ORONO, Maine — The University of Maine women’s basketball program announced on Wednesday the signing of Maddy McVicar to a National Letter of Intent.
McVicar, a point guard from Calais, is the only scholarship player UMaine expects to add for next season, barring any other roster changes. Courtney Anderson of Greene is the Black Bears’ only senior for 2014-15.
The 5-foot-4 McVicar has been instrumental in the success of coach Dana Redding’s Calais teams in recent years and helped spearhead the Blue Devils to the Class C state championship last winter.
“We are very excited to welcome Maddy to our basketball family,” UMaine head coach Richard Barron said in a press release. “Our staff have been big fans of Maddy since she started attending our summer camps three years ago.
“Maddy is a very creative playmaker and a super competitive person. She excels in multiple sports and will bring a great work ethic to our program,” Barron said. “We look forward to adding another gifted student and talented athlete to our roster.”
McVicar, a two-time Bangor Daily News All-Maine Second-Team selection, averaged 18 points, seven assists, five rebounds and two steals during her junior year. She also is a two-time winner of the BDN’s Owen O. Osborne Award presented the Eastern Maine Class C tournament MVP.
McVicar verbally committed to UMaine back in April but did not announce her decision until July.
“I really wanted to go to Maine because I’ve been going to camps there for a while, and I really like the coaching staff, and it’s a good school and close to home,” McVicar said.
She will become one of three players with Maine ties on the 2015-16 squad, joining former Van Buren star Parise Rossignol, who is a freshman this season, and former Stearns High of Millinocket exchange student Sigi Koizar, who is a sophomore.
McVicar is the first Calais High School product to play Division I women’s basketball since Holli Tapley played at Fairfield from 1999-2001.
Mary Butler of Bangor High School also will continue her basketball career at the Division I level as she is bound for Brown University of the Ivy League, which does not award athletic scholarships.
The eligibility of all student-athletes is contingent upon admission to the University of Maine and compliance with all NCAA rules, including registration with the NCAA Clearinghouse.
Libby to sign with NJIT
Jillian Libby of Cheverus High School in Portland plans to continue her basketball career at the Division I New Jersey Institute of Technology, Stags athletic director Gary Hoyt announced Wednesday.
Libby will sign her National Letter of Intent during a ceremony at 2:30 p.m. Thursday in Cheverus’ Sparta Room in Loyola Hall.