Former Edward Little High School basketball player Wol Maiwen dunks before a practice at the Auburn Rec Department on Thursday. Maiwen is transferring to Franklin Pierce University for the 2021-22 season. Adam Robinson/Sun Journal

Wol Maiwen has come a long way since he was the big man at Edward Little High School, leading his team to a Class AA state title in 2018 and being a Maine Mr. Basketball finalist in 2019. 

Maiwen went on to play a post-graduate year of basketball at North Hampton Prep before deciding to play at the University of Maine at Orono last season. After playing in just seven games and 67 total minutes, Maiwen entered into the transfer portal. He recently accepted a scholarship offer from Franklin Pierce University. 

Franklin Pierce coach David Chadbourne has been recruiting Maiwen since he was a senior, according to Edward Little boys basketball coach Mike Adams. The similarities between the two coaches factored into Maiwen’s decision to continue his education and basketball career at the NCAA Division II school in Rindge, New Hampshire. 

Former Edward Little High School basketball player Wol Maiwen hangs from a basketball hoop before a practice at the Auburn Rec Department on Thursday. Maiwen is transferring to Franklin Pierce University for the 2021-22 season. Adam Robinson/Sun Journal

“I went up on a visit a couple months ago and I have been talking to him for the last couple weeks, and he’s really excited to have me out there, and I am really excited, too,” Maiwen said. “I think he brings a type of coaching that is similar to Coach Adams. When I went up for my visit, I watched a practice, and the way he interacted with his players on the practice floor, he pushed players really well, and that’s the type of place I want to be.”

Maiwen enjoyed his time with the Black Bears, but he found it wasn’t the right fit. 

“It’s definitely a blessing, for sure, playing at UMaine,” Maiwen said. “I love the guys and the dynamic we had was great. We all became brothers in the short time together and we had a great time while I was there. A lot of people ask why I left, and I think the overall reason was it just wasn’t a fit. The way they play, the way I play, I couldn’t see myself playing there for four years.”

Adams is excited about Maiwen’s opportunity to play at Franklin Pierce under Chadbourne, who, as an assistant at St. Joseph’s College, recruited Adams while he was playing at Mt. Blue High School. Adams went on to play at Thomas College.

Former Edward Little High School basketball player Wol Maiwen dribbles a basketball before a practice at the Auburn Rec Department on Thursday. Maiwen is transferring to Franklin Pierce University for the 2021-22 season. Adam Robinson/Sun Journal

“I am excited for his new opportunity,” Adams said. “I am thrilled he’s going to a coach as good as coach Chadbourne, and he’s really wanted (Maiwen) for a long time. I am thrilled for his opportunity at Franklin Pierce. And it’s a great conference. Everyone who knows Wol knows he has one of the biggest hearts, he is just a fun kid. A lot of kids get caught up in the social media hype and a lot of people said he wasn’t a D-I player, and he proved he was. They don’t just give out scholarships or let anyone in. Whenever someone says you can’t do anything, you want to prove them wrong.”

COVID-19 threw off the normal rhythm of sports during the pandemic, and at UMaine it was no different for Maiwen and the Black Bears. 

Because of the pandemic, there were less practices than Maiwen expected, and he hadn’t practiced with every teammate until a couple days before the first game. The coronavirus guidelines in place made it difficult to get into a rhythm with the team.

When the Black Bears did practice and play, Maiwen began to realize the importance of fitting in with a team’s style of play. When he decided to transfer, that became an important factor in where he’d play next.

“The big thing I took away was to go to a school where I would be a match with on the floor,” Maiwen said. “Before, I never really looked at how UMaine played, to be honest. I never really put myself into the team and thought about how I would be able to make an impact. I think that’s a big thing I was looking into going to the next school: How I would be able to contribute, how I’d play, how the team plays.”

Chadbourne says that Maiwen fits well with the Ravens.

“Some styles suit kids’ skill sets more than others,” Chadbourne said. “The way we play suits his skill set.”

Maiwen took advantage of his post-grad year with North Hampton Prep and said his time there gave him confidence to play on the outside as a wing after spending a lot of time being the post player for the Red Eddies.

”I liked Wol a lot in high school and in prep school,” Chadbourne said. “We are happy he’s part of the program and are excited to have him. He will be a guard for us, and he’s a very good defender and has improved dramatically offensively.”

With two years of basketball as a wing under his belt, Maiwen is ready to blossom at Franklin Pierce in a role that fits him. 

“I think a lot of it is knowing they’re an up-tempo type of team, they play how I like to play, fast breaks, ball movement, playing not as many plays,” Maiwen. “At UMaine we had a lot of plays that we ran, and I kind of like the whole motion offense type of game.”

“I am forever grateful for the prep experience for Wol,” Adams added. “Who knows what they want to do as 18 and graduating high school? Look at life a little bit and mature, and I wish more kids had that opportunity.”

Adams has been a big support system for Maiwen in this decision. 

“Coach Adams was really the only person I talked to about everything,” Maiwen said. “He has always been one of those guys who pushes towards how I feel about the school, where the coaches want me at, and he supports this decision knowing that Franklin Pierce had been at me for a while, and he knows they’re going to take good care of me.”

Maiwen has been working out this summer for the Auburn recreation department along with Edward Little graduate turned pro basketball player Troy Barnies and former Red Eddies teammates Cam Yorke and Ibn Khalid.