He was the most heavily recruited player in the state before the season and the most heavily scrutinized player in the state during the season. Now, Dirigo’s Thomas Knight is officially the best player in the state.

Knight is the recipient of the 22nd Maine Mr. Basketball Award, presented Friday night at the Maine McDonald’s All-Star banquet at Husson College.

The 6-foot-9 senior center is the first Dirigo player to ever receive the award and the first player from a Class C school to be named Mr. Basketball since Mike Mastrapaolo of Falmouth in 1997.

Knight topped fellow finalists Mick DiStasio of Cheverus and Gordon Fischer of Camden Hills for the award.

“I was surprised. I truly didn’t think I was going to win,” Knight said. “The other guys I thought were more deserving.”

“It’s feels pretty good. It’s an honor to be in the top three, let alone to be named Mr. Basketball,” he added. “Everyone has been coming up to me and saying ‘Congratulations.'”

Knight has been the center of attention in Maine high school basketball since last summer. He impressed college coaches from all over the country as one of 150 players invited to the Reebok All-American Camp in Philadelphia, then at an AAU tournament in Orlando, where college recruiting Web Rivals.com listed him as one of the top surprises of the tournament. Schools such as Notre Dame, Seton Hall, Providence, Michigan and Maine put a full court press on Knight, who ultimately chose a full athletic scholarship from the Fighting Irish.

He led the Cougars to three straight Western Class C championship games his sophomore, junior and senior seasons, They broke through this year for their first regional title since 1983 before losing to Calais by one point in the state championship game. Knight shot 65.5 percent from the field while averaging 22.2 points and 11.2 rebounds per game for the Cougars. He was unanimously selected the Mountain Valley Conference’s player of the year and finished his career with 1,326 points, a school record.

Knight said he’d dreamed of winning Mr. Basketball since attending the banquet as a freshman, when his older sister, Holly, was a McDonald’s All-Star. He said he ranks this honor up there with the biggest highlights of his stellar career in Dixfield.

“It’s definitely one of the top ones,” he said.

Waterville’s Morgan Frame was named Miss Basketball. She averaged 21 points and 15 rebounds a game while leading the Purple Panthers to their second straight Class B state title. Frame beat out Diana Manduca of Deering Sloane Sorrell of Noble for the honor.

The Maine Association of Basketball Coaches presents the Mr. and Miss Basketball awards annually based on the player’s performance on the court, as well as their contribution to their team and basketball in the state of Maine.

Joshua Titus of Edward Little and Patrick Thibodeau of Greely were the first recipients of the Spirit of the Game Award, given to them by special guest Jason McElwain.

Titus and Thibodeau, both student managers, suited up for their respective teams at their final home games. Titus, who is autistic, scored nine points for the Red Eddies against Leavitt. He has been a member of the varsity cross county and indoor and outdoor track teams and has been named to the KVAC All-Academic Team. He is a member of the National Honor Society and was voted by his classmates to receive the “Most School Spirit Award” for three straight years. He plans to attend Central Maine Community College next fall.

Thibodeau, who has Downs Syndrome, made a pair of 3-pointers for Greely in its season finale. He has played Cumberland County basketball and participated in Special Olympics swimming and track and field events. He has been named to the honor roll and will graduate in the fall.

McElwain made national news two years ago when the coach of Greece Athena High School in Rochester, N.Y., added the autistic student manager to the roster to play the last game of the season.

The Spirit of the Game Award is a new award created this year to honor high school students who embody the spirit of the sport, exemplify sportsmanship, support and inspire their teammates and coaches and who show the ability to overcome obstacles and boundaries.

Titus and Thibodeau will serves as managers for the Class A/B East and A/B West squads, respectively, for Saturday’s Maine McDonald’s All-Star games. The action begins at 8:30 a.m. with the state foul shooting championship. The games begin at 9:15 a.m. with the boys’ C/D game, followed by the slam dunk competition. The boys’ A/B game taps off at 11 a.m., followed by the girls’ A/B game, then the girls’ 3-point shooting competition and the girls’ C/D game.

Admission is $7 for adults and $5 for students. Tickets are good for all events and may be purchased at the door. Net proceeds benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Maine.