Players to Watch – MPA Postseason Edition

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's almost February vacation week in Maine, which can only mean one thing to hoops fans... it's time for the high school basketball state tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>From Augusta to Bangor to Portland, gyms will be filled across the state over the next few weeks as schools from Class AA all the way to Class D battle for the elusive Gold Ball give to each year's state champions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are six prospects to watch out of Maine:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2547136' first='Wyatt' last='Benoit']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Thornton Academy","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Benoit helped lead his Thornton Academy squad to a quarterfinal win against defending AA state champion South Portland earlier this week. One of the better class of 2025 scorers in Maine, Benoit can get it done at all three levels. He's really good off the ball in catch-and-shoot situations, but has impressed this winter as a guard than can initiate offense as a primary ball-handler. He's tough on the ball with quick hands and quick feet that help him create lots of deflections and easy run-outs. They'll take on a tough Scarborough team with one of the state's top frontcourts next week, but with a victory already under their belt and a scorer like Benoit in the backcourt, things could get interesting.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Cohen Galley","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Oceanside","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Galley, one of the state's top football players, teams with his brother ([player_tooltip player_id='2546912' first='Carter' last='Galley']) to form one of Maine top duos. While Carter has taken a lot of the headlines with his scoring this winter, there may not be a better second option in the state than Oceanside has in Cohen. A quarterback on the gridiron, he's a natural playmaker that does a good job of finding the open man. Oceanside plays faster than any team in the state, pressing full-court and turning defense into easy offense. Galley spearheads that attack and their pressure. He gets out quickly in transition and can score at the rim through contact. Oceanside is the favorite in Class B South and will look to cap an undefeated season in the coming weeks.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Bryce Guitard","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Noble","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Guitard in one half of another one of the state's top duos as he's teamed with [player_tooltip player_id='2325850' first='Jamier' last='Rose'] to help Noble to their most successful season on the hardwood in the past few decades. One of Maine's top shooters, Guitard can get it done both with the ball in his hands and as a catch-and-shoot option. He's got deep ranger on his jumper and a quick release; his success from behind the arc has helped to open up driving lanes and scoring opportunities at the rim for his teammates this season. He's comfortable handling the ball and makes good decisions in the half-court, rarely turning it over. Noble will start their playoff journey this weekend and hopes to make a deep run this year in Class A South, arguably the strongest region at the top in the state.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Aidan Hebert","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"77247","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Gray-New Gloucester","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Hebert, along with his twin brother (Noah Herbert), has Gray-New Gloucester in position to make a serious run at a state championship. Aidan is a swiss-army knife of sorts, with versatility being his calling card on both ends of the floor. He's dynamic defensively, in both the full and half court, where his length and athleticism allow him to be disruptive and generate turnovers at a high clip. Offensively, he's grown to be a consistent shooter from behind the perimeter but is at his best when he puts pressure on the rim as a downhill driver. Noah, the more athletic of the twins, has a similar style but it more of a primary scorer. They'll have to get through a tough Class A South (which includes the afformentioned Noble, as well as Falmouth), but have two dynamic pieces to rely on when they get started on Saturday.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Kevin Rugabirwa","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Portland","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Rugabirwa was a catalyst behind Portland's 14-4 regular season, averaging over 14 points per game and leading the league in steals. A 30-point performance in the opening round helped lead his team into the regional semifinals, where they could potentially come face-to-face with crosstown rival, Cheverus. Rugabirwa is a dynamic on-ball defender and is absolutely electric in the open court. He's really come along as a shooter as the season has progress and has deep range on his jumper. His ability to create easy looks for his teammates will be a big factor in how far Portland can go in the postseason. If Portland does in fact draw and get by Cheverus, they'll most likely matchup with Windham (the region's #1 seed) in the regional final.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"Evans Sterling","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"77247","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"Mt. Blue","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_5_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Sterling, long regarded as one of the better athletes in his class in Maine, has had a terrific senior season, leading Mt. Blue to a 15-3 record and the #2 seed in Class A North. A solid athlete on the wing, Sterling does a good job of attacking the rim off the bounce and has become a true threat shooting the ball this winter. He's an effective playmaker with a good handle and quick first step. Defensively, he creates havoc in passing lanes and does a good job of starting the break off of defensive rebounds. It's a tough region, with perennial power Hampden Academy holding the #1 seed and Messalonskee, led by junior big man [player_tooltip player_id='2325783' first='Merrick' last='Smith'], checking in at #3; but, if anyone can lead his team to a regional final this winter, Sterling might be just the guy to do it.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65cfca5deeefe"} /-->