The ones to watch – Boys

WRITTEN BY MATT JUNKER

The North region promises to provide another exciting season of quality basketball. And a talented crop of stars — both established veterans and emerging underclassmen — will be at the center of the action. 

There will be no shortage of impressive players hitting the court across the North and across the five classes that exist now after a statewide reclassification process. A list of 10 players just scratches the surface of that regional pool of talent, but among that deep bench of stars, there is certainly a group shining bright as the season gets underway. 

Here are the players who look most likely to hold court this season as basketball kings in the North. 

LANDEN BELANGER

Senior, Forward, Caribou

The Caribou Vikings head into the season as returning champions, and senior Landen Belanger is among the reasons why. The forward played an important role for the Vikings in their Class B championship run a year ago, flashing his clutch shotmaking abilities at a critical moment in the regional championship game. Belanger drained the winning free-throw with .5 second left to play in that contest, ushering Caribou through to the final round. Belanger and teammate Owen Corrgian will need to step into more primary roles for the Vikings as they take their game to Class C this year.

OLI HIGGINS

Sophomore, Forward, Brewer

There may be no player in the North with more individual hype and upside heading into the season than Higgins, and for good reason. Higgins is now over six-foot-eight and was already dominating the paint for the Witches as a freshman. “He’s gotten physically stronger, he’s expanded his game a little bit, so he’s gonna be able to make perimeter shots,” said Brewer coach Carl Parker. And opposing coaches are already marveling at Higgins’ ability. “He’s so good,” Ellsworth coach Matt Mattson said about Higgins. 

NOLAN AMES

Senior, Shooting Guard, Camden Hills

On last year’s Bangor Daily News All-Maine team, there was only one player on the first and second teams who wasn’t a senior. That was Ames, the prolific scorer and facilitator for the Camden Hills Windjammer squad that made it to the regional semifinals a year ago. Ames averaged more than 22 points and nine rebounds last season, and already has 1,000 career points under his belt. “He’s one of those players that you’re gonna want to go watch, that’s for sure,” Camden Hills coach Joel Gabriele said at the end of last year’s campaign. 

PARKER MORIN

Senior, Guard, Cony

The Cony football quarterback will step into a different role this winter leading the Rams on the court. Morin, an All-Maine team honorable mention a year ago, averaged 18 points and more than six rebounds per game in his junior season. He and the high-powered Cony offense will be moving from Class A to B this year as well, and look like an early Class B North favorite.

ADEN JEFFERS

Junior, Guard, Fort Kent

Count Jeffers among the talented junior class that stands on the precipice of even greater things. As a sophomore, he routinely demonstrated an ability to put up big numbers for Fort Kent, using a 31-point performance to help upset Hodgdon in the postseason tournament last year. He made games in the 30s and even 40s seem almost commonplace a year ago, and seemingly setting the stage for even bigger things this season.

ANDREW OLIVER

Senior Forward, Mattanawcook Academy

Oliver was a central piece for the Class C North champs Mattanawcook last season, employing a sometimes understated but often deadly ability to score the basketball. “He’s not your prototypical post player. He can light it up from the outside pretty good,” coach Adam Mahaney said about Oliver last year. “He also blocks shots and can find the open man with his passes.” The Lynx have some new company in Class C this year with powerhouses Caribou and Orono jumping down from Class B, and Oliver looms large as an important part of Mattanawcook’s title defense.

BRAYDEN OSBORNE

Senior, Guard, Schenck

Osborne returns to the Schenck lineup with a regional title in hand, having helped lead the Wolverines from East Millinocket to their Class D North Championship win a year ago. But with Class D North tournament MVP Owen Wyman lost to graduation, Osborne will likely need to fully take the reins for the Wolverines in a stacked regional division.

QUINN PELLETIER

Freshman, Forward, Madawaska

Pelletier was one of the best players in the high school basketball tournament last year, and he wasn’t even in high school yet. As the first eight grader to ever win an MVP award in the BDN’s all-tournament voting, Pelletier went on to gain national attention for his 43-point performance in Madawaska’s regional final loss to Mattanawcook. He and the Owls will be back this year and are surely looking to take Class D by storm after the reclassification.  

RAJON REED

Junior, Guard, Bangor Christian

Last season, Reed was a sophomore sensation for the Bangor Christian Patriots. Expect more of the same from an older and potentially hungrier Reed after his team fell to Schenck in the regional semifinals last season. The Patriots won the state title the year before in his freshman season. At 6-foot-3, Reed brings solid size and versatility to the Patriots back court, and helps make the Bangor Christian squad appear to be one of the teams to beat in Class D North.

JAMES WITHAM

Junior, Guard, Mount Desert Island 

Another All-Maine honorable mention from a year ago, junior guard Witham is poised to have a break-out year and establish himself as one of the best players in the state. The MDI star is a dynamic scorer that teams often have to design entire defensive schemes around, just trying to limit his offensive production because stopping it entirely isn’t an option.