March 2006 – Kenny Hasbrouck won the Rookie of the week award 8 times this year for Siena, not bad for a kid who had no pre-season hype in any of the major NCAA preview magazines.Kenny worked very hard this year and will have a bright future at Siena as the coaching staff has a solid recruiting class coming in next fall to support Hasbrouck’s game. Full Story…
March 2006 - After a spectacular season, Jacksonville's Marcus Allen was named to the Atlantic Sun Conference All-Freshman team as announced by the league office. Congratulations to Marcus another Team Maine Alumni doing big things.Full Story…
Team Maine JUCO Star is Ranked Top 3 Point Guard in Nation!
August 2005 –Ron Larris was one of the premier guards coming out of the State of Florida is 2004, but with such a strong recruiting class which included, Darius Washington (Memphis), Taurean Green (Florida), Alex Gordon (Vanderbilt), Cliff Clinkscales (DePaul) Larris was kind of overlooked and decided to go the Junior College route in Kilgore CC in Texas.Ron’s hard work since he graduated high school has paid off and is finally starting to receive the major looks he deserves as he enters his sophomore year at Kilgore.Whatever program lands Larris will get a gem and a true point guard ready to produce right away.The 5’11’’ lefty is a great shooter and playmaker.After watching Ron in high school his junior year then taking him to Five-Star that summer were he competed against several high majors in the All-Star game like Michigan States Drew Nietzel, we all realized Ron’s potential.We are excited for Ron as his recruiting is picking up fast and we look forward to making and announcement when he picks his school.
Family Reunion
September 2005 – Bridgton Academy has been home to so many outstanding players who have gone on to do special things in basketball.We are excited to once again be reunited with a big time recruit from Gateway High School in Kissimmee, Florida Keaton Grant.He is an outstanding athlete and has committed to Missouri; however since he will be coming to Maine and attending Bridgton for a Post Graduate year he is eligible to re-open his recruiting.Keaton was a 6-4 guard who ran the floor extremely well for us in our first year as a club team when Keaton was a sophomore at Gateway.He exploded onto the scene once again like so many of our players at Five-Star.Grant decided to open up his recruiting, look for Grant to take the court in a Team Maine uniform in the spring of 2006 if he does not sign early.We are very excited for Keaton to get an extra year to build his body, improve in the classroom and receive great coaching from Coach Whit Lesure at Bridgton before he makes a big entrance in the NCAA in 2006-07 season.We will enjoy having Grant in the State of Maine this year and we look forward to following him like we do all of our players during this upcoming season.Keaton will be playing alongside another Team Maine player in Tyler Emmons.
Who is Shaine Burks?
August 2005 – For some players making the varsity squad as a freshman is enough, but for Shaine Burks it was not enough, he wanted to go the extra mile and work on his game and try to reach his potential. After the high school season was over he made an important choice and brought his game to Coach Nicholas. He was greeted with a pair of new Converse and welcomed to the team.Burks first Team Maine action came in Washington D.C. at the Adidas Charlie Weber Capitol Invitational were he got his feet wet against strong competition.Burks who is currently a 6-3 shooting guard in the class of 2008 at Cape Elizabeth High School in Cape Elizabeth, Maine was up for the challenge and experience that Team Maine Basketball Club could offer him.At the Five-Star Hoop Classic, Burks had a breakout game scoring 17pts against I-270 from the Baltimore area and caught the eye of one of Hoopville.com reporters who listed him as a player to watch out for in the class of 2008.Shaine grew from the first two tournaments and really showed more confidence as the months began to pass by.Rumble in the Bronx was another step in Burks’s summer and he continued to run the floor well and when he stepped into the games he was ready to play on both ends of the floor and was not afraid of attacking the basket.Burks wrapped up his summer attending Five-Star Basketball Camp twice, once in the famous July session for the nations best rising freshman and sophomores in the Developmental League and the loaded August session, he then continued working out at home and with his high school team on areas to take his personal game to the next level.
Suvlu Has Productive Summer
July 2005 - Its no secret, summer is a time to work on your game.Lee Suvlu, who is in the class of 2008 at Bangor High, did just that.Lee got off to a slow start in the spring and was tired of playing and practicing against the same level of competition.Then Coach Jason Nicholas presented Lee and his family with and opportunity to change all that.He saw an opportunity with Team Maine Basketball Club and began to maximize his summer.“I was immediately thrown in the fire against kids who where receiving major D-1 offers!”Suvlu’s first action came in New London, CT. at the Five-Star Hoop Classic where he played with and experienced Team Maine roster and was able to play against Melquan Bolding who is considered one of the Top 20 players in the class of 2007, Kiwan Smith who is just another to name a few along with several other High-Majors. “This is what type of environment I need to be in to better my game” Suvlu said.
