Maine East v West Showcase - Event Recap
Many of Maine’s top prospects were all in one gym on Sunday afternoon, gathering for the 4th annual MB Nation East vs West Showcase. It was an exciting day of hoops at Southern Maine Community College: Hampden Academy forward Isaiah Bess signed his National Letter of Intent to attend Stonehill College, and moments later Nation director Mike Woodbury announced that the program would be retiring the jersey of Bonney Eagle star point guard Dustin Cole — the first number that Woodbury has ever retired.
While Cole and Bess were the stars of the show, scoring 26 and 25 points respectively in the 2014 game, here’s a look at who else stood out on Sunday afternoon:
Shyheim Ulrickson (Mt. Ararat ’16) – Ulrickson didn’t do a ton of scoring in the 2016 East-West game, and he didn’t really have to. The talented young point guard controlled the offensive tempo and made several nice dishes to open teammates in the second half—which allowed him to garner MVP honors.
Jayvon Pitts-Young (Portland ’14)—He continues to show why he is one of the state’s top prospects. Pitts-Young has few weaknesses in his offensive game—he can shoot from outside, attack the rim, and throws passes on a dime off the pick-and-roll.
Zach Gilpin (Hampden Academy ’14)—Gilpin was one of the most college-ready players in attendance, at 6-foot-5 he has all the tools to be a productive player at the next level—including a smooth stroke from behind the three-point arc. His greatest strength may very well be the fact that he can defend several different positions.
Jack Simonds (Falmouth ’15)—Simonds runs the floor well for a kid who’s 6’5, and is able to succeed because of his versatility on both ends of the floor. He showed he can shoot the mid-range jumper and finish around the rim offensively, but also stayed on the glass consistently and stood out as one of the better interior defenders at the event.
Stephen Alex (Portland ’15)—After scoring 21 points and hitting a game-winning shot in the 2015 game, giving the game MVP to Alex was a no-brainer. He got to the rim nearly at will throughout the game, shooting a high percentage from field and showing that he has the talent to become one of Maine’s best pure scorers.
Seth Mackinnon (Kennebunk ’16) – Mackinnnon was one of the breakout players of the event and is certainly a player to watch closely over the course of the next couple years. He has a crafty offensive game and was comfortable with the ball in his hands pretty much anywhere on the floor—whether that be on the perimeter, in the paint, or driving to the hoop.
Andrew Fleming (Oxford Hills ’16)—Fleming’s greatest asset at this point is probably his athleticism, which he showed off on several rebounds and high-rising finishes around the rim. His offensive game outside of the paint needs some polish, but he has certainly shown to have the talent and offensive instinct to do just that.
Markus D’Andrea (Windham ’15)—The most impressive thing about D’Andrea is how far he’s come in the past couple months, transforming himself from raw athlete to gifted offensive player. He spent some time running the point on Sunday, which appeared to come naturally to him. He could go a long way if he can improve his on-ball defense and outside jumper.
Matt Talbot (Portland ’14)—Talbot brought the house down in the second half of the 2014 game, putting down some high-level dunks and showing just what kind of upside he has as a college prospect. He was a pretty consistent presence on the glass, and could end up being a darkhorse prospect if he can add to his low post offensive game.
Ahmed Ali (Deering ’14)—One of the quickest releases of any player in the gym, Ali barely needs any space at all to get of his high-arcing, mechanically-strong outside jumpshot. Given his height and length for a shooter, Ali is a player who should be getting some attention from college programs.
Andrew Middleton (Edward Little ’14)—Like Talbot, Middleton could potentially be a well-recruited player once he develops an identity as a scorer. He has a nice three-point stroke and possesses the strength and lateral quickness to play out on the wing at the next level.
Kyle Bouchard (Houlton ’15)—Bouchard, with his strong upper body and fearless attitude on the court, often resembles a college linebacker. He simply overpowers opposing teams, getting nearly any shot he wants around the rim—he also spent a notable amount of time running the point for his squad when need be.
Nicholas Mayo (Messalonskee ’15)—Mayo needs some work on his offensive game, but he gave one of the most consistent efforts of any player on the floor on Sunday. A true post player who stands at about 6’7, he did a great job of running the floor and was also a big reason why his team won the rebounding differential.
Keenan Collett (Orono ’17)—Collett was the MVP of the 2017 game, tallying 12 points and scoring those points in many different ways. He has a great nose for the ball on the glass and has an advanced understanding of moving without the ball—especially for a player his age.