End of Season Awards: Maine All-State

While the calendar turning to March alerts us to the beginning of one of the best sports months of the year, it also brings with it the end of the high school seasons.   With that in mind, over the course of the next few weeks, we'll unveil our all-state teams for each of the six state associations in New England, as well as all-region teams for some of the larger NEPSAC classes.   After unveiling all of these teams, we'll wrap the end of season awards up with an our all-New England selections for the state associations.   Before we unveil our all-state teams for Maine, let's break down how we'll approach this.   First, the benefit that we have over say, the NBA, is that we don't have to cast any votes until after the state tournaments have taken place. Because of that, these teams will factor in playoff performances.   In each state we'll name a Player of the Year. That player will earn their own recognition, seperate from the all-state teams.   After that we'll name five players to a 1st team and five more to a 2nd team. Construction of the teams will have less to do with positional make up than it will with trying to honor the prospects we believe had the best seasons.   With that being said, let's take a look at the 2024-2025 Player of the Year and All-State teams from Maine.   Player of the Year: [player_tooltip player_id='2811657' first='Davis' last='Mann'] - Falmouth   Mann saved his best performances for the biggest stages, scoring 39 points in a regional semifinal and then topping that with 43 in the state championship. A big guard with above the rim athleticism, Mann was a match-up nightmare for opponents as he was capable of taking advantage of forwards in space and overpowering guards in the paint. He was capable of getting 20+ points on any given night, was a tough finisher in transition, and had the ability to guard multiple positions. He was a definite all-state performer, but it was his play in the postseason and leading his team to a state championship that makes him our Player of the Year in Maine.     1st Team: [player_tooltip player_id='2325850' first='Jamier' last='Rose'] - Noble   Rose led Noble to their best season in decades and cementing himself as arguably the top guard in the state along the way. A capable scorer that could also make plays for others, Rose was often on triple-double watch, filling a stat sheet and proving that he could impact a game in a variety of ways. A tough guard that played with physicality, he was hard to guard when he got downhill, and did a great job of finishing in the paint. As a creator, he was hard to contain off the bounce and had next level vision as a passer.   1st Team: [player_tooltip player_id='2325882' first='Theo' last='Pow'] - Kennebunk   Pow kicked off postseason play with a 42 point game of his own, reminding everyone why he was considered one of the state's best wings this winter. An athletic and physical wing that really expanded his game this winter, Pow was a versatile offensive performer that could score with the ball in his hands or in catch and shoot situations. He was elite in transition situations and also as an off ball cutter, finishing above the rim or through contact. He used his physical traits to deter opponents on the defensive end too.   1st Team: [player_tooltip player_id='2546901' first='Diing' last='Maiwen'] - Edward Little   Maiwen spurred Edward Little to a regional final, proving to be one of the top two-way players in the state. An elite athlete with quickness to match, Maiwen had more highlight reel plays than anyone in the state, both as a rim finisher and shot blocker. He had great recovery speed on the defensive end of the floor, which allowed him to make plays in passing lanes and from the help side at the rim. Offensively, he rounded out his game with the ability to score from behind the arc and in isolation situations.   1st Team: [player_tooltip player_id='2546922' first='Gabe' last='Lash'] - Medomak Valley   Lash did a bit of everything for a Medomak Valley team that didn't lose a game all season before falling in the regional final. A versatile forward, Lash proved capable of scoring at all three levels while also operating as a high level decision maker. He played under control, made passes that led to scoring opportunities, and was able to knock down threes in catch and shoot situations. He was probably the best grab-and-go forward in the state and gave opponents fits in transition.   1st Team: [player_tooltip player_id='2811759' first='Tristan' last='Robbins'] - Caribou   Robbins was a dominant force at times for a Caribou team that finished the season as state champions. Few, if any, players in the state played with the motor, physicality, and skill combination that Robbins possesses. He has the ability to finish above the rim in space, could rip and go from the elbows, and showed the ability to pass out of double teams. His motor stood out on both the offensive and defensive glass and his ability to guard both in space and in the paint allowed him to thrive as a defender.     2nd Team: Tyrie James - Windham   James was instrumental in Windham's run to back to back state championships, serving as the point man for one of the state's top offenses. The only non-senior to make an appearance on either all-state team, James proved to be capable of impacting a game on either end of the floor. He was a tough on-ball defender that created plenty of steals, leading to easy baskets in transition. In the half-court, he had the ability to break down a defense, get into the paint, and score himself or find open teammates for easy baskets.   2nd Team: Manny Hidalgo - South Portland   Hidalgo helped lead South Portland to a state championship, proving to be one of the state's most dynamic guards in the process. There might not have been a more creative player with the ball in his hands in the state than Hidalgo, who seemingly got wherever he wanted on the floor off the bounce. A smaller guard, he had the ability to play bigger than his size and was particularly effective scoring in the paint, utilizing a variety of dribble moves, hesitations, euro-steps, and floaters to keep defenders off balance.   2nd Team: [player_tooltip player_id='2547136' first='Wyatt' last='Benoit'] - Thornton Academy   Benoit was a major reason that Thornton Academy earned a top seed heading into the playoffs, making his mark as a 20+ point per game scorer in one of the state's toughest conferences. A tough shot maker, Benoit finished the season as one of the state's top scorers, capable of getting a bucket from all three levels. His ability to move without the basketball to knock down catch and shoot shots or two create in the mid-range as a ball handler was second to none.   2nd Team: [player_tooltip player_id='2325885' first='Leo' last='McNabb'] - Cheverus   McNabb was the engine for a Cheverus team that earned the top seed in their region, standing out with his ability to score the basketball in a variety of ways. One of the craftiest scorers in the state, McNabb had the ability to score at all three levels and was particularly effective in isolation situations. He could operate as a primary ball-handler or off ball scorer, doing whatever his team needed to win games. He was a smart defender capable of creating plenty of steals and deflections.   2nd Team: [player_tooltip player_id='2396798' first='Emmitt' last='Byther'] - Old Town   Byther proved to be one of the state's top forwards, displaying a combination of athleticism, physicality, and skill in helping to lead Old Town to a regional semifinal. He was a nightly double-double threat that had the ability to score in the paint or bring the ball up the floor in transition. A physical forward capable of finishing plays above the rim, he often operated as the hub of his team's offense from the top of the key. On top of that, he controlled the defensive glass and was a strong post defender.

While the calendar turning to March alerts us to the beginning of one of the best sports months of the year, it also brings with it the end of the high school seasons.