Next came the Rumble in the Bronx, where his confidence began to build and it was clear he was responding well in his new basketball environment.“Coach J. makes it easy to concentrate on basketball and nothing else, he is very organized and takes care of all the business, recruiting, etc.” This tournament was loaded from top to bottom with D-1 talent, too many names to list.Teams came from all over the country to participate.It was hot and truly a rumble. The facilities at Fordham University had NO air conditioning, but the talent level was so high know one cared.Suvlu played very well and had some things to take home to continue his summer improvement.In late June, Suvlu bursts onto the recruiting scene at the Five-Star Basketball Camp during the June Session in Lock Haven, PA.The camp that offers the top teaching and competition in the nation and the teaching really never stopped at all during the 5 day camp.Lee excelled and played in the top division during the week and caught the eyes of 2 important people in high school basketball. The first was camp co-founder & program director Howard Garfinkel who is also on the McDonald’s All-American committee and a major icon in the game of basketball.Mr. Garfinkel invited Suvlu back to camp for the July session to participate in the Developmental League, which is for the Top rising freshman and sophomores in the country.The other is the Top Scout in the country, Tom Konchalski, who is the producer of HSBI Report, the report is sent out to all D-1 schools.After going home and working on his game in-between camps.Suvlu was ready for more and joined other Team Maine players for the July Session in Pittsburgh, PA. Lee had a great week at camp, was able to benchmark his game against his 2008 peers, and solidified his position as a Top prospect in the class of 2008.
A Strong Showing
June 2005 – The Rumble in the Bronx was something Carlos Strong was waiting for.The 6-3 combo guard from Deering High School in Portland, ME. proved he was an outstanding mid-major prospect and led Team Maine in scoring over the weekend in the Bronx.Carlos dropped 24 points the first night against Long Island Lightning star Corey Fisher who is considered by most one of the Top 5 guards in the class of 2007.Strong was hitting jumpers and taking the ball to the bucket when he wanted too.The next day Strong continued to play well and prove he belonged with the nation’s top prospects in the class of 2006.Carlos led Deering High School to the State Championship game in 2004-05 only to fall a little bit short of a gold ball.Deering looks tough again this year, and with Maine’s Most Outstanding Player, Strong could lead them to the Gold Ball in 06’.
Brownlee is Going to Merrimack
May 2005 – After several strong showings at the Reebok Jam Fest in Providence and Charlie Weber’s Capitol Invitational in Washington D.C. Team Maine Swingman Jared Brownlee stays close to home and family and picks D-II Merrimack.Brownlee, a Portland High School standout was recently entertaining some D-1 interest after having good performances at the events Team Maine traveled too, but decided to take Merrimack’s offer and attend the same school as his sister who had a great year as a freshman for Merrimack’s women’s basketball program.Merrimack is getting a steal in Brownlee, who has not come close to his full potential as a player.Jared is a great kid with a tremendous upside and you can expect big numbers while attending Merrimack.
Bernard Signs With UNC Greensboro
May 2005 – Team Maine combo guard finds a home with UNC Greensboro and Head Coach Mike Dement.Derrick Bernard who coming into the spring signing period had zero offers on the table jumped at the chance to play with Team Maine Basketball Club and get more much needed exposure.“Derrick was not lacking in ability when he came to us, he was lacking the exposure,” Coach Nicholas says.Bernard was a playmaker and scorer for Dillard High School in Florida but Dillard had 3 other Division I signees on the team.He just got overlooked which happens to so many quality players who either are on loaded teams like Dillard or in areas of the country where kids aren’t seen as
much.Derrick is a tough kid mentally and is a winner and will do well at UNC Greensboro and we look forward to watch him improve and produce over his career in Greensboro.
