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ORONO - Hank McDaniel was looking for a college basketball program whose coaches believed in him and his ability.
Last year, the 6-foot-7, 210-pound forward from Chicago attended Oakton Community College in Illinois where he was being recruited by the likes of Georgia, New Mexico State and the University of Las Vegas-Nevada.
Saturday night, McDaniel will put on his University of Maine uniform for Midnight Madness.
A knee injury sustained in a car accident last fall rendered McDaniel unable to play last season, leaving his basketball future in doubt. The big schools backed out when he encountered academic trouble.
Maine coach Rudy Keeling and assistant Scott Benzie refused to give up on McDaniel, who arrived on campus in August and accepted a scholarship.
"They stuck by me and they called me frequently and told me they believed in me and...