Bryce Gilbert has taken his game to a new level this season. Gilbert will be bringing that game to the University of Maine at Fort Kent.
On Sunday morning, Bengals coach Tom Bird announced that Gilbert will be coming to UMFK.
Bird said in a Facebook message, “what makes a 12 hour ride back home a little better? A message from Bryce Gilbert to let me know he’s coming to Fort Kent and will wear a Bengal uniform next season!”
Gilbert averaged 25.5 points, 8.65 rebounds, 2.65 steals, and 4.3 assists as a junior. This season as a senior, Gilbert has averaged 27.25 points 9.1 rebounds, 3..1 steals, and 5.25 assists in 16 games. The Pirates are 11-5, including a win over Valley last week when Gilbert put in a career high 43 points and grabbed 19 rebounds.
“Our offense is designed for guards like Bryce who can get into the lane and create for others all while being able to knock down an outside shot,”Bird said. “Once he adjusts to the speed and physicality of the College game i expect him to be able to help us right away.”
The Pirates fell to Lee Academy last week and have another clash with the Pandas on Tuesday night. That can be heard live at Eastern Maine Sports starting at 6:55. Lee Academy coach Randy Harris gave Bird plenty of info on the dynamic Pirates guard.
“Before I saw Bryce for the first time last winter as a junior and he was the best player on the floor that game against Schenck, I didn’t know who he was,”Bird said. I asked my Uncle who was at the game (Randy Harris) and he told me all about him. I’ve followed him and been in contact with him (Gilbert) and his dad ever since.”
UMFK currently sits at 18-7 entering play this week. Bird expects Gilbert to step right in for the Bengals during the 2018/2019 season.
“We recruit a lot of junior college kids and not a lot of high school kids, but the thing that I always find interesting in Maine high school basketball especially is that usually there is one really great player and it’s tough to see what he really can do because of junk defenses being played and always having 2 guys on him,”Bird said. “But he (Gilbert) impacted the games that I’ve seen him play in many different ways but still is good enough and creative enough to be able to get his.”
Gilbert scored his 1000 career point in a Pirates loss to Dexter. Gilbert was PVC third team as a sophomore and PVC first team as a junior. Was top 50 Bangor Daily News player as a junior and state foul shooting champ as a junior.
