Each year since 2006, MaxPreps has recognized outstanding performers in
high school basketball. America's source for high school sports
continues the tradition to close out the 2022-23 season by naming the
top player in each state. Selections are based on team success and
individual excellence in addition to local and state accolades.
Silvano Ismail of
Cheverus (Portland) is the 2022-23 MaxPreps Maine High School Basketball Player of the Year. The 6-foot senior point guard led the Stags to a 14-6 record and the Class AA regional semifinals.
Ismail averaged 25.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.3 steals per game this season. He scored a season-high 37 points in a 66-58 loss to Lewiston in December, one of six 30-point games this winter.
Cooper Flagg of
Nokomis (Newport) was the 2021-22 MaxPreps Maine Player of the Year, becoming the first freshman in any state to earn MaxPreps POY honors. Now a sophomore at Montverde Academy in Florida, Flagg averaged 20.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 3.7 steals and 3.7 blocked shots per game last season to lead the Warriors to the Class A state title.
Each state's MaxPreps Player of the Year will be considered for
inclusion in the MaxPreps All-America Team, which will be released in
April. Past selections include 2023 NBA All-Stars Bam Adebayo (2016),
Jaylen Brown (2015), DeMar DeRozan (2008), Kevin Durant (2006), Anthony
Edwards (2019), De'Aaron Fox (2016), Jrue Holiday (2008), Jaren Jackson
(2017), Kyrie Irving (2010), Julius Randle (2013), Jayson Tatum (2016)
and Zion Williamson (2018).