Jacksonville Inks Team Maine Big Man
May 2005 – Jacksonville University gets 6-foot-7, 225-pound Team Maine forward Marcus Allen from Hollywood, Florida who played high school ball for the state of Florida powerhouse Dillard High. Allen averaged 15.0 points and 9.0 rebounds as senior at Dillard, which featured a trio of other Division I signees, one from that trio is Derrick Bernard another Team Maine player. Marcus helped lead the Panthers to a 22-3 record last season and a trip to the quarterfinals of the Florida Class 5A state championship, where Dillard lost by a point to eventual champion Dwyer. Allen is a skilled inside player who also considered St. Louis, Nebraska, and Florida Atlantic.Marcus will be a success at JU and in life because he has a great drive to succeed and a personality that is jovial.We look forward to watching Marcus play and grow as a person and we thank him for helping lay the foundation for what Team Maine Basketball Club is all about.
Mr. Basketball Never Stops Working
August 2005 – Tyler Emmons is taking full advantage of the extra year at Bridgton Academy and so far his hard work is paying off.Emmons had strong showings all spring at the various tournaments and camps Team Maine attended.He worked hard on his body at home with his brother Aaron and he stayed focus all summer long.The icing on his cake came at camp when he emerged as a legit Division I prospect.Tyler had a great week and displayed great shooting and toughness, which everyone in Maine knows and likes about Emmons.Howard Garfinkel loved him too and he made the Orange and White Classic All-Star Team during the July session in Pittsburgh with other All-Stars that week which included the likes of William Graves who is committed to North Carolina and Doneal Mack is going to be either a Gator or Hokie along with other high-majors on the all-star team.Emmons will have a productive year at Bridgton Academy and is under great leadership with Coach Whit Lesure.He is already receiving good looks from Division I schools and we will be following his progress and games all winter.
Hasbrouck Commits to Siena
May 2005 – Illinois, Jacksonville, Florida Atlantic, Maine, and Richmond have all expressed deep interest in Kenny Hasbrouck.However, Siena from the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference picks up a major commitment from a Team Maine 6-3 combo guard who attended Maine Central Institute in 2005.We have talked before about Kenny being a hidden gem and Siena finds just that in Hasbrouck.Siena is in Albany, New York.They have a state-of-the-art 14,750-seat Pepsi Arena.Hasbrouck will step in immediately and make the backcourt much improved and could contend for rookie of the year honors in the MAAC. Siena is scheduled to play non-conference UMass and Syracuse this season.
Where Have You Been Hiding?
May 2005 – After leaving college scouts and sports writers shaking their heads over the performances Hasbrouck gave in D.C. at the Capitol Invitational put on by Charlie Weber in April, Team Maine Guard Kenny Hasbrouck earns All-Tournament Team Honors at the Five-Star Hoop Classic along with Dejuan Summer from Cecil Kirk committed to Georgetown, Kiwan Smith from the New England Playaz, Thijin Moses ranked #21 in Class of 2006 from the Chicago Jaguars and MVP also from the Jaguars #8 ranked in the Class of 2007 Mac Koswhol.Everyone asked Kenny all weekend where have you been hiding?Kenny said he had a injury plagued season at Maine Central Institute but still put up some good numbers and said things just got slow.
Coach Ed Jones is high on Hasbrouck and recommended him to run with Team Maine this spring and said Kenny has the footwork and ability to be a great defensive back in college football if he wanted to play and is a tough kid on the court as well.Kenny also showed us he has great footwork among other things to play Division I basketball.Howard Garfinkel sat and watched Team Maine’s semi-final game and shook his head at Hasbrouck’s play and asking how is this kid not signed already. Hasbrouck dropped 35pts in a Team Maine loss but everyone in the gym noticed his play.Tyler Emmons also had a strong showing, he is headed to Bridgton Academy in the fall.Coach Nicholas said “Kenny is a great young man and will find a home soon, it’s only a mater of time for a kid this good to remain un-signed.”
Thomas Weighing Options
August 2005 – Every team wants a hardworking, positive, no nonsense type of player and Mike Thomas is that player.Thomas on and off the court is very serious about his school work and future.He is a multi talented person and is currently weighing his college options.Aside from basketball Thomas is an outstanding football player and student as well.Coach Nicholas said, “Mike gave us everything he had every game even when matched up against high-majors, he was our Ben Wallace and defensively stopped several great high school players in the tournaments we attended.”Mike’s passion for basketball will continue in college as he looks to combine his love for the game and his ambitions to attend a pre-med school.Thomas will be a leader for Marshwood High School in S. Berwick, Maine this winter and we look forward to seeing him have a great year.
