Beal Staying in Maine
Jonesport-Beals senior star Garet Beal made a verbal commitment to the University of Maine on Tuesday, keeping the state’s top local talent at home for the next four years.
Beal led Jonesport-Beals to a state championship as a junior and followed that up with a strong showing on the AAU circuit with the Maine Athletic Club, earning recognition from ESPN.com for his performance at AAU Nationals in Orlando.
Ultimately, he earned recruitment from a variety of low to mid-major programs before deciding that he wanted to stay close to home.
His commitment was first reported by the Bangor Daily News.
“I’ve had it in my mind that I liked Maine, but I wanted to sit on it for a while and make sure I was making the right decision,” Beal told the paper. “I really did a lot of thinking about it. I talked with Coach Parker about it, and I just decided that this is the best decision for me.”
Beal is a highly skilled and versatile player with the potential to play multiple positions at the next level. He’s also a player who has had to learn to overcome incredible adversity in both his life and his playing career after the unexpected passing of his father earlier this summer.
It was in the weeks after his father’s passing that Beal played some of the best basketball of his AAU career in Orlando, showing incredible will and strength of character.
“It kind of helped me make my decision,” said Beal. “Going to Maine lets me be close to home and be around my family.”
Beal averaged over 22 points per game last season for Jonesport-Beals along with nearly 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals, and 2 blocks. He is also the reigning Gatorade Player of the Year in the state of Maine.
Garet Beal