Top Maine high school basketball players heading to Husson

BANGOR, Maine — Five Maine high school basketball standouts are heading to Husson University this fall.

Sami Ireland of Penobscot Valley in Howland, Tate Dolley of Machias and twin sisters Barrett Campbell and Hayden Campbell of Thornton Academy in Saco have committed to the women’s team, while Hampden Academy’s Jake Black has committed to the men’s team.

Ireland, a 6-foot center, was a first-team All-Penobscot Valley selection for three seasons and a BDN All-Tourney pick. She was also a McDonald’s Senior All-Star and finished her high school career with 1,240 points.

Ireland’s mother, former Calais High star Becky Moholland, played for Husson head coach Kissy Walker in 1995.

Dolley, also a 6-0 center, averaged 20 points and 13 rebounds a game for the Bulldogs and hit 87 percent of her free throws.

She was also a McDonald’s All-Star and finished with more than 1,000 career points at Machias, the second member of her family to do so, as her father, Thad Dolley, reached the milestone at John Bapst.

The Campbell sisters helped lead Thornton Academy to a Class AA South title. Barrett averaged 10.6 points and 2.1 rebounds while Hayden averaged 9.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.

They were three-sport athletes and received academic honors in basketball, soccer and softball.

Black, a 6-1 guard, averaged 7.3 points and 2.8 assists per game while shooting 38 percent from 3-point land.

“Jake played a big role in the success of the Hampden Academy boys basketball program over the past four years,” Husson coach Warren Caruso said in a news release. “We really like the toughness and hard-nosed play he brings to the program. We feel he was one of the best defenders in state this year.”

Black was on the Hampden varsity for four years, three as a starter, as the Broncos amassed an 84-2 record while winning three regional championships and two state crowns.. He was named to the All-Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference team.

Guard from England commits to UMaine

Danny Evans, a 6-4 point guard from Leeds, England, has signed to play basketball with the University of Maine men’s basketball team this fall, head coach Bob Walsh announced Thursday.

“Danny is a talented, versatile guard with outstanding leadership qualities, ” Walsh said in a news release. “He can run a team and loves to set his teammates up, but he can also knock down shots and make plays off the dribble. He’s a tough kid who loves the culture we’ve built here and is really excited about being a Black Bear.”

Evans graduated from Allerton High School before joining Phillips Andover (Mass.) Academy for prep school. He averaged 17.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.2 steals a game while at Andover.