into our basketball family.”
The Bengals are coming off a 2-23 season. They are affiliated with the United States Collegiate Athletic Association. As recently as 2010, UMFK competed in the NAIA national tournament.
