CASTINE, Maine — The Maine Maritime Academy men's basketball program is excited to announce the addition of Vince Russman to its 2025 recruiting class — the first under head coach Cedric Gillette.
Russman, a 6-foot-4 combo guard from Thomaston, Connecticut, is the fifth signee in this year's class. He played under head coach Jim Bunel at Thomaston High School, where he averaged 20.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.8 steals per game during his senior season.
Russman helped lead Thomaston to back-to-back state Final Four appearances — the program's first in over 30 years. The Bears finished 17-8 in his senior campaign, a 13-win improvement from his freshman season.
Throughout his high school career, Russman earned numerous individual honors, including Connecticut Division V All-State (twice), All-Berkshire League (three times), and Senior Academic All-State. He was also the recipient of the Berkshire League's Leon Veretto Sportsmanship Award.
Russman led Thomaston in scoring from his sophomore year onward, finishing with 1,494 career points — second-most in school history and eighth in Berkshire League history.
Off the court, Russman enjoys spending time at the park, building Legos, fishing, cooking, and hanging out with friends. He played AAU basketball for CT Focus and will major in marine systems engineering at Maine Maritime.
On choosing Maine Maritime Academy:
"I chose MMA for the academic success, because it's on the coast, and because the basketball team feels like a family," Russman said.
What They're Saying About Vince Russman
Cedric Gillette, Head Coach, Maine Maritime:
"Vince is a baller. What immediately stuck out was his size and strength combined with his skill level. It's rare to find a player that big and strong who can also move with the ball and shoot the way he does. His pedigree stood out too — he helped turn Thomaston around from a four-win program to a 17-win team while scoring nearly 1,500 points. He also has a knack for big-game performances, including a 30-point outing to send his team to the state Final Four. When he visited campus and jumped into our postgame celebration, we knew it was meant to be. We're thrilled to bring Vince to Castine."
Jim Bunel, Head Coach, Thomaston High School:
"Vince is an elite two-way player who empties the tank every time he steps into the gym."
AJ Bunel, Former Head Coach, Thomaston High School:
"Vince Russman is the total package. Whether it was leading the team in points, rebounds, assists, or guarding the opponent's top player, he always rose to the occasion. In all my years of coaching, I've never seen a player work and compete as hard as Vince."
