Former University of Maine men’s basketball guard Aaron Calixte has transferred to the University of Oklahoma, according to published reports.
Calixte announced the move on Twitter on Tuesday morning, stating, “I am excited to announce my commitment to Coach Lon Kruger & his staff at the University of Oklahoma.”
The 5-foot-11 Calixte, who is from Stoughton, Massachusetts and attended Lee Academy, led Maine in scoring last year, averaging 16.9 points. He also averaged 3.2 assists for the 6-26 Black Bears.
Calixte will graduate from Maine in May with a degree in management. He will play at Oklahoma using a fifth year of eligibility because he received a medical redshirt when he broke his foot in the fifth game of his junior year.
Speaking to Rivals.com, Calixte said he chose Oklahoma over schools such as Arizona because he felt wanted there.
“What stood out to me most was how much love Coach (Lon) Kruger was showing me from the beginning,” he said. “Two days after they lost in the tournament, Coach Kruger and Coach (Kevin) Kruger were in my living room, so to see that happen really sparked my interest in them.”
According to the Oklahoman, Calixte figures to become the Sooners starting point guard, replacing Trae Young, the freshman who declared will enter the NBA draft in June.
Another former Black Bear, running back Josh Mack, will next play football at Liberty University, according to the Lynchburg (Virginia) News and Advance.
Mack led the Football Championship Subdivision in rushing as a sophomore with 1,335 yards, averaging 5.5 yards per carry. A 6-foot-1, 198-pounder from Rochester, New York, Mack was third in the nation with 161.5 all-purpose yards per game. He was third on Maine in receiving with 30 catches for 209 yards.
Mack also announced the move on Twitter earlier this month, stating, “Same dream, different path … @Liberty University.”
Mack will have to sit out the 2018 season before he joins Liberty.
He will have two years of eligibility remaining.
INCOMING TRANSFERS: UMaine announced Tuesday that two men’s basketball transfers are entering the program – Sergio El Darwich, a 6-4 guard from Dekweneh, Lebanon, and Nedeljko Prijovic, a 6-7 forward from Belgrade, Serbia.
El Darwich played last season at Western Texas College, a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association, after spending the 2016-17 year at South Dakota State. He averaged 7.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists. He is immediately eligible to play as a junior.
Prijovic played the last two seasons at Texas State, a member of the Sunbelt Conference. He averaged 4.2 points and 3.4 rebounds. Prijovic will have to sit out the 2018-19 season because of NCAA transfer rules. He will have two years of eligibility remaining.
El Darwich and Prijovic were teammates at Lee Academy, playing under UMaine assistant Igor Vrzina.
Mike Lowe can be contacted at 791-6422 or:
mlowe@pressherald.com
Twitter: MikeLowePPH
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