Dylan Thayer’s Standout Unsigned Seniors in the MPA

Tuesday, December 24th, 2024

In just the past 24 hours or so, two of the top prospects in the Maine Principals Association came off the board in Theo Pow (Colby) and Gabe Lash (USM). 

The two Next Level Athletics teammates had built a great reputation for themselves thriving in grassroots and high school play. Pow for his pace, athleticism and pure scoring prowess, while Lash is a physical rebounder with defensive ability to his game.

The talent does not end here though, let's look at some more seniors in Maine that you need to know.

Gritty point guard play is a coaches dream, and Jamier Rose brings that on a nightly basis to Noble High School. Last week, he surpassed the 1,000 point plateau in a major fashion with a 30 point, 13 rebound, 10 steal triple double. 

Rose is a true competitor that plays hard up and down the floor. He can clearly score it, but he rebounds consistently, plays staunch defense, and is a floor general. Rose currently averages 24.4 points, 9 rebounds, 7.5 assists, and 5 steals per game.

In some talks with those on the Maine scene, Wyatt Benoit has been highly touted as a college basketball prospect. I saw it myself over the summer a few times. 

Benoit scores it well on drives, attacks baselines with touch to finish off the glass, and is not afraid of contact. He can shoot it as well while his toughness is another standout aspect of his game that he uses well to crash the glass. Benoit currently averages 25.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 2 assists per game.

Edward Little in Auburn Maine is off to a 3-2 start to the year led by senior Diing Maiwen. The 6'5" wing has elite athleticism which allows him to thrive above the rim, and to guard multiple positions on the defensive end. 

Maiwen is quick and uses his body to get down inside and score in the paint. He has room to grow as a shooter but there is a lot of upside to like in his game. Edward Little's star is averaging 17.8 points, 11.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2 blocks, and 1.2 steals per game.

Emmitt Byther was a standout in grassroots play this summer, and has carried that into the high school season. Just the other night he posted a video game stat line: 28 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, four blocks and three steals. 

Byther is 6'5" with a strong physique and evidently spends a ton of time in the gym. The best part of his game is that you can plug him in, and he'll likely fit your style. He can play inside, work the perimeter as a playmaker, and runs the floor.

Tom Maloji and Manny Hidalgo are two faces I've seen a lot in grassroots play, but the two also play for South Portland High School together. The two form a pretty daunting backcourt in the MPA with complementary skillsets. 

Maloji is a tough defender that changes the game on that end of the floor, while Hidalgo directs traffic at the point guard spot, but can get a bucket and rebound very well for his size. Their team has floated around .500 thus far, but with this duo leading the way as experienced seniors, they've got a chance to compete.

Westbrook High has high aspirations for the winter season, and Moses Semuhoza is a major part of that. The 6'7" forward had a big junior season last winter and kept that going into play on the ZGXL circuit this year. 

Semuhoza has obvious size, but the clear coveted aspect is his shooting ability. His release is very smooth, he's got good hands to get boards and catch entry passes, and some upside.

Deering hasn't got off to the start they wanted to this year, but they've got two guards to like in Justin Jamal and Evan Legassey. 

Jamal's been battling injury so far this season, but his quickness and handle caught my eye in the spring, and he also does well as a scorer getting to the basket. Legassey adds another scoring threat to the squad with some pull-up shooting and finishing skill.

Leo McNabb, a Catholic University commit and the reigning AA North player of the year, has helped his Cheverus squad to a 5-0 record with big contributions from sophomore Nicola Plalum as well. McNabb is known for torching nets as he makes his shots from all three levels, and finishes off an impressive career this season. 

Davis Mann has his Falmouth High School squad off to a 4-1 start this season, with their one loss coming by two points to Noble. Mann had 24 points the other night against Deering, showing off his slashing prowess and outside shooting.

6'9" big man Brody Taylor has earned some looks for his performances at Bonny Eagle High School in Standish. Taylor is a nightly double double threat with his interior scoring and rebounding skill.

Leading Spruce Mountain High School in Jay, Jace Bessey recently became the school's career scoring leader. Bessey is a 5'11" guard with shooting skills and vision to expose opposing defenses.

Tristan Robbins plays as far up in Maine as it gets at Caribou High School, but his play has made rounds in the state. He's got size at 6'5" and recently dropped 36 points in a victory over Fort Kent.

High motor guard Creighty Dickson leads Windham High School this year as a senior, with a great junior duo to go along with his talent.

Worth a shoutout here is Kent's Hill, a class B school in the Augusta area that has started to really establish itself as a farm for Maine talent. On the year, the teams lost only one game by 1 point. They've got some intriguing young players in Lincoln Malcore, Jack Gedroge and Isaiah Bean-Brittian, but their available seniors and postgrads are noteworthy. 

The squad loaded with homegrown Maine talent at guard with Cohen Galley, Carter Galley, Jayden Kim, Nate Hebert and Tave Cloutier. If the season continues this way for the program, it will be awesome to watch them take on some more top class B competition in the postseason.