PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Third-year coach Jim Casciano will rely on newcomers as his University of Maine at Presque Isle Owls get ready for a challenging 2013-14 schedule.
That is because UMPI will be without two of its key players early on. Aaron Hutchins, a senior, suffered a knee injury during soccer season and it is unknown when he will be able to return. Hutchins, who is from East Millinocket, averaged 8.4 points per game a year ago. Due to the NCAA’s “10-semester rule,” Claude Louis will not be back until December. Louis, a Dean’s List student, was a standout for the Owls last season, averaging 14.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per contest.
Sharp-shooting Michael Warner of Norwich, United Kingdom is back for his senior year and his leadership will be more important than ever. Warner averaged 13.8 ppg and 4.8 rebounds last season and added a strong perimeter shooting threat, banging home 41 percent of his shots from behind the three-point arc.
A trio of guards return to add backcourt experience for Casciano’s squad. Ollie Barratt and Chase Vicaire of Mattawamkeag played limited minutes as freshmen last season and Greenville native Alex Jardine returns to the squad after a one-year absence.
“We’re looking to mesh all of these pieces. The freshmen will have to grow up quick as the experienced returners have been battling tough injuries all pre-season,” noted Casciano. “There will be growing pains with so many minutes going to unproven players, but no one will have to wait for experience … we’re hoping they step up and surprise.”
Small college programs never truly replace players like Patrick Manifold, last year’s leading scorer and rebounder who is currently playing professionally in England, but Thiago Conceicao, a native of Brazil, and Charles McGill have been added to fortify the paint. Conceicao is a strongly-built 6-foot-7 and gives the Owls a true low post presence.
McGill played his high school ball in an ultra-competitive league and gives Casciano an athletic forward who can defend several positions. At 6-5, McGill, a former high school football player, has the athleticism to eventually dominate in the collegiate game.
A.J. Dolley, a 6-8 freshman who served as goalkeeper for the UMPI soccer team, hangs up the cleats and turns his talents to the hardwood. He will add depth in the frontcourt.
Another UMPI soccer player will hope to make as big an impact on the court as he did on the pitch. Sophomore Derek Healy, the leading goal scorer this fall for coach Alan Gordon’s Owls, will man the point for the Blue and Gold. Healy is a heady and athletic player who was a Massachusetts all-league performer in the Patriot Conference his senior year of high school.
Two freshmen guards will likely see ample time in the early going for Casciano. Californian Sean Manganti, at 6-4, will see time at both backcourt positions. An agile and skilled player, Manganti is exactly the type of long, athletic and projectable athlete who Casciano loves to bring into his program. Jordan Cook is a 6-2 perimeter player who will be asked to expand his game quickly to help Warner give the Owls a consistent scoring threat from the outside.
“It’s a team that will be dominated by youth, by necessity in the first semester,” Casciano added. “We’ll have to grow up fast and we’ll be better as we mature.”
