Rounds of applause rang out at the Cross Insurance Center’s main ballroom all Sunday afternoon, as the Maine Basketball Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024 was officially enshrined.
It was the Hall’s 10th annual induction ceremony, featuring 13 new members recognized for their accomplishments, character and leadership: Mike Adams, Heather Ernest Bond, Tom Bragg, Steve Clifford, Lora Trenkle Cooperman, Kelly Dow, Allison Gagnon Gray, Kevin Jenkins, Ken Lindlof, Bob McShane, Peter Murray, Julie Veilleux Sinclair and the 1993 Calais girls team.
“What makes this class special is their starpower and talent as coaches, players, and most all people,” said executive director Todd Hanson (Class of 2023), who played at Waterville and then the University of Maine in the 1980s. “There are plenty of great players in Maine over the last 100 years, [and] we’re gonna be able to put in a high-quality class every year.”
Clifford is probably the most well-known inductee outside of the Pine Tree State, having served as an NBA head coach for the Charlotte Hornets or Orlando Magic since 2013. The Mattawamkeag native got his coaching start at Woodland High School in 1983 and then St. Anselm’s College in 1985. He worked his way through the NCAA ranks until 2001, when he was hired by the New York Knicks as an assistant coach.
“I love to coach and things just happened for me,” Clifford said. “My roots are here, and all of the great coaches in this state gave me a foundation for coaching that worked.”
Bond and Sinclair presented each other to the Hall, previously playing together at the University of Maine in the early 2000s and leading the Black Bears to an NCAA tournament berth in 2004. In high school, Bond was a back-to-back BDN All-Maine first-teamer and Class A state champion at Mt. Blue from 1999 to 2000. Sinclair was a three-time first-teamer and 1998 state champion at Cony.
“I remember watching Kelly Dow and Mike Adams. There are all of these people that you know of, and the weird little things you never forget,” Bond said. “That’s the joy of Maine basketball. People love this sport here and really support it and they remember you forever and ever and ever. It’s awesome.”
Dow, coach Bob McShane and the entire 1993 Calais girls state championship team helped start a dynasty in Class C that reigned during the time of Bond and Sinclair’s exploits in Class A. Dow was a four-time BDN All-Mainer, winning state championships under McShane in 1994 and 1997. After her departure to Husson University, McShane and company would win states again in 1999 and 2001.
Adams won Mr. Basketball at Mt. Blue in 1990, starred at Thomas College and had a 23-year, 325-win career as head coach at Edward Little that culminated in Class AA state titles in 2018 and 2020.
Cooperman of Blue Hill and Gray of South Berwick also had successful college careers at the Division III level, at Bowdoin and the University of Southern Maine, respectively. Cooperman was a three-time All-American (2004 first-teamer) and led the Polar Bears to four straight NCAA tournament berths, including the 2004 national championship game. Gray was the Little East Conference Player of the Year in 1992 and 1993, and a two-time All-American honorable mention.
Jenkins also played for the Huskies, eclipsing 1,100 points and leading USM to the 1978 and 1979 National NAIA tournaments. After graduating, he coached the Gorham boys to 24 straight Western Maine tournaments, including Class B state titles in 1996 and 2000.
Bragg of Bath helped lead the Hyde School to New England Prep Athletic Council championships in 1982 and 1983, and went on to play college ball at Cleveland State and Western Illinois. He returned to coach Hyde in 1991, leading the Phoenix to the 1997 Class D state title.
Lindlof played for Orono’s dominant teams in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and started his coaching career at Waterville in 1981. There, he led Hanson and the Panthers to the 1985 Class A state title and the 1987 regional crown. Since his 21-year stint with Waterville, he has coached 10 years at MCI in Pittsfield and seven years at Winslow.
Murray of East Millinocket previously served as Dexter’s head coach for 30 years and won three regional championships in 2005, 2020 and 2022. He is the longtime president of the Maine Association of Basketball Coaches.
David Anderson, Gus Folsom, Candice Berger Parent, Howard Seavey and Troy Scott were also recognized on Sunday, as “Legends of the Game.”
