Isaiah Bess confirmed on Sunday that he plans on attending Hampden Academy during the 2013/2014 school year.
"I think the move will help me in terms of education and will help me prepare for college in a few years,"Bess said. "I am definitely a people person so seeing 750 new faces which involves meeting new people will be fun for me, also experiencing new challenges everyday. The sports seasons should also be a good time."
Bess wanted to add that the move is not official.
"I plan to finish out the rest of my junior year in Milo," Bess said. "Nothing is official yet. There is still a lot that has to be done for this move to pull through."
Bess was part of the Penquis Patriots basketball team that won the 2013 class C state championship.He was also a key member of the Patriots soccer team.
Bess said, "I plan on trying out for varsity soccer and basketball teams (at Hampden)."
Bess credits his coaches for teaching more than the game to him. Recently retired basketball coach Tony Hamlin and Penquis boys soccer coach Jason Mills have been there for Bess since he moved to the area in the third grade.
"I learned a lot more than the game of basketball from not just coach Hamlin but my soccer coach Jason Mills too. I love the both of them,"Bess said. "I feel lucky to have gotten the opportunity to have played for two of my role models in life. They had my back through every thick n' thin situation I have ever been in. It is kind of like they have been watching over my every move since I moved to Milo in 3rd grade. I'll never be able to repay them."
Trevor Lyford teamed up with Bess for a dynamic duo that was difficult to stop for the Penquis opponents during the last three seasons, that ended with a gold ball coming back to Milo two weeks ago.
If Bess is not at Penquis next year, he will miss Lyford as more than just a teammate.
"Trevor (Lyford) is my teammate, peer, and family for life. I don't think I would be the player I am today without his support and confidence in me to be able to play,"Bess said. "I envy him sometimes because of leadership qualities and ability to lead a community and basketball team. He is the schools valedictorian, the Penquis Patriots leader, and you won't find a better friend to have by your side than him. I'm going to miss him more than probably anyone next year."
Bess will miss the support he received from teachers and friends at the small school in Milo.
"I will miss seeing all the teachers and my close friends everyday,"Bess said. "All of them have helped me grow and mature as a young adult and I can never thank the little town of Milo enough for all the lessons I have learned from there."
Bess went over the 1000 career point mark as a junior (this past season) would be joining a Broncos basketball team that won the 2013 class A state championship.
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