University of Maine men’s basketball coach Chris Markwood will have a small but potentially impactful class joining the program next fall with former Nokomis High of Newport standout Ace Flagg, twin brother of Duke freshman phenom Cooper Flagg, highlighting the list.
Flagg, a 6-foot-7 forward, will be joined by 6-2 point guard Bashir N’galang from Montreal and 6-5 forward Josh Ojuri from Providence, R.I.
Flagg verbally committed to attend UMaine last month and has now signed his National Letter of Intent along with N’galang and Ojuri.
“Our program is excited to welcome our newest signees to the Black Bear family,” said Markwood in a press release. “First and foremost, these young men possess the traits that we are trying to build our program on: high character, hard-working individuals that have a team-first mindset.
“Basketball-wise, all three bring two-way versatility, toughness and great upside,” said the Black Bears coach.
Flagg is currently attending Greensboro Day School in Greensboro, N.C. after spending his sophomore and junior seasons at Montverde Academy in Florida along with his brother.
Last season, he averaged 2.9 points and 1.3 rebounds per game while appearing in 27 games for Montverde Academy, which won the national championship.
He shot 61.3 percent from the floor as Montverde Academy went undefeated (33-0).
The Flagg twins led Nokomis to its first ever state Class A championship their freshman seasons before leaving for Montverde Academy.
Ace Flagg was a Bangor Daily News All-Maine Schooboy team honorable mention.
“He is a tough, hard-nosed Maine kid who has a very unique and crafty offensive game,” said Markwood. “He has continued to develop his perimeter game and has played at a very high level in high school and AAU ball and that will help his transition.”
N’galang is attending Fort Erie International Academy in Fort Erie, Ontario.
Last season, he averaged 12 points per game along with seven assists and five rebounds.
He was a 2023 All-Canadian Team selection and an Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association All-Star.
“Bashir has a 6-foot-5 wingspan and is really strong at 190 pounds. Offensively, he gets to the rim and can finish above the rim. He can also make plays,” said Markwood.
Ojuri is attending Massanutten Military Academy in Virginia after spending last season with CATS (Cambridge Arts, Technology and Science) Academy in Cambridge, Mass. where he averaged 17 points per game and was a Providence Journal All-Star Team choice.
“Josh is a wing player who can score at all three levels. He shoots the ball well,” said Markwood.
He added that all three have potential to be elite defenders.
Their coming to UMaine is dependent upon being accepted into the school and meeting NCAA eligibility requirements.
The Black Bears will lose three players off the current team in guards Kellen Tynes and Quion Burns and forward Christopher Mantis.
