Hampden Academy junior Tanna Ross spent the 2005-06 basketball season on the bench after suffering a knee injury in the preseason.

Although the injury dimmed her overall college prospects somewhat, it didn’t hurt her chances to play for the team she grew up watching.

Ross had made a verbal commitment last week to play for the University of Maine after narrowing down her choices to the Black Bears and Villanova.

UMaine offered her a full scholarship, Ross said.

The 2005 Big East Conference Player of the Year, Ross visited Villanova but didn’t feel quite right at the school in Pennsylvania.

UMaine’s Orono campus is only about 20 minutes away from her home in Newburgh.

“I think I’ll be more comfortable at Maine,” she said.

Not only is UMaine much closer, but Ross said Black Bear head coach Ann McInerney was one of the coaches who stayed in touch with the 6-foot guard-forward even after it was known that Ross would miss her junior season.

“[That] they still had an interest in me, that gave me a lot of confidence,” Ross said.

Syracuse was one of the schools that stopped communicating with her after the injury, she added.

Ross, who was named All-Maine honorable mention as a sophomore and second-team All-Big East as a freshman, suffered the injury to her right knee on Oct. 17 while playing a pickup basketball game at the Old Town-Orono YMCA.

She continued to play basketball because her knee felt better and two weeks later participated in a tournament with her AAU team, the New Hampshire-based New England Crusaders. But Ross’ knee gave out again during the tournament and it was discovered that she had torn her anterior cruciate ligament. She had surgery in November.

Ross was cleared to begin playing last month but decided, with input from Crusaders coach Kara Leary, to stay on the sidelines for a few more weeks. Ross attended her first practice on Monday and will play for both the Crusaders and Hampden Academy. The Broncos are participating in the Bangor High summer league.

Ross said she has met current Black Bears Ashley Underwood of Benton and Bracey Barker of Bar Harbor.

Ross said she is acquainted with Christina Mosher, a Mt. Blue of Farmington junior standout who has also made a verbal commitment to Maine, through AAU and high school competition.

McInerney cannot comment on recruits until they sign a National Letter of Intent.

The early signing period is in November. The eligibility of all student-athletes is contingent upon admission to the university and compliance with all NCAA rules, including registration with the NCAA Clearinghouse.