Program Profiles - Black Bear North

Today, we'll continue out Program Profiles series with a look at Black Bear North.   Based out of northern Maine, Black Bear North was founded in 2009 and is led by Fritz Marseille.   Promoted as a place where student-athletes are given the opportunity to be successful through proper guidance and training, Black Bear North has become one of the premier basketball organizations representing Maine.   By encouraging healthy competition, sportsmanship, and teamwork, in an environment that is enjoyable, fair, and diverse, Black Bear North has helped numerous prospects out of Maine to dream big and reach their full potential.   Below are five prospects from Black Bear North that have stood out so far this spring.    Green, a member of BBN's 17U squad, is a playmaking guard out of Lee Academy in Maine. The unsigned senior has made the most of his time on the travel circuit this spring, impressing with his ability to make plays on both ends of the floor. He has good size for a guard, allowing him to play and defend either spot in the back-court. He moves his feet well, has good instincts in the help position, and is a solid competitor on that end of the floor. Offensively, he has the ability to make plays out of ball screens, finishes with creativity when he gets downhill, and has improved as a shooter from behind the arc. On top of that, he's a tough shot maker that does a nice job of getting to his spots in the mid-range.     Henaghen, a member of BBN's 17U squad, is a shot making wing out of St. Paul's School in New Hampshire. A vastly improved prospect over the last 12 months, he's playing the best basketball of his young career right now. At 6'5", he has great size on the perimeter and seems to have added some strength to his frame. He makes shots in catch and shoot situations, does a nice job of moving without the basketball, particularly when it comes to using screens, and can put the ball on the floor as a straight line driver. Defensively, he can guard up a position and has the length needed to eventually develop into a high level wing defender. Reclassing should allow him more time to continue adding strength while adjusting to a higher level of play, ultimately leading to higher recruitment.     Padgett, a member of BBN's 17U squad, is a do-it-all wing out of Bridgton Academy in Maine. A high basketball IQ prospect with a well-rounded floor game, he's at his best when he can operate as a creator with the ball in his hands. He's incredibly versatile, able to play on or off the ball on one end of the floor and to guard four positions on the other. He makes good reads as a passer in the half-court, does a nice job of manipulating the defense when creating out of ball screens, and is able to score through contact in the paint. He's a plus athlete that can knock down shots when he gets his feet set behind the arc. On the other end, he makes high level reads off the ball, showing the ability to block shots, take charges, and make steals in passing lanes.     Jamal, a member of BBN's 17U squad, is a dynamic defender out of Deering in Maine. While undersized, he makes up for it with some high level physical gifts, including high level quickness and nice short space burst. He hounds opposing ball-handlers in the full court, makes plays on the ball when coming from the help side, and does a great job in rotations. He also does a nice job of turning his steals into easy transition offense, showing great open floor speed and the ability to make good reads with the ball in his hands. He has a nice feel for how to finish over size in the paint, kicks it out to shooters for easy shots, and can make shots himself off the bounce when he creates space. A Maine-Farmington commit, he should fit in nicely in the NAC.     Byther, a member of BBN's 17U squad, is an athletic and powerful forward out of Old Town in Maine. He's a 6'5" forward that, physically, looks like he could be a tight end for a high level college football program. And, while he stands out with his frame, he also has some impressive athletic pop, can make plays off the bounce, and offers versatility on the defensive end of the floor. He's comfortable operating on the block, but has done a nice job of improving his perimeter game, both as a shooter and as a creator. He rebounds with authority on both ends of the floor, can guard in space or by the rim, and is a high level shot blocker coming from the weak side. When you put it all together, he's been one of the more impressive forwards in the region on the travel circuit this spring.

Today, we'll continue out Program Profiles series with a look at Black Bear North.