After spending the current school year as a “redshirt” freshman with the Div. I University of Maine at Orono men’s basketball program, Washburn’s Mitchell Worcester has decided to transfer.
Worcester, a Maine Mr. Basketball finalist in 2013 who owns his high school’s scoring record with 2,000-plus points, said as many as six Div. III programs are on his radar for the 2014-15 school year, including Husson University in Bangor, UM-Fort Kent and UM-Presque Isle.
As a redshirt, Worcester was not eligible to play in any games for the Black Bears, but he did practice with the team.
“My freshman year was a big learning experience for me I would say, not only with sports, but academically as well. Learning to be self-motivated to do your studies wasn’t always an easy task. I have learned that you have to put a lot of work into your studies just as much as basketball. That was a big change for me,” Worcester said.
He said in addition to the prospect of getting more playing time at the Div. III level, college costs and the chance to pursue a physical education degree at a school with smaller class sizes are other factors in the move.
“I think that I know more about the game,” he said. “I’ve got a higher basketball IQ after playing with some great players and I know what it takes to be a Div. I player and can take that to a Div. III school and help my teammates get better.”
