Tory Cavalieri, who earned America East All-Rookie team honors with the University of Maine men’s basketball season, has decided to transfer.

Cavalieri, a 5-foot-10 point guard from Atlantic City, N.J., has been given his release by UMaine and hopes to attend a school closer to his home. He averaged 7.9 points and handed out a team-high 125 assists while playing an average of 27.6 minutes in 29 games.

However, he apparently found it difficult living so far away from his family.

“It has always been obvious that Tory comes from an extremely close family,” said UMaine coach John Giannini. “After the season, he was very positive about coming back, optimistic about his teammates and optimistic about the potential for the team.

“Then he suffered the death of his grandmother,” Giannini said. “She played a big role in raising Tory and he was very sorry that he couldn’t be there when she was sick and be with his parents when it happened.”

Cavalieri was a key contributor for Black Bears, serving as their sixth or seventh man last season. He was the backup point guard behind Errick Greene.

“He’s a good kid and a good player but you can’t change the way he feels [about his family],” Giannini said. “We just hope he does well and will support him in any way we can.”

Cavalieri led UMaine with 43 steals and shot 31 percent from 3-point range and 80 percent from the foul line. He can sign with any school he wishes, but would have to sit out two years if he transfers to an America East program.

That rule was established four years ago after John Gordon transferred from UMaine to Delaware.

“Tory played a very significant role on last year’s team and I do think that we need someone else that is a specialist at that position,” Giannini said, noting there is still a good crop of unsigned point guards who haven’t made commitments for next season.

“Part of being a good program means replacing players,” Giannini said. “The trick of recruiting is trying to get someone who’s equal with the very best players at that position.”

Giannini also said sophomore forward Andre Riley, who had been with the program two seasons, also is looking elsewhere. He is expected to attend Division II American International College in Springfield, Mass. Riley, who sat out the 1999-2000 season, played a total of four minutes in five games last winter.

Earlier this month, sophomore Tom Waterman of Bangor announced his intention to transfer to Division II Franklin Pierce in Rindge, N.H., citing a lack of playing time.

Osborne named NE All-Star

Steve Osborne of Saint Joseph’s College in Standish has been chosen to play in the NCAA New England All-Star Game scheduled for June 1 at Fenway Park in Boston.

Osborne, who hails from Millinocket, will play for the Divisions II-III squad against a team of Division I standouts. Game time is noon.

This spring, Osborne was named the Maine Athletic Conference Player of the Year after leading the Monks in batting (.481), home runs (22), RBIs (79), runs scored (64), slugging percentage (1.031) and on-base percentage (.530).

Since finishing up his collegiate career, Osborne has undergone workouts for the Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers in preparation for the June 5-6 first-year amateur draft. He also will work out for the New York Yankees on May 29 at Yankee Stadium and has sessions scheduled this week with other ballclubs.

Osborne also is headed for Omaha, Neb., where he is one of eight seniors to participate in the NCAA Home Run Challenge on June 7. The event is part of opening ceremonies for the Division I College World Series.

ESPN2 will broadcast the Home Run Challenge June 7 from 8-10 p.m.

McGowan Academic All-America

Record-setting runner Vanessa McGowan of the University of Maine has been named to the Verizon Academic All-America University Division Women’s Spring At-Large District I team.

McGowan, a graduate student in biology from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, possesses a 4.0 grade point average and is now eligible for national honors.

She previously had been named a third-team Verizon CoSIDA Academic All-American for the fall/winter season and took District I and national honors for her efforts in cross country and indoor track and field.

McGowan capped her UMaine career last weekend by setting a school record in the 800 meters with a time of 2:09.48 at the ECAC Championships. A week earlier, she won the 1,500 meters at the New England Championships, setting a UMaine mark of 4:32.49 and earning All-New England recognition.

Other UMaine All-Americans during 2000-2001 include hockey player Martin Kariya, football standout Phil McGeoghan and field hockey goalie Danielle Burke of Canaan.