–NORTH BRIDGTON, ME – Three Bridgton Academy Wolverine basketball players were named to the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council’s All-NEPSAC Team for their performance in the most competitive Prep basketball league in the country. Guards Kani Glover (Brockton, MA) and Ryan Salzberg (Syracuse, NY), and Forward Kelton Samore (Portland, OR) were all named Honorable Mention on an All-NEPSAC team featuring players from schools producing players who are competing at the highest level, including the NBA.
“It’s a real credit to these 3 guys for being recognized in a league known for producing the best undergraduate talent in the country,” said head basketball coach Whit Lesure, “All three have represented Bridgton Academy well, Ryan for two years now, and each will go on to significant college success in the years to come I am sure.”
Ryan Salzberg arrived on the Bridgton Academy’s campus from Fayetteville-Manilus High School in the fall of 2017 and is a rare two-year player on the basketball team. A left-handed ball-handler and shooter, BA’s offense frequently ran through Salzberg. Coach Lesure continues, “Ryan’s passion for the game stands out to me. He knew he wanted to be a part of our program from the first day he visited and he has grown from a young guy learning the ropes to a leader who helped steer this team to significant achievements during the course of this past season. His looks can sometimes be deceiving and I have a strong feeling that he is going to continue to surprise a lot of people in the years to come.”
A graduate of Catholic Memorial High School, Kani Glover has become a major part of the Bridgton Academy basketball team on both sides of the floor. “Kani’s IQ for the game at both ends was instrumental in our play this year,” says Coach Lesure. “He consistently made timely and gritty plays, a hard-nosed player like Marcus Smart at the highest level. He’s a determined guy who keeps working to get better and that’s a big key to success at the college level.
For the 6’9” Kelton Samore, it was a long journey to Bridgton from Grant High School in Portland, OR. But clearly, Samore has made the most of his time in North Bridgton, leading the team’s offense and anchoring the middle of the defense. “For much of the season Kelton produced at a level that I’ve seen only a few times in my career at Bridgton,” Coach Lesure says. “His ability to score from different spots on the floor and handle the ball so well for a big guy will make him a valuable asset at the next level. As he gets bigger and stronger, he will quickly develop into an offensive force to be reckoned with at the Division I level. Kelton is equally capable in the classroom earning just below a 4.0 GPA for the year.”
Bridgton Academy’s mission is to provide a program for young men in a unique, one-year postgraduate environment to prepare for the competitive rigors of college and beyond. Bridgton Academy, now in its 211th year, is located in western Maine, in the town of North Bridgton. For more information, visit www.bridgtonacademy.org.
