Bears get early commit

Forest Hills (N.Y.), Notre Dame Prep (Mass.) and current Monroe Junior College player Andre Armstrong, according to the New York Post, has given a verbal commitment to the University of Maine.

He's a 6-2 guard that UMaine has been following for quite some time. Armstrong was said to be considering New Hampshire and St. Francis (N.Y.) as well.

Mono for Murph

Tough break for Black Bears sophomore Murphy Burnatowski. After he had played his way onto the Canadian National team and was preparing for a two-week trip to Europe, he was diagnosed with mononucleosis and was forced to miss the trip.

See story.

Check out the great comments on Murphy from Canada coach Leo Rautins.

Noteworthy: Leo Rautins, coach of the Canadian National team, is a former Syracuse star and father of Andy Rautins, a more recent Syracuse star. The elder Rautins began his collegiate career at the University of Minnesota before transferring to Syracuse. As a freshman at Minnesota, Rautins and the Gophers played an intra-squad game at my high school. He was part of a recruiting class at Minnesota many still believe to be among the best in school history.

Terrance and Bubba

Golfer Bubba Watson, winner of his first PGA Tour title at the Traveler's Championship in Cromwell, Conn., yesterday, was a junior college All-American at Faulkner State Junior College (Ala.) -- same school as former Black Bear Fred Meeks and current Black Bear Terrance Mitchell.

Raheem highlights

Check out the highlight video created on new Black Bear Raheem Singleton. Hang in there for the nice touch at the end.

AE comings and goings

The revolving door at America East has been spinning lately as Hartford coach Dan Leibovitz resigned and a couple players, Russell Graham (UNH) and Chauncey Gilliam (UMBC) announced they would transfer.

UMaine players Ryan Martin and Jerrell Boswell have also been reported to be transferring. Martin, according to a report, will seek a transfer to a Divison II or III school in search of playing time. Boswell came to the Black Bears via the JUCO route, but never saw much playing time last year.

Gilliam just completed his sophomore season at UMBC and was named third team All-America East.

There are reports circulating that former Hartford and Boston College assistant coach John Gallagher will be named to replace Leibovitz as the new Hartford boss.

NJCAA honors for Singleton

Black Bears recruit Raheem Singleton (Monroe Community College, Rochester, N.Y.) was selected third-team All-American for NJCAA Division II.

NJCAA Division II All-American Team

Singleton about to sign

Raheem Singleton, a 6-foot point guard from Boston, has reportedly made a verbal commitment to attend UMaine. Singleton recently completed his sophomore year at Monroe Community College in Rochester, N.Y.

Singleton was a Boston Globe All-Scholastics player at Madison Park High School in 2007.

He led Monroe to a 29-4 record and an appearance in the National Junior College tournament in Danville, Ill. (home of Huggy Dye, by the way).

Singleton's stats:

15.0 points per game (led four double-digit scorers)

3.8 rebounds

5.6 assists
2.5 assist to turnover ratio (180 assists/72 turnovers)

54 percent on all field goals

41 percent on three-pointers (31 of 76)

69 percent on free throws

Note: Former Black Bear Rashard Turner played one season at Monroe Junior College. ... Singleton's nickname is "Radio" after a character in the Spike Lee movie, "Do the Right Thing."