The most important part of the Maine high school basketball tournament, obviously, is team advancement. It’s the primary storyline in every single game played.

But it is often one player’s exceptional ability to impact a game that defines and delights over the 11 days of regional tournament games on the big courts at neutral-site venues in Augusta, Bangor and Portland.

This is Varsity Maine’s list of 15 players, culled from all five classes, who we believe will deliver the memorable combination of individual brilliance and team success in the boys basketball tournament.

Nolan Ames, Camden Hills senior guard/forward: Ames, a returning Varsity Maine All-State selection, impacts the game across the floor. He averaged 26.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.2 steals while leading Camden Hills (17-1) to the top seed in Class A North. A top candidate for Mr. Maine Basketball, he has made 56.1% of his shots.

Carter Brathwaite, Cony freshman guard: Maine is loaded with elite freshmen, and Brathwaite might be the best of them. The dynamic guard is averaging 20.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, 5.8 rebounds and 3.9 steals for the No. 1 seed in Class B North (16-2).

Owen Corrigan, Caribou senior guard: Corrigan missed the Vikings’ first seven games because of a hand injury, but since his return has been one of the best players in eastern and northern Maine. He’s averaging 22 points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals for a team chasing a second straight Gold Ball, this time in Class C.

Cai Dougher, Spruce Mountain senior forward: The Phoenix haven’t lost since Dougher (15 points and eight rebounds per game) returned to the lineup on Dec. 22 after missing the first five games. His length — he’s 6-foot-3 — and athleticism are game-changers for Spruce Mountain’s Class C-best defense (39.1 points per game).

Jack Fontaine, Maranacook junior guard: The Black Bears have an elite pair of young players in Fontaine and freshman Gage Mattson. Fontaine, who is averaging 16.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists, is the floor general as Maranacook rides a seven-game winning streak into the C South tourney.

Dylan Gendron, Sanford senior guard: An all-around contributor for the No. 2 seed in Class A South (17-1). The 6-foot-2 Gendron is especially adept at beating his man off the dribble and finding space in the paint. He’s averaging a team-high 17.7 points to go along with 5.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.9 steals.

Tyrie James, Windham senior guard: At 5-foot-10, the Class A South Player of the Year isn’t the biggest guy on the court, but he’s usually the best. A three-year standout who already has won two Gold Balls, James led the league in scoring (21.2 points) and assists (4.4) and was named to the all-defense team. He averaged 30.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 4.3 steals over his final four games.

Darius Johnson, South Portland senior forward: The top rebounder in A South (11.2 per game), the 6-foot-5 Johnson has become an assertive offensive performer, averaging 18.0 points, usually with a forceful dunk or two, while playing tough defense for the third-seeded Red Riots (15-3).

Reece MacDonald, York senior forward: A three-level scorer, the 6-foot-2 MacDonald led the Wildcats (17-1) to the top seed in B South, as well as two wins against Class A contender Edward Little. He averaged 20.5 points and 6.3 rebounds — both team highs — along with 2.7 assists. 

Akol Maiwen, Edward Little senior guard: A skilled 6-foot-3 player who plays mostly on the perimeter on offense and then controls the defensive boards, Maiwen led the Red Eddies (14-4) to the second seed in A North, averaging 22.9 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 2.1 steals.

Brennan Mitchell, Mt. Abram junior center: An athletic big man who can run the floor, the 6-foot-4 Mitchell is averaging 24.0 points, 13.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists. He’s a defining player in the Class D ranks for a team looking to make it back-to-back state championships after last year’s Class C triumph.

Mason Nguyen, Medomak Valley senior guard: An athletic 6-foot-3 veteran, Nguyen led the Panthers (15-3) to the No. 2 seed in B South. He’s averaging 21.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.8 steals while making 39 of 97 (40.2 percent) 3-point attempts.

Quinn Pelletier, Madawaska freshman forward: Good luck finding a better player in the smaller classes than Pelletier, who turned heads in last year’s tourney as an eighth-grader for a team that’s historically been an also-ran. He’s averaging 18.0 points. 8.1 rebounds and 5.2 assists for the Owls (15-3).

Fisher Tewksbury, Valley senior forward: A five-year staple for the Cavaliers, Tewksbury (19.0 assists, 10.5 rebounds per game) is the program’s all-time leader in points (1,786) and rebounds (890). He will try to lead the No. 1 seed in Class S South to its eighth Gold Ball and first in 10 years, alongside fellow senior standout Harry Louis.

James Witham, Mount Desert Island junior guard: One of the elite talents that surfaces every several years in Hancock County, à la Chance Mercier and Taylor Schildroth, Witham is one of the state’s premier scorers (26.1 points per game) as well as a consistent rebounder (8.0 per game) for the Trojans (15-3).