March 28, 2024
BANGOR DAILY NEWS (BANGOR, MAINE

Soucy returns to Black Bears

The revolving door leading into the University of Maine men’s basketball locker room continues to spin smoothly during the holidays.

Less than a week after freshman Adam Kotowski announced that he was transferring to a school closer to his home in Illinois, a former member of the Black Bears roster has rejoined the squad.

Brett Soucy, a junior guard from Bangor, has been practicing with the team this week and is expected to be in uniform when Maine plays the University of Central Florida Thursday night at the Augusta Civic Center.

Coach Rudy Keeling confirmed Wednesday that Soucy was asked to rejoin the club after Kotowski decided to transfer.

“We invited him back out,” Keeling said. “He’s a great kid and he’s a good basketball player. He can really shoot the ball. I’m really happy that he was there in the wings.”

Soucy, a 6-foot-2 sharpshooter, helped lead John Bapst to two straight Class C state titles in 1989 and ’90. He had redshirted last season after transferring from Colby-Sawyer College, then decided not to play prior to this season.

Soucy said his struggle to decide on an academic major and the rigors of balancing classes and basketball had left him frustrated. So, he decided to step back and contemplate his future.

“It was good. I needed it,” Soucy said of the time away. “I thought I was going to get done with school for a while. Then, things were going well and I decided to stay.”

Another difference is that now Soucy is expected to receive a scholarship. Keeling said that won’t be final until Kotowski’s official transfer is completed.

Keeling said Soucy had been projected as the team’s starting shooting guard prior to the season. It probably will take Soucy a while to catch up with the team and to pick up on what he has missed during his hiatus.

“We think he’ll be a great addition,” Keeling said. “We’ll have to see if he can come back after some time off and step in and do something. Now he’s a little bit behind.”


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