ORONO – Former South Portland High School basketball star Chris Markwood’s transfer from Notre Dame to the University of Maine became official Thursday.

The 6-foot-4, 202-pound guard has enrolled for the spring semester and will start attending classes Jan. 21. He’ll be eligible to start playing for the Black Bears at the conclusion of the 2003 fall semester and will have a year and a half of eligibility.

“I don’t think I’ve ever recruited a player harder than Chris Markwood,” said Maine coach John Giannini in a university press release. “He was one of the best young people I had ever been around. I’m thrilled to finally get a chance to coach him.”

Markwood played 18 games for the Fighting Irish in 2001-02 after being redshirted his freshman season. He saw action in a Big East quarterfinal game and an NCAA Tournament first-round game in 2001-02.

The versatile swing player was a NEWS All-Maine first team member, Gatorade’s Maine Player of the Year, and Maine’s Mr. Basketball in 2000.