Villanova commit
Emily Espostio heads the cast for Gorham after averaging 18.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 3.1 steals during her team's undefeated MPA Class AA run last season. The heralded 5-foot-10 senior guard/forward begins the 2016-17 season with 1,034 career points for the Rams.
Kristen Curley,
Kaylea Lundin and
Mackenzie Holmes are three other good ones for Gorham, with Holmes (14.7 ppg, 9.1 rpg) earning All-State honors as a freshman last spring.
See the MaxPreps Maine girls basketball computer rankings, presented by the Army National Guard
2. Greeley (Cumberland Center)Head coach: Joel Rogers
2015-16 record: 20-5
If Esposito is the state's marquee player at Gorham, then
Anna DeWolfe at Greely is Maine's superstar-in-waiting. The 5-6 sophomore shooting guard averaged over 20 points per game as a freshman in 2015-16 and has already received a dozen Division I offers; one offer came before she played her first high school game. Her skills have been compared to Cindy Blodgett, considered the best girls player in Maine high school history who later played in the WNBA. Senior
Moria Train is another shooter for the Rangers, who won a state title two years ago and reached the regional final last season.
See the MaxPreps Maine girls basketball stat leaders
3. Thornton Academy (Saco)Head coach: Eric Marston
2015-16 record: 11-9
Five-foot-7 senior guard and captain
Isabella Robinson leads a solid group of veterans who should be even better with the arrival of Westbrook All-State selection
Alyssa Aube, a 6-foot senior forward. Aube averaged 18 points per game, 5.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists at Westbrook as a junior in 2015-16.
See the MaxPreps Maine girls basketball photos4. South PortlandHead coach: Lynne Hasson
2015-16 record: 17-4
South Portland reached the MPA's first Class AA regional final a year ago before falling to eventual state champ Gorham. Senior All-State player and Bowdoin College recruit Maddie Hasson went out in style with 15 points and 18 rebounds in her final game last March, but her mother, coach Lynne Hasson, has plenty of returning talent to work with in reloading the program
and making another run.
See the MaxPreps Maine girls basketball playoff brackets5. HoultonHead coach: Shawn Graham
2015-16 record: 21-1
Houlton has won back-to-back MPA small school playoff crowns, taking Class C two years ago and winning Class B last season. One common denominator has been first-team All-State junior forward
Kolleen Bouchard, who gained regional MVP honors in each of her first two seasons at Houlton. Bouchard averaged 20.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 4.0 blocked shots per game as a sophomore in 2015-16.
