Imagine being able to put together a team comprised of the best players in the state.

You’d look for players with height, athleticism, and speed.

You’d want a mobile, versatile center who never met a rebound he didn’t like; two big, athletic forwards who can play solid defense and aren’t afraid to mix it up inside; and a pair of do-everything, lightning-quick “bookend” guards with the ability to handle the ball against pressure, nail the outside shot, and turn a game around with their defensive ability.

Sounds just like the Bangor Daily News’ 40th All-Maine high school boys basketball first team.

The 1995 edition of the NEWS Dream Team features three familiar faces and two rookie members.

Repeat first-teamers T.J. Caouette of Winthrop, Josh Nash from Medomak Valley of Waldoboro, and Chris Funk of Caribou join first-time members Matt Kinney of Bangor and Corey Zimmerman from Cape Elizabeth.

The All-Maine team honors the state’s 15 best players, regardless of position or class. The choices were made by the NEWS sports staff with input from high school and college coaches, sports media personnel, and other veteran hoop observers in the state.

Members of the Second Team are Camden-Rockport’s Dale Landrith, Bangor’s Danny Dahl, Thomas Jamo from Schenck of East Millinocket, Doug Sanborn from Bonny Eagle of West Buxton, and Hodgdon’s Sam Henderson.

The Third Team honorees are Jared Rivers of Skowhegan, Ryan Martin from Fort Kent, Bonny Eagle’s Darby Kopp, Sanford’s Pat Gallagher, and Tim Manchester from Machias.

First Team

Nash and Caouette have become All-Maine team fixtures as both also made the third team two years ago.

Nash’s basketball resume is impressive. The 6-foot-4 senior swingman smashed the Panthers’ career scoring record with 1,797 points, was Mr. Maine Basketball, Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference player of the year, and a KVAC all-defensive team member.

Nash averaged 25.5 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks, three assists, and two steals a game while leading Medomak to the Eastern Maine semis for the second straight year.

His accomplishments are more impressive given that he always defended the opposing team’s best offensive player and was always double- or triple-teamed.

“Josh has the best all-around game, by far, of any player I’ve had,” said Medomak coach Scott Graffam. “I can’t laud him enough. On top of that, he’s a top-five student. The kid is just the salt of the earth.”

Nash will take his game to the University of Maine on a full basketball scholarship. He plans to study biology or biochemistry.

Caouette burst onto the Maine schoolboy basketball scene as the only freshman to make the All-Maine team in 1993 and has done nothing but improve since.

“He wants to be the best athlete he possibly can,” said Winthrop coach Dave Poulin. “He works hard, has tremendous athleticism, and his strength is impressive.”

The 6-7 junior moved from center to forward this year because Poulin wanted to take advantage of his exceptional quickness.

Caouette averaged 34.6 points, 14.6 rebounds, an extremely impressive 6.3 steals, 3.5 assists, and 2.4 blocks per game.

“His steal numbers show how quick he is,” Poulin said. “I think he and (Maine Central Institute prep star) Andy Bedard are the two best players I’ve ever seen in Maine high school basketball.”

Funk, another quick big man, kept his spot on the first team after averaging 24 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, three blocks, and 2.5 steals in his senior season.

“He’s the most complete player I’ve seen in my seven years of coaching, as far as being able to do everything,” said Caribou coach Jeff Holmes. “The kid came to play every day and always rose to the top in big games.”

The 6-5 forward-center was Big East player of the year the last two years, a member of the All-USA Today Maine team last season, and a Mr. Maine Basketball finalist. He shot 58 percent from the field and 70 percent from the line in his career.

“He really matured this year,” Holmes said. “And even though he was always double- and triple-teamed, he didn’t let it bother him. His athleticism is impressive.”

The 6-7 junior moved from center to forward this year because Poulin wanted to take advantage of his exceptional quickness.

Caouette averaged 34.6 points, 14.6 rebounds, an extremely impressive 6.3 steals, 3.5 assists, and 2.4 blocks per game.

“His steal numbers show how quick he is,” Poulin said. “I think he and (Maine Central Institute prep star) Andy Bedard are the two best players I’ve ever seen in Maine high school basketball.”

Funk, another quick big man, kept his spot on the first team after averaging 24 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, three blocks, and 2.5 steals in his senior season.

“He’s the most complete player I’ve seen in my seven years of coaching, as far as being able to do everything,” said Caribou coach Jeff Holmes. “The kid came to play every day and always rose to the top in big games.”

The 6-5 forward-center was Big East player of the year the last two years, a member of the All-USA Today Maine team last season, and a Mr. Maine Basketball finalist. He shot 58 percent from the field and 70 percent from the line in his career.

“He really matured this year,” Holmes said. “And even though he was always double- and triple-teamed, he didn’t let it bother him. His athleticism is impressive.”

Kinney led the Rams to their second state title in three seasons his senior year.

The 6-4 forward peaked during the posteason – averaging 17.7 points and 7.3 rebounds in the EM tourney and totalling 13 points and seven boards in the state final.

“He probably exceeded my expectations,” said Bangor coach Roger Reed. “He went from being interested only in being a 3-point shooter to doing everything well.”

“He always came up with the big shot when we needed it,” added Reed. “He believed he could score whenever we needed him to.”

Kinney has accepted a full baseball scholarship from the University of Maine.

Zimmerman scorched opponents from the floor and added 4.6 assists and 3.4 steals per game before an overtime loss in the Class B Western quarterfinals ended the Capers’ season.

“He’s the finest player who’s ever played for me,” said coach Jim Ray. “He handles it (the ball) well, and gets where he wants when he wants. He fakes as well as anyone…. He got shots off over guys that were 6 inches taller or more (than him).”

The 5-8 senior point guard and honor student is undecided on a college choice, but would like to continue playing wherever he goes.

“He really had to take on an important role for us this year, because he was never asked to score before this season,” