July ME 2026 Ranking Revision

Thursday, July 10th, 2025

There’s an influx of talent making its way up the pipeline in the state of Maine. The classes of 2027, 2028 and 2029 have all shown to have some promising prospects we will come to know in the near future.

Before we get into those classes however, we will take a look at the Maine Class of 2026 ranking. This class has a hoard of familiar names we have seen over the past few years, with a few new names that we think college coaches will be all over.

Kicking off the ranking in the top spot is Bridgton’s Cheick Sylla. The big man from Mali was the unanimous pick for the first slot in the ranking amongst our staff, as he’s been one of the best big men in the entire region as of late.

Sylla’s improved conditioning was evident in our recent viewings of him, but the pure bruteforce in the post with soft touch he brings to the floor makes him undeniably a Division One prospect. Where he ultimately lands at that level will be one to watch.

Following Sylla in the second spot is Camden Hills guard Nolan Ames. The rising senior has really made a name for himself in the MPA, earning a nod as the current top prospect in the state association in the ranking. Ames can really make things happen off the dribble as he uses his tight handle to get down the lane, or create separation to rise into shots.

Nafees Padgett fills the third spot in the ranking as the Tilton graduate will embark on a postgraduate year at Bridgton this season. Padgett brings a nice blend of ballhandling and size to the backcourt to go along with his quickness and fluid game.

Tyrie James and Akol Maiwen come in fourth and fifth respectively in the current ranking.

James has been dubbed as one of the top rising seniors in the state and for good reason. The Windham HS product has burst off the dribble to get to his spots, with a crafty handle and some playmaking to his game. He’s been known to get hot in an instant and is expected to cause havoc this winter.

Maiwen has been coming into his own as of late, and is another prospect who has the potential to outperform his current place in the ranking. He’s a skilled guard with a solid handle, reads the floor well and swarms the ball on the defensive end. With his older brother Diing Maiwen moving on, Akol is slotted to be the go-to option at Edward Little High School this upcoming season.

Adam Fitzgerald takes the sixth spot as the Scarborough native has improved immensely in our eyes since our first viewing of his game in 2023. Once a standstill shooting threat that thrived off the catch, Fitzgerald’s newly developed shot creation off the bounce and ability to score in space will lead to a big winter.

Cai Dougher lands in the seventh spot of the ranking, as the 6’3” guard has really made noise in the small town of Jay. Dougher has athleticism that can’t be taught as he can really get up above the rim and throw down dunks with force. As the lengthy guard continues to develop he is a name to keep an eye on.

Another Windham prospect makes the list in the eighth spot in rising senior AJ Moody. The 6’2 guard has fought through a ton of adversity to get to where he is, and has continued to make an impact on the court. His ability to penetrate the lane as a slasher stands out, while he can really dig in and defend as well.

Nabiyoulahi Diakite is returning for a postgraduate season at Bridgton Academy, and finds himself in the ninth spot on the ranking. The 6’7” forward has continued to put things together in his game, making an impact as a defender and an off-ball slasher that pressures the rim.

Rounding out the top ten of the ranking is York High School’s Reece MacDonald. The rising senior has stood out to us over the last year as a sound guard that makes the right plays on the court. He knows when to use his body to get to his spots, and can shoot the ball at a good clip from outside.

Click here to view the full Maine 2026 ranking.  

Other players featured include: Cedric Makelele, David Katanga, Eric Poso, Gabe Jackson, Jacob Purington, Jameson Fitzpatrick, John Cubahiro, Logan Zoulamis, Lucas Legage, Michel Butera.