Maine’s Stretch Run Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The calendar has flipped to February, which means that it's time for local high school programs to make a push for the playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With state tournaments in the local associations beginning shortly, we figured it would be a good time to check in on a few notable prospects in each of New England's six states, that we believe will play a significant role in deciding seeding down the stretch run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Today, we'll start with a look at the <em>Maine Principals Association</em>.</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":"Manny Hidalgo","_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":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"South Portland","_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67a24c2650361"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hidalgo, a senior guard out of <em>South Portland</em>, is one of the top two-way guards in the state. He's helped <em>South Portland</em> to a 12-4 record and <em>2nd</em> place in <em>AA South</em>. A confident ball-handler, Hidalgo shows a good feel for how to run an offense, creating for teammates and for himself. He scores at multiple levels, does a nice job as a spot up shooter, and can really get out in transition and score. Defensively, he's capable of guarding in space, doing a great job of moving his feet and staying in front of opposing guards without fouling. His ability to score and also create disruptive plays defensively will be worth watching for <em>South Portland</em> these last few weeks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2325885"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67a24c26503e0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">McNabb, a senior guard at <em>Cheverus</em>, is one of the top scoring guards in Maine. He's guided <em>Cheverus</em> to a 13-3 record and <em>1st</em> place in<em> AA North</em>. A true three level scorer, McNabb has taken his game to another level this winter, showcasing improved athleticism and a willingness to take the biggest shots in the biggest moments. He does a good job of moving without the basketball, using screens to get himself open and to get into his perimeter jumper. He's a tough finisher around the rim, can get to his spots off the bounce, and even finishes above the rim in transition now. Defensively, he does a nice job of guarding in space, rebounds in traffic, and can offer some rim protection from the help side. <em>Cheverus</em> has a chance to make a deep run this winter and if they do, he'll be a major reason why.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- 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":"Trevor Gerrish","_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":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77245","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Brunswick","_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67a24c2650483"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Gerrish, a senior forward from <em>Brunswick</em>, is a physical, two-way post presence. He a key piece to the puzzle for a <em>Brunswick</em> team that is 9-7 and sitting in <em>4th</em> place in <em>A South</em>. A standout on the gridiron, Garrish is threat to secure a double-double any time he steps on the court. A tough post defender that does a nice job of walling up without fouling, his physicality on the glass standouts and he does a nice job of initiating the break as an outlet passer once he's secured a rebound. Offensively, he's a physical finisher around the rim, capable of operating as a straight line driver from the perimeter. He sets solid screens, rolls hard to the rim, and makes good decisions in dribble hand-off actions. With him on the floor, <em>Brunswick</em> will have a chance to win multiple games this postseason.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- 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":"Zeb Foster","_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":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Oceanside","_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67a24c2650526"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Foster, a senior guard at <em>Oceanside</em>, is a dynamic two-way lead guard with the ability to fill up a stat sheet. He's helped <em>Oceanside</em> to a 9-7 record and <em>5th</em> place in <em>B South</em>. One of the better shot creators in the state, he's a tough isolation scorer that can get into his jumper off the bounce. He does a nice job of creating space by changing speeds and directions, has some wiggle with the ball in his hands, and is really quick to get into his shot, allowing him to elevate over the defense to get it off at any time. His toughness and athleticism gives him an edge defensively where he can guard multiple spots while also adding a presence on the glass. With his ability to go off for 20+ on any given night, <em>Oceanside</em> is a real sleeper candidate to come out of <em>Class B South</em> this winter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- 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":"Isaiah Ervin","_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":"6'5u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77245","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Houlton","_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67a24c26505c1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ervin, a senior forward out of <em>Houlton</em>, is an athletic post presence that controls the glass on both ends of the floor. He's willed <em>Houlton</em> to an 8-10 record, currently sitting in <em>7th</em> place in <em>B North</em>. The wiry forward has great size for the position, a quick first step, and the toughness needed to make plays in the post. He does a nice job of scoring in the low block, but is also capable of making plays on the perimeter with his athleticism and quickness. He does a nice job of using his length as a finisher around the rim and, defensively, is a standout with his ability to rebound, guard multiple positions, and make plays that lead to turnovers and easy run out offense. <em>Houlton</em>, although not a top seed, could be primed to pull off a couple of upsets during the tournament with a player like Ervin on the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->