His addition won’t address the University of Maine men’s basketball team’s need for a true point guard, but Svetoslav Chetinov will fill another gap for the Black Bears.

The Bulgaria native and Maine Central Institute Postgrad center, rated the 43rd best prospect in New England and No. 5 in Maine by New England Recruiting Report.com, has a chance to immediately fill the vacancy created by the graduation of lone UM senior Brian Andre, a center.

“They [Maine] have a Bulgarian connection and that was really a big factor in his thinking,” said MCI coach Dave Campbell. “He thinks he can step in and be a contributing factor right away. I think it’ll be a bit of a transition, but I think he will contribute.”

Both players are 6-foot-9, although at 250 pounds, Chetinov is about 50 pounds lighter than Andre.

“He’s definitely a low-post presence,” Campbell said. “He’s a strong kid and very solid. He is going to get better.

“He came over here and adapted to the American game with the physical style of play very quickly. People would double him, but he learned to step out and get away from that.”

Chetinov’s season was cut short by an ankle sprain that caused him to miss the last three weeks.

Pending his acceptance to UMaine and his meeting NCAA Clearinghouse requirements, he will have four years of college eligibility.

Scorer commits to UM hockey

Adam Shemansky, the sixth leading high school scorer all-time in the state of New Jersey, has verbally committed to attend the University of Maine beginning in the fall of 2009.

The 5-foot-7, 150-pound Shemansky spent this past season at the Tilton (N.H.) School, where he led the Rams in scoring with 20 goals and 37 assists in 32 games.

In four seasons at Notre Dame High School in New Jersey, he amassed 137 goals and 141 assists.

“He’s very slippery, he has great hands and great vision,” said Tilton School coach Pat Norton, who played at the University of New Hampshire.

Norton said Shemansky is difficult to bump off the puck and “when he gets stronger, he’s going to be very, very tough to knock off the puck. He plays hard all the time.”

Shemansky, who can play center or wing, quarterbacked the Ram power play and also killed penalties.

Shemansky, a native of Robbinsville, N.J., said he was also recruited by Boston University, Providence, Quinnipiac and Ferris State.

“Maine has a good academic school and they’re always a contender in hockey,” said the 19-year-old Shemansky, who visited Maine first and committed after his visit.

“I saw the facilities and watched a game. It was a good experience,” said Shemansky.

He added that the coaches “showed confidence in me.”

He will play next year in the U.S. Junior Hockey League, the Eastern (Junior) League or the North American League.

“I’ve got to decide which is best for my development and which organization will best prepare me for Maine,” said Shemansky.

His coming to Maine is contingent upon his acceptance to the school and meeting NCAA Clearinghouse requirements.

Two Monks to attend conference

Saint Joseph’s College juniors Ryan Prescott and Wade Oliver have been chosen to represent the Standish institution at the National Student-Athlete Development Conference.

Prescott and Oliver will join 700 athletes from around the country at the May 25-29 conference at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla.

Prescott is a two-sport standout in cross country and lacrosse, and he’s also a member of the college’s club hockey team. Prescott was named the Great Northeast Athletic Conference’s men’s cross country runner of the year last fall.

Oliver, a baseball player, batted .364 with 25 RBIs, 13 stolen bases and 34 runs scored for the Monks last season, earning North Atlantic Conference first team honors.

Oliver and Prescott were chosen to represent Saint Joseph’s based on their outstanding leadership skills on and off the playing field.

bdnsports@bangordailynews.net