Zarko eval

Here's ESPN college basketball scouting profile of Zarko. Note the "Bottom Line" portion of the evaluation.

Lingo

How good is the UMaine recruiting class?

Impossible to say.

We'll find out only when the bell rings. College players are always fantastic on the day they sign with a program. Then reality sets in when the competition begins.

I don't put much stock in who is supposedly recruiting whom. There are myriad reasons why a high D1 might show some interest in a mid-major talent. Let's hope the UMaine recruiting class of 2011-2012 is productive.

If 60 percent of a program's recruits turn out as good as projected, 25 percent turn out better and 15 percent worse ... the talent scouts are hitting for a pretty good average.

What we do know is that the Black Bears need two of these five guys to be better than expected and two of them to be productive right away. That's reality.

Melting pot

UMaine's 2011-2012 recruiting class

Justin Edwards, 6-2 guard, Canada
Zarko Valjarevic, 6-4 guard/forward, Serbia
Killian Cato, 6-8 forward, Finland
Xavier Pollard, 6-2 guard, Winchendon Prep
Noam Laish, 6-1 guard, Israel

Recruits sign

It's official. UMaine just announced it has signed letters of intent from Zarko Valjarevic and Justin Edwards.

UMaine to host tourney?

Apparently, the Black Bears plan to host a four-team tournament the weekend of Nov. 18. A listing is up on basketballtravelers.com looking for schools to fill a non-exempt tournament at UMaine.

Canadian pipeline still flowing

The Black Bears went north of the border for another commitment, apparently landing 6-2 wing player Justin Edwards. Edwards is from the Toronto area. He'll join fellow Canadian Mike Allison in Orono.

Serbian signs with Bears

According to New England Recruiting Report, Notre Dame Prep’s Zarko Valjarevic has made a commitment to play at UMaine beginning in the fall.

Valjarevic is a Serbian native. He's 6-foot-4 and reportedly a solid outside shooter.

His coach at Notre Dame, Ryan Hurd, said he was happy Valjarevic found a program where he'd be "expected to be a factor from day one."

According to NERR, he is the eighth player from Notre Dame's 2011 class to commit to a D1 program, joining Khem Birch (Pittsburgh), Todd Mayo (Marquette), Angel Nunez (Louisville), Jamir Hanner (Marshall), Jeff Short (Fordham), Devon McMillan (Fordham), and Tyler Strange (Gardner Webb).