State Association Standout Scorers: Maine

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Today, we'll continue to take a look at some of the <em>Standout Scorers</em> in New England, with a focus on the state of Maine.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's been an impressive year for basketball out of New England's northern most state, with plenty of impressive prospects, particularly the underclassmen, across the board.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the better resources for basketball in the Maine Principals Association is <a href="https://bigtimemaine.com/">Big Time Maine</a>, as they've done a great job of advancing the exposure of Maine's high school basketball prospects - particularly through their work on Instagram.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are five prospects that have been scoring in bunches on the hardwood in Maine this winter:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2696676"],"_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-697aac852b207"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ames, a senior guard out of <em>Camden Hills Regional High School</em>, recently became his school's all-time leading scorer. Any conversation of the state's top scorers has to start with Ames, who's averaging nearly 25 points per game this winter. The <strong><em>Colby</em></strong> commit is bigger and stronger than most guards he faces, has the athleticism to finish plays above the rim in space, and has a deep bag as a finisher around the rim. His ability to score it at all three levels is second to none in Maine and his compete level is always noticable. He's done a nice job of developing the consistency of his perimeter jumper and is a threat to score from behind the arc both off the bounce and in catch and shoot situations.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3298346"],"_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-697aac852b270"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Witham, a junior guard out of <em>Mount Desert Island High School</em>, cemented his name in his school's record books recently when he surpassed the 1,000-point mark for his career. The 6'0" guard has really made a name for himself this winter, showing an ability to take over games as a three level scorer. He's electric in the open floor, using a variety of finishes to score around the rim over size and with touch. He is a talented on-ball defender that does a nice job of creating turnovers and quickly turning those plays into offensive opportunities. In the half-court, he's a dynamic ball-handler that gets to his spots with his quickness, but also by playing at different speeds. He does a nice job off the ball as a finisher off cuts and in catch and shoot situations where he can really get hot behind the arc.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3298332"],"_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-697aac852b2bd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jeffers, a junior wing out of <em>Fort Kent Community High School</em>, also etched his name into his school's record book when he scored his 1,000th point three weeks ago. Arguably the best scorer from the northern part of the state, Jeffers does a great job of using his physical tools to his advantage as a finisher around the rim. The 6'3" wing is a plus athlete, has a quick first step off the bounce, and isn't afraid to play through contact in the paint. His ability to make plays on the defensive end of the floor leads to transition scoring opportunities, where he's a threat to score on or off the ball. He can get his shot off over most defenders due to his size and does a nice job of getting to his spots off the bounce, showing an understanding of how to play to his strengths as a scorer. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2696742"],"_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-697aac852b303"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">MacDonald, a senior guard out of <em>York High School</em>, has been phenomenal this winter in helping his team get off to a 14-1 start, while averaging over 20 points per game. One of the state's top combo guards, MacDonald has a college ready frame and impresses with his versatility on the offensive end of the floor. He plays with strength as a driver, does a nice job of finding his scoring within the flow of the offense, and benefits as a scorer from his playmaking ability as a creator. He does a nice job of moving without the basketball, particularly when sliding into open passing windows off of drives and knocking down catch and shoot threes. On top of that, he's capable of finishing in a variety of ways around the basket, impressing with his willingness to finish through contact.</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":"Andrew Oliver","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_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":"Mattanawcook","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"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-697aac852b3a8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Oliver, a senior guard out of <em>Mattanawcook Academy</em>, recently surpassed the 1,000-point mark for his career and, earlier this winter, recorded a rare 50-point game. The 6'3" guard has terrific positional size and length, both of which allow him to score it in a variety of ways. His length is an asset around the rim, where he shows the ability to finish with touch over size and also has good instincts on the offensive glass. He covers ground quickly with long strides as a driver and does a nice job of getting by the initial defender off the bounce. Off the ball, he's proven to be one of the better perimeter shooters in the state, particularly in catch and shoot situations from behind the arc, but has also added the dimension of a quality mid-range game this winter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Our <em>Standout Scorers</em> series will continue tomorrow with a look at Massachusetts!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->