ORONO – Versatility, intensity and defensive instincts. Those are some of the key qualities University of Maine women’s basketball coach Sharon Versyp found in her 2002 recruiting class.

Bracey Barker of Bar Harbor, Ashley Underwood of Waterville and Lindsey Hugstad-Vaa of Apple Valley, Minn., make up the three players who signed National Letters of Intent Wednesday to attend UMaine starting next fall.

Barker said she has wanted to attend UMaine all along.

“It was a pretty easy choice,” Barker said. “I knew I wanted to stay close to home so my family could watch me play.”

At 6-foot-1, Barker will provide the Bears with a different look at the point guard position.

“Bracey is the most versatile player I have recruited since I arrived at UMaine,” said UMaine coach Sharon Versyp. “Bracey’s ability to play the point guard position will cause many problems defensively for opponents because of her size. She can also shoot the 3-[pointer], post up, drive and is defensively a great shot-blocker.”

Barker averaged 14 points, 7 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 2.2 blocks last season while leading Mount Desert Island, coached by her dad Burt Barker, to its second straight Class B state championship. She was a NEWS All-Maine first-team pick and won the Owen Osborne Award as the top player in the Eastern Maine Class B Tournament.

Barker, who did not make official visits to other schools, has played AAU ball with and against Underwood and looks forward to playing with her at UMaine.

Barker, who was impressed by the way UMaine recruited her, already holds the MDI career records for assists and blocks.

“She brings such good size, athleticism, basketball knowledge and winning mentality,” Versyp added.”

Underwood provides a solid combination of 3-point shooting prowess, defense and speed. The 5-9 guard from Cony High in Augusta set a school single-game record with eight 3-pointers and she hit 62 last season.

“She’s a kid that will run through a wall for you,” Versyp said. “I like her tenacious defense, her quickness, her never-say-die attitude.”

Underwood, an All-Maine second-team choice, averaged 15 points, five rebounds and four assists last season, connecting on 41 percent of her 3-point attempts and 80 percent of her free throws for coach Paul Vachon’s Rams.

“Ashley is a very good and consistent 3-point shooter,” Versyp said. “She also takes the ball to the hole hard and runs the floor well.”

Hugstad-Vaa has been a four-time all-conference selection at The Breck School, where she played as an eighth-grader. The 6-2 forward, who is known for her defense, led her team to a third-place finish in the Minnesota 2AA tournament last season.

“She’s an incredible defensive player,” Versyp said. “I fell in love with her work ethic.”

Hugstad-Vaa averaged 9.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and 5.9 blocked shots. She has amassed 523 blocks and needs 30 to set the Minnesota schoolgirl career record in that category.

“Lindsey’s assets are a shot-blocking mentality, masterful passing from the high post to low post, solid rebounding and great defensive skills,” Versyp said. “Her 6-2 lean frame, athleticism, work ethic and running ability is unbelievable.”

The admission of the student-athletes is contingent upon compliance with NCAA rules.

Drapeau preseason All-American

UMaine senior Joe Drapeau of Biddeford has been named to the third team of the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Preseason All-America Team at third base.

Drapeau, a third baseman and catcher for the Black Bears, was a key player on the 2002 America East championship team for coach Paul Kostacopoulos. He batted .341 with a league-leading 11 home runs and 61 RBIs. He was the only UMaine player to start and play in all 57 games.

Drapeau also posted 73 hits and 124 total bases for 40-17 UMaine, which played in the NCAA’s Los Angeles Regional.

Unity adds women’s basketball

Unity College has recently elevated its women’s basketball team to intercollegiate status.

The move was prompted by the encouraging growth of the Rams’ athletic program, specifically among the women. Coach Jeremy VonOesen’s team is now eligible to compete in conference play and postseason play.

Unity is a member of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association and the Yankee Small College Athletic Conference. The school also sponsors varsity men’s and women’s soccer, women’s and men’s cross country, and men’s and women’s basketball.

UMPI slates Basketball Madness

The University of Maine-Presque Isle will hold its third Basketball Madness Night Thursday at 7 p.m. in Wieden Gymnasium.

The event will introduce the Owls’ 2002-03 men’s and women’s basketball teams, which will go through numerous drills and scrimmage situations.

Presque Isle businesses are providing door prizes and prizes for shooting contests.

NESCAC stars announced

Several Bowdoin College, Colby and Bates players were selected to All-NESCAC teams in men’s and women’s soccer and field hockey.

And Fairfield’s Jess Lovitz of Tufts University (Mass.) earned first team honors on defense in women’s soccer.

Bowdoin defender Kendall Cox was a first team pick while Colby striker Christine O’Donnell and Bowdoin defender Christina Woodward were second team picks.

In men’s soccer, Bowdoin’s Brian Ainscough was named the coach of the year and his freshman midfielder, Andrew Russo, was a second team pick along with Bates defender Jeff Critchlow.

In field hockey, Bowdoin’s Nicky Pearson was the coach of the year and four of her players, forward Leah McClure, midfielder Amanda -Burrage, defender Sarah Laverty and goalie Gillian McDonald were first team selections along with Colby midfielder Wendy Bonner. Bates forward Johie Farrar or West Paris and teammate Kathrene Tiffany, a midfielder, were second team picks along with Bowdoin forward Marissa O’Neil.

USM names assistant coaches

The University of Southern Maine in Gorham has announced the appointments of several assistant coaches for its varsity athletic teams.

They are: men’s basketball, Chris Kumka, Mike Esty; women’s basketball, Tim Smith; men’s ice hockey, Bernie Michals and John Lauziere; men’s track, Matt Miller; women’s track, Sally Hirsch, Stephanie Dubois and Miranda Derenburger.