Two weeks ago, Quinn Cook was at the NCAA Final Four. The starting point guard for Duke, he scored 17 points in a semifinal win over Michigan State and six points against Wisconsin as the Blue Devils won the national championship.

Friday night he’ll be playing at Deering High.

Cook is on a barnstorming basketball team of seniors from the Atlantic Coast Conference who are coming to Maine to play a team of SMAA all-stars.

This is the 37th year that seniors from the Tobacco Road schools (Duke, North Carolina, North Carolina State and Wake Forest) have played exhibitions against high schoolers. Nearly all the games have been in North Carolina.

But through a friendship developed between Mike Sumner of Gastonia, North Carolina, who runs the ACC Barnstorming Basketball Tour, and Dudley Davis, who runs the Yes Program in Portland, plans were made for a game in Portland.

Sumner’s son, Pet, played four years at the University of Maine at Farmington. Davis helped Pet Sumner recover from an injury that sidelined him as a junior. Mike Sumner said this is his way of showing his gratitude while also contributing to a good cause, the Youth Education Through Sports Program.

“We started the conversation last sumner,” said Davis. “We thought it would be a wonderful thing for the kids of Maine. It’s a natural fit and a good thing for us to do as we promote our 20th anniversary.”

Cook said the tour is a nice change of pace from the pressure-filled NCAA tournament. Now his teammates are players from Duke’s main rivals.

“We were competitors on the court, but friends off it,” said Cook. “This has been the only time Tar Heel fans root for me.”

The ACC team, which will include three players from Maine colleges for Friday’s game, has won all four of its games comfortably this spring. In fact, the ACC barnstorming team has never lost in the 37 years of the tour.

Quinn said he and his teammates use the games as a way to stay in shape and work on their games. Cook expects to be picked in the NBA draft on June 25.

“I’m working on some stuff like my pull-up jumper,” he said. “I’m getting ready for what’s ahead. Everyone is looking to play professionally. We’re looking to have fun and give a show for the fans.”

The players interact with the fans. When the game’s well in hand, they’ve asked spectators to take their foul shots on occasion.

“Playing in high school gyms brings back memories for all the guys on the team,” Cook said. “Everyone has been having fun.”

In North Carolina, the exhibitions are a chance for fans who can’t see ACC games in person to watch some of the conference’s stars.

“The players will give fans here an idea of what big-time college basketball is all about,” said Sumner. “They’ll see dunks they’ve never seen before.”

The game will feature slam-dunk and 3-point shooting contests. Phil Ford, a former North Carolina All-American and an NBA Rookie of the Year, is a coach for the ACC team.

Jaren Muller, a 6-foot-5 center/forward from South Portland, is one of the SMAA players.

“It’s a great opportunity to play against some of the top college players in the country,” said Muller.

“I’m excited. I’m going into the game to have some fun. I like to shoot but if my shot gets blocked, it gets blocked. I’m not going to worry about it. I know they’re taller than I am.

“I think the first half will be a lot of running with the ACC team looking to get out and score. I’ve played out of state in AAU and gone against some very good players.”

But nothing like this.

Cook has never been to Maine. “I’m looking to eat some lobster,” he said.