Chesley, Rogers set to lead men’s basketball team

AUGUSTA, Maine - Senior captains Keith Chesley and Brandon Rogers lead a strong group of new players as the University of Maine at Augusta men's basketball team prepares for the 2015-16 season, which opens on November 6 vs. Williamson College at NHTI in Concord, N.H.

The Moose are looking to return to the Yankee Small College Conference Elite 8 Tournament under 11th year head coach Jim Ford. The team will be led by All-Conference players Chesley (Clinton, Maine) and Rogers (Turlock, Calif.), both senior captains who have reached the 1,000 point plateau in their career at UMA. Joining them as returners are junior forward Caleb McGuire (Whitfield, Maine) and sophomore guard Richard "Buster" Brown (Waterville, Maine). 

Both Chesley and Rogers look to build on stellar junior campaigns that saw each of them ranked top in the nation in various offensive categories. Chesley's junior year culminated with a United States Collegiate Athletic Association Division II Student Athlete of the Year Award and a Second Team YSCC All Conference selection. The forward led all of Division II for the nation in points, with 674 for the season, averaging 24.1 points per game. Chesley also finished third in the nation in total rebounds, grabbing 274 boards on the season  (9.9 pg). Rogers received All conference First Team honors for his junior season performance after leading USCAA Division II in total rebounds (358) and rebounds per game (13.8) while ranking third in the nation in scoring with 592 points (22.8 ppg).

McGuire will join Chesley and Rogers in the front court and started 18 of the 27 games last season, averaging 5.7 points and 4.3 rebounds for the Moose. Eastern Maine Community College transfer Jeremy Santiago will also spend time at the forward position for Ford. 

"The combination of Keith, Brandon, Caleb and Jeremy give us a formidable inside/outside game for opponents to contend with," Ford said. 

The only returner in the back court is Brown, who played the second half of the season for UMA and appeared in 11 games at off the bench at the point guard position. Brown will be joined by newcomers Dallas Murray (Newport, R.I.) and Aboud Hemed (Beltsville, Md.).

"Our backcourt is solid in athleticism and depth this season," Ford said. "The two guard and small forward positions will be exciting to watch, especially with the group of newcomers we have."

Among those new players is Joseph Davila (Orlando, Fla.), Dustin West (Madison, Maine), Noah Thompson (Yuma, Ariz.), and Jake Cummings (Windsor, Maine). 

"We have built a strong team chemistry in pre-season with outstanding intensity and athleticism," Ford said. "Our goals are high and the team spirit to achieve them is loaded with heart."

The Moose play their first home game at the Augusta Civic Center on November 12th when they host YSCC rival Central Maine Community College for an 8:00 p.m. start.