Finnish standout joins UMaine men Ahvenniemi could play forward, center

The University of Maine men’s basketball team has imported a big body to try and fill the sizable void left by forward Rickey White.

Olli Ahvenniemi (ah-ven-ee-uh-me), a 20-year-old pivot man from Finland has enrolled at UMaine and is expected to see some game time fairly early on despite his freshman status.

“We obviously have a need for size and depth in the post position and Olli can play power forward or center. He’ll be a solid freshman for us and has a chance to help us this year,” said Maine men’s coach John Giannini. “We have good expectations, but we have an idea he could surpass our expectations and do so quickly.”

The 6-foot-9, 225-pound Ahvenniemi, who will be a business major at UMaine, was the youngest player on the Finland men’s national team and the 2002-03 rookie of the year in the country’s top level of organized club ball.

“We were happy he was still available in the summer. He was drawing interest from St. Bonaventure and Nebraska, but we were able to give him a firm commitment a little quicker and he appreciated the firmness of our interest in him. He could develop into a great player, but he may develop quicker than we think.”

Ahvenniemi accepted a full scholarship from Maine, which is now at the NCAA-mandated limit of five for new scholarship players per year.

“I’ve made a number of recruiting visits overseas and we certainly try to pay attention to European players,” said Giannini. “We’ve made some contacts there and it’s a good way to expand our recruiting area.”

Giannini says the learning curve for Europeans is no longer as steep as it used to be. In fact, he believes they’re ahead of their American counterparts in many ways today.

“Outside of our top NBA players, European basketball may be better overall right now, especially in terms of international competition,” Giannini said. “I just think their system is a good one and the rest of the world has caught up with us in basketball. I mean, if you look at all the international competitions lately, the USA can’t seem to win a basketball tournament right now.”

Colby names 8 assistant coaches

Former Messalonskee High School and Northeastern University field hockey standout Aleisha Bemis of Oakland is one of eight new assistant coaches named at Colby College for the 2003-04 academic year.

Bemis, an America East Academic Honor Roll selection while at Northeastern, will assist Colby interim field hockey coach Marcia Ingraham this fall.

Other new Colby assistants are Jeff Owen for football, Christopher Weed for women’s soccer, Kate Duncombe for men’s and women’s swimming, Jamie Jewers for women’s hockey, Albert O’Connell for men’s hockey, Emily Allen for men’s and women’s crew and Jonathan Hunt for men’s lacrosse.