Returning Varsity Maine All-State players Wyatt Benoit of Thornton Academy and Jamier Rose of Noble highlight the preseason list.

PostedDecember 2

UpdatedDecember 5

Steve CraigPortland Press Herald

5 min read

Thornton Academy’s Wyatt Benoit is fouled by Liam Garriepy of Scarborough during a game on Feb. 22. Benoit averaged 22.6 points and 5.7 rebounds last season. Derek Davis/Staff Photographer
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Wyatt Benoit, Thornton Academy senior guard: A returning Varsity Maine All-State player, Benoit averaged a Class AA-best 22.6 points, shooting 50.9% overall, 41.2% from 3-point range (35 of 85) and 82.5% at the free-throw line. He averaged 5.7 rebounds, and had a 43-point game against Bonny Eagle.

Carter Blanche, Scarborough junior guard: Coming off a sophomore season in which he averaged 11.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and made 50 3-pointers on 40.3% shooting, the 6-footer will lead the AA South runner-up, which graduated eight seniors and had 6-8 center Spencer Booth transfer to Milton Academy.

Lukas Bouchard, York senior center: At 6-foot-6, the experienced big man is an impact player at both ends of the floor. He averaged 12 points and led the WMC in rebounding with 13.4 per game, earning a third-team Western Maine Conference Class A/B all-star selection.

Creighty Dickson, Windham senior guard: At a sturdy 6-2, Dickson impacts the game in many ways. He was the only AA player to average double figures in both points (10.4) and rebounds (10.1) last season, helping the Eagles win the Class AA championship.

Travis Edgerton, Biddeford senior guard: A returning Class A South first-team choice, Edgerton contributes in multiple ways. As a junior, he averaged 12.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.8 steals.

Zeb Foster, Oceanside senior guard: A four-year starter who can score, distribute and play tough defense, Foster averaged over 13 points, four rebounds and nearly four assists last season for the B South champs while playing alongside since-graduated twins Carter and Cohen Galley.

Griffin Gammon, Gorham senior center: The athletic 6-foot-5 center showed his ability to defend and finish with dunks last season. With the top-three scorers having graduated from the AA South champions, expect Gammon to significantly increase his 8.4-point scoring average.

Trevor Gerrish, Brunswick senior forward: The 6-foot-5 Gerrish was just shy of averaging a double-double last season, with 16.5 points and 9.3 rebounds per game.

South Portland’s Manny Hidalgo averaged 17.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists last season. Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Staff Photographer
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Manny Hidalgo, South Portland senior guard: Hidalgo plays bigger than his listed height of 5-foot-7, especially when attacking the basket. He averaged 17.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists (second in AA South) and shot 46% from the floor.

Kade Ippolito, Greely senior forward: A third-team Western Maine Conference Class A/B all-star as a junior, when he averaged 13.9 points and 9.3 rebounds, Ippolito is 6-foot-5 and can play on the wing and in the post. He’s one of nine returning seniors for the Rangers, who hope to be a top-four team in A South.

Tyrie James, Windham junior guard: James was leading scorer for the Class AA champion Eagles as their sixth man, averaging 11.4 points (15 in the playoffs), 3.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists. His superior first step allows him to get to the basket and other scoring spots against bigger defenders.

Cordell Jones, Portland junior forward: The Bulldogs’ only returner who played significant varsity minutes, Jones (7.1 points, 4.4 rebounds a year ago) will miss at least two weeks because of a hand injury suffered in the Thanksgiving football game against Deering.

Gabe Lash, Medomak Valley senior forward: An exceptional defensive player and rebounder at 6-foot-6, Lash averaged about 14 points and 11 rebounds during Medomak’s 16-4 campaign in 2023-24. He’s one of four starters returning for the Panthers.

Evan Legassey, Deering senior guard: A four-year starter with a good outside shot, he joins with point guard Justin Jamal, a three-year starter, to form a very experienced backcourt. Legassey averaged 16.4 points and 3.4 assists and made 88.7% of his free throws last season.

Davis Mann, Falmouth senior guard: One of two returning starters for the Navigators, the 6-foot-1 Mann can shoot the 3 and dunk, and he’s ready to shine, according to Coach Dave Halligan and other area coaches.

Damon Martin, Poland Regional junior: A third-team Western Maine Conference Class A/B all-star as a sophomore, Martin averaged 16.6 points, 3.2 assists, 2.4 steals and 2.2 made 3-pointers last season.

Leo McNabb, Cheverus senior guard: Especially adept at getting to the rim and dangerous in transition, the returning AA North Player of the Year can also knock down 3-pointers (27 of 71). He led the region with 16.4 points per game while averaging 4.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.1 steals.

Colin Moran, Bonny Eagle junior guard: An all-rookie pick in AA South last season, when he averaged 6.8 points, Moran has big options to look to inside – 6-foot-9 junior Max Bouchard, 6-8 senior Brody Taylor (made 41 of 53 field goals a year ago) and 6-3 senior CJ Cooper.

Malcolm O’Wril, Waynflete junior guard/forward: After a late transfer from Portland last year, O’Wril was only able to play junior varsity. He’s ready to show his ball-handling and shooting ability and will join sophomore JJ Carlo and 6-foot-4 junior Jed Alsup as scoring threats for the Flyers.

John Patenaude, Gray-New Gloucester senior guard: Was a key starter and scorer on last year’s senior-laden Class A championship team, averaging 17.9 points and earning MVP honors in the A South tourney.

Brady Plante, Old Orchard Beach senior guard: Plante was a first-team Western Maine Conference Class C/D pick a year ago, when he averaged 17 points, 2.8 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 3.7 steals. He was the quarterback on OOB’s eight-man football Small School title team.

Theo Pow, Kennebunk senior guard: A returning first-team Class A South pick who has committed to play at Colby College, the 6-foot-3 Pow is especially effective in transition and has improved his outside shot after averaging 16.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2 assists last season.

Jamier Rose, Noble senior guard: A returning Varsity Maine All-State player, Rose has dynamic open-court ability and led Noble to the Class A South final, averaging 20 points, seven assists, seven rebounds and five steals. He teams with senior Bryce Guitard (21 ppg) to form a high-powered backcourt.

Moses Semuhoza, Westbrook senior forward: Formerly at North Yarmouth Academy, Semuhoza is a 6-foot-7 player with soft shooting touch and guard-like passing skills for a team that several opposing coaches expect to challenge the best in A South.

Conner Smith, Freeport senior guard: A key player for the Falcons the past two seasons, Smith will direct the show after averaging 8.1 points and 2.3 assists as a junior.