Orono is a far cry from Brooklyn, N.Y., but Kaimondre Owes sounds anything but homesick.

Since transferring from Saint Peter’s College in Jersey City, N.J., last spring and arriving on the University of Maine campus last summer, the Black Bears guard has actually made himself at home.

You’d think the culture shock alone would be a negative for a big-city guy used to congestion, crowds, excitement and non-stop activity, but the 22-year-old Owes finds it difficult to come up with any complaints.

“Well, there is one thing,” the 6-foot-4, 210-pound guard says after giving it some careful thought. “There’s not as much variety for music. I keep changing the stations.”

He won’t be changing schools again, though.

“I feel like I made a great decision. I like Maine a lot and I feel like this is the right place,” said Owes. “What I like most about Maine is I like the people. Where I come from in New York, you have certain types of people who are jealous and negative. Here, everybody’s humble and nice and they treat you with respect.

“As far as UMaine, I like the atmosphere and the teachers. It’s just comfortable. Everyone accepts you for who you are and you can be yourself. It’s just comfortable … Comfortable and safe.”

The junior political science major made up for lost time with an impressive on-court debut Dec. 31 with a team-high 21 points against Canisius College.

Since that debut, he’s played in three games – starting one. Owes is averaging nine points, 2.3 rebounds and one assist per game.

Owes is not an easy player to peg into a specific positional hole.

“He has a nondescript game. I don’t know how he gets done the things he gets done,” said Maine coach Ted Woodward. “He’s an average shooter, ballhandler, rebounder and defender, but he’s crafty and he really gets things done, and there’s a lot to be said for that.”

Rather than call him a shooting guard, point guard or off guard, Woodward simply calls him a guard.

Owes won’t even go that far.

“I’m pretty much just a basketball player. I don’t have any specific position, but I’m very versatile,” Owes said. “I don’t do any one thing really well, but I can do a lot of different things fairly well.”

Right now, the thing Woodward most wants Owes to do is provide a veteran presence and leadership for a very young team loaded with freshmen and sophomores.

“I really like this role because I like being a veteran and sharing advice,” he said. “There are always people who need help.”

That veteran presence is even more crucial now as the Bears try to snap a six-game losing streak.

“Losing is frustrating, but it’s a young team. We just need to get everybody on the same page,” Owes said. “A losing streak is the toughest thing to go through, so we try to make sure no one falls apart or overreacts and I feel like I’m taking the same approach as if we’re winning.

“I’ve basically been telling guys not to dwell on things, take your time, and stop making the same mistakes twice.”

aneff@bangordailynews.net

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