PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Under first-year head coach Dan Kane, the University of Maine at Presque Isle Owls men’s basketball team will count on a healthy blend of senior leadership and young talent to try and improve on a 12-11 record from a year ago.
Kane was tagged as the new coach and athletic director at UMPI over the summer and has inherited a team that has experienced some success the past few seasons. Joining him on the coaching staff are Mark Knight and Kristjian Gavrilovski.
Knight spent last season as the graduate assistant at Webber International University in Babson Park, Florida, while Gavrilovski, a junior from Macedonia, joined the Owls as a player last season but suffered a career-ending knee injury and looks to start his career in coaching with the Owls.
The Owls are led and captained by the senior backcourt tandem of Kevin Collins of Fort Washington, Maryland, and Anthony Chacho of Watertown, Connecticut, along with frontcourt senior Maurice Harris of Miami, Florida.
Collins was the team’s leading scorer last season, averaging 14.7 points per game. He shot 40.9 percent from the field, with a 34.9 percentage on 3-point field goals.
As a junior, Chacho showed that he can be effective from long range and after a great off-season will look to prove he is a consistent shooter this season. Chacho averaged 6.5 points per game during the 2016-17 season.
Harris was named to The Association of Division III Independents Third Team last season and should continue in his role as one of the leading scorers for the Owls. He averaged 11 ppg last season and created problems for opponents by not only being able to finish at the rim, but also stepping out and hitting the outside shot from time to time.
“I couldn’t ask for a better group of seniors to be leading our team as my first year coaching at UMPI,” Kane said. “These three get what it takes to win at the collegiate level and set a great example for our younger guys. I see Mo and Kevin having another great year offensively and while Anthony sets the tone for us defensively, I believe he is going to have a breakout year offensively as he has spent much of his summer in the gym.”
Rounding out the list of returning players is Sebastiaan Boissevain, a sophomore from Hoofdorp, Netherlands. He did not play big minutes last season as a freshman, but did gain valuable experience that will help him contribute this season.
“I expect Sebastiaan to have a much larger role this year,” said Kane. “He had a great off-season and is an absolute gym rat. With his size, work ethic, and ability to pass and shoot the ball, his upside is tremendous.”
Stepping into the guard positions for the Owls this season will be Ronkevis Clardy, a junior from Willmington, Delaware; Deandre Duncombe, a freshman from Port St. Lucie, Florida; Travis Simpson, a junior from Maple Shade, New Jersey; Luke Petersen, a freshman from Perth, Australia; and Tony Duarte, a junior from Brentwood, New Hampshire. That talented group will look to increase the tempo on offense for the Owls, according to Kane.
Other newcomers are Willburn Griffiths, a sophomore from Queens, New York, and Jahvion Lockridge, a freshman from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Both add length, versatility and depth to the Owls’ roster. Griffiths has shown the ability to play both the guard and forward position, while Lockridge contributes athleticism to the front line.
Kane said he is excited about all the new players and their potential impact on the squad.
“We have a good blend of talent, quickness, athleticism and length which allows us to the play the pace of game we would like,” he said. “Many of our first-year players are going to be asked to play a big role this year and I am looking forward to seeing how they respond.”
