Boys basketball in Maine is less dominated by prep schools relative to other states in the region. That means many of the state’s top players will face off against one another starting next month as the high school season begins.
The uniqueness of experience levels among Maine's best players is unlike any state in the region.
The state boasts talented seniors, including a duo that led Windham to its second consecutive championship last season. And don't sleep on the youth; there are three underclassmen on this list, including two freshmen and one who was winning MVP trophies as an eighth grader.
Here’s our watch list of 10 Maine players to keep an eye on this season.
Nolan Ames, Camden Hills
Class of 2026, 6-2 guard
Ames was named the KVAC Player of the Year after leading the conference in scoring and ranking in the top five in rebounds, assists, and steals. He was named to the 2025 Varsity Maine All-State Team and joined the 1,000-point club last season while averaging a near double-double.
Carter Brathwaite, Cony
Class of 2029, 6-3 guard
Brathwaite is one of the best young prospects in the state. He has good size, especially for an incoming freshman, allowing him to rebound at a high level and finish over defenders in the paint.
Cai Dougher, Spruce Mountain
Class of 2026, 6-3 guard
The ultra-athletic Dougher put up 32 points, 10 rebounds, and five steals in Spruce Mountain’s win over Oceanside in last season’s state tournament. He pulls from a deep bag of finishes at the rim, and his elite scoring ability makes him one of the biggest offensive threats in his class.
Adam Fitzgerald, Scarborough
Class of 2026, 6-4 guard
Fitzgerald is a lethal shooter who uses his handles to get open and can sink pull-up 3s at will. The guard spent the first two years of his high school career at Skowhegan before transferring to Scarborough. He scored a team-high 17 points, including four 3-pointers, in Scarborough’s AA South quarterfinal win last season.
Oli Higgins, Brewer
Class of 2028, 6-9 forward
Higgins may be young, but that doesn’t make him any less of a threat to his opponents. He was one of the state's best freshman last winter as he averaged 11.5 points and nine rebounds, and his paint game only improved over the offseason.
Tyrie James, Windham
Class of 2026, 5-10 guard
A consensus top-five guard in his class, James helped his team to its second straight state championship last season. His tight handles and playmaking make him capable of big scoring bursts, and he is expected to turn heads this year as he becomes the number-one option on a team seeking a three-peat.
Reece MacDonald, York
Class of 2026, 6-2 guard
MacDonald is great in catch-and-shoot situations and sees the floor well, knowing when to kick it and when to take it to the rim himself. He hit six 3-pointers in just three quarters last season against Poland and led the Wildcats to a Class B South title win over Medomak Valley. MacDonald finished his junior season averaging 21 rebounds, five rebounds, and two assists.
Akol Maiwen, Edward Little
Class of 2026, 6-3 guard
The two-way guard sits among the best 3-point shooters in the state, but also isn’t afraid to take it inside and make defenses work. He scored 16 points, including three triples, in Edward Little’s AA North final loss to Windham last season.
AJ Moody, Windham
Class of 2026, 6-2 guard
A Windham starter since the first game of his freshman season, Moody was named the MVP of the 2025 Summer Slam All-Star game, which featured many of the top players in Maine. He can cause chaos in the paint with his strong drive and is a noticeable presence on the defensive end.
Quinn Pelletier, Madawaska
Class of 2029, 6-6 forward
Pelletier averaged 25 points per game as an eighth grader last season and led his team to the Class C North final, where he scored 43 points and won the North regional MVP. Now a freshman, Pelletier will use his size and offensive abilities to make an even bigger splash.
