The University of Maine men’s basketball program on Tuesday announced the signings of three players for the 2017-2018 season.
Brazilian guard Celio Araujo and forwards Duncan Douglas of Texas and Miks Antoms of Latvia, whose commitments were reported previously, will join coach Bob Walsh’s Black Bears in the fall.
Douglas and Araujo will have two years of eligibility remaining while Antoms comes in as a freshman.
Araujo, a 5-foot-10 inch guard, spent the last two seasons at Sheridan College, leading the team to a 23-9 record while ranking among the top 10 in the junior college ranks in assists (7 per game) and assist/turnover ratio (3.5).
He shot 44 percent from 3-point range, and previously led his AAU team to the BABC National Final Four.
“Celio is a quarterback, a true point guard who sets up his teammates and gets them open looks,” Walsh said in a release. “He’s a tough kid and a natural leader who can be a ballhawk on the defensive end. He plays with a chip on his shoulder and something to prove, which I think our fans will love, and he’s really excited to be returning home to New England.”
Douglas, a 6-6 forward, began his college career at Western Texas before a year at Santa Monica College. The native of Lubbock, Texas, averaged 18.3 points and 8 rebounds during his time at Coronado High School.
“Duncan is a skilled athlete with size and strength,” said Walsh. “He’s a face-up forward who can make shots and get to the rim. His strength and versatility make him a tough matchup. He’ll be able to guard multiple positions, which will allow him to exploit mismatches on the other end of the floor. He’s thrilled with the opportunity he has at the University of Maine.”
Antoms, who stands 6-8, comes to UMaine from the Lee Academy postgraduate program. He averaged 18.1 points and 8.4 rebounds during his time at Lee Academy.
Prior to that, he attended Archibishop Carroll, and also competed for his home country during the U16 European Championships in 2015, leading his team to a Latvian Club Championship.
“Miks is a true post player with good hands, good feet and a comfortable feel for the game,” Walsh said. “He’s got offensive skill and the physical ability to match up with post players in our league. He’ll have a chance to contribute right away for us in the post and he can’t wait to get on campus and get started.”
Carroll signs with Black Bears
The UMaine women’s team also has added a player with the signing of Maeve Carroll of Oakton, Virginia.
The 5-11 forward was a four-year starter and co-captain at Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School in Washington, D.C. She scored 1,353 points, averaging 14.1 points, 8.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists while shooting 53-percent from the floor for her career.
“Maeve is a small forward and is a smart player who plays the game the right way,” UMaine interim head coach Amy Vachon said in a news release. “Rebounding, sharing the ball and scoring are all attributes that she will bring immediately to our program.”
Carroll also played for the Fairfax Stars of the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League on the AAU circuit where she was a two-year starter. In 2015, she was a member of the U15 Fairfax Stars Nike National Championship team.
She was a Washington Post All-Met, all-league and all-state first-team selection as a senior. Carroll, who was ranked as the 22nd best recruit in the DMV by Hoops Guru for the class of 2017, racked up 414 points and 200 rebounds while shooting 78 percent from the free throw line last season.
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 Eligibility Center.
