With Bob Walsh’s first year at the University of Maine having come to a close, the personnel overhaul continues.
Two more veterans will not be with the the Black Bear men’s basketball program next season.
Junior forward Erik Nissen plans to transfer, while senior Stefan Micovic will receive a medical disqualification because of lingering, undisclosed health issues.
Walsh confirmed that Nissen, who has experienced significant injuries of his own, is expected to transfer.
“Erik recently, at the end of the semester, decided, and I think he’s likely to go back to Canada and play in Canada,” Walsh said of the New Brunswick native.
“We had talked directly and honestly throughout the year and throughout the postseason about what he wanted to do,” he added. “I think he felt like somewhere else might be a better opportunity for him.”
The 6-foot-9 forward, a left-handed shooter, played in 28 games as a Black Bear, averaging 1.9 points and 1.5 rebounds. Last winter, Nissen saw action in 19 contests, but averaged only 5.6 minutes per game.
As a freshman, he was hampered by a shoulder injury that eventually required surgery.
Micovic, a 6-9 forward from Serbia, appeared in 21 games over his first two seasons at UMaine. He averaged 1.3 points and 1.3 rebounds.
However, Micovic did not play in any regular-season games as a junior last season.
With a permanent injury status, Micovic cannot play basketball but may receive his athletic scholarship at the university’s discretion. He nonetheless does not count toward UMaine’s NCAA-mandated maximum of 13 scholarships.
Christian Ejiga, who will be a junior next season, was the first player to leave the team. Walsh last month said the 6-8 forward was planning to transfer.
The loss of that trio, combined with the graduation of lone senior Zarko Valjarevic, means UMaine has two scholarships available for next season if needed.
Other key returnees include seniors Till Gloger and Shaun Lawton, juniors Garet Beal of Beals Island, Troy Reid-Knight and Marko Pirovic, and sophomores Kevin Little and Aaron Calixte.
Sophomore Garvey Melmed and junior C.J. Ward will return to the ballclub as nonscholarship players. Melmed, a former Old Town High School standout, was given a scholarship for the second semester after redshirt junior Ethan Mackey left the team before Christmas.
Incoming scholarship players include guard Lavar Harewood and forwards Devin Eke, Ilija Stojiljkovic and Isaac Vann. Meanwhile, guards Dennis Ashley of Bridgton Academy, Walter King of Lee Academy and Ryan Bernstein, a 6-footer out of Marianapolis Prep in Thompson, Connecticut, will join the Black Bears as walk-ons.
“It’s always very fluid, but we’re excited about what’s in front of us,” Walsh said of the new additions to the roster. “We’re excited about creating a new, competitive culture in the gym as soon as these guys get here.”
Walsh said with more players becoming available at this time of year, UMaine will continue to recruit.
“If we can find somebody who can help us who’s the right fit, we’re always recruiting,” he said. “There’s a lot of different options out there late now.”
Walsh said Pirovic is on the mend after undergoing surgery in April on his ailing left foot. The agile 6-9 forward was plagued by a Jones fracture, one in a bone on the outside of the foot that is slow to heal because of limited blood flow.
Pirovic averaged 7.1 points and 4.8 rebounds but appeared in only nine games last season because of the injury.
Walsh said team members are expected to be on campus during June to take some summer classes and get in a few workouts.
“That’ll give us an opportunity to get established this year, where we weren’t able to do that last year,” he said, pointing out that the time away spent with family and friends also is beneficial for all involved as they get ready to take the next step.