Prep Profile: MCI

Maine Central Institute may not be loaded with big names, but coach Ed Jones is happy with his quickness and depth this season.

Ed Jones may not have the big names as some of his counterparts in the NEPSAC Class A ranks, but the Maine Central Institute (Maine) head coach is still confident in his squad.

Chris Martin, a tough, hard-nosed 6-foot stocky guard out of New York by way of Christ the King (N.Y.), will take his leadership abilities and likely start at the point guard spot.

``The kid just knows how to win,” Jones said of Martin, who has committed to Stony Brook. “He gets things done.”

The only other guy that’s a sure-fire starter is 6-foot-9, 270-pound Wayne Porterlatin, a Connecticut native who will likely start in the middle.

``He’s got very good hands – he catches everything,” Jones said. “He’s not in great shape, but he can get up and down the floor.”

Two wings both have a chance to earn starting spots – 6-5 Chattanooga, Tenn., native Jeff Smith, who has committed to Tennessee-Chattanooga, and 6-5 Pat McCandies from Winston-Salem, N.C.

``They are both in the same mold,” Jones said. ``They are both very athletic and can shoot it, but both need to learn how to use their athletic ability on the floor.”

Devon McBride is a strong, physical 6-3, 215-pound shooting guard who has plenty of ability and will vie for a starting spot. Matt Bennett is a 6-2 combo guard from Carmel, Ind., who knows how to play and will likely see the majority of his time at the shooting guard spot.

Fred Williams is a 6-3 senior guard from Austin, Texas who defends and is a jack-off-all-trades kind of guy and another wing who should get some playing time is 6-3 Jermaine Cooper of Baltimore – arguably the team’s top outside shooter.

Michael Hunter (5-9) is a quick, scoring guard from Colorado that could see time at either backcourt spot while 5-10 junior Brandan Fisher will likely be Martin’s primary backup at the point guard spot.

MCI also features Shamar Davis, a 6-2 shooting guard from Baltimore; 6-5 forward Cecil Gresham, a strong versatile Connecticut native; and athletic 6-4 swingman Josh Jones out of nearby Erskine, Maine.

``I think our speed and depth are our biggest strengths,” Jones said. “We should be able to get up and down the floor in transition pretty well.”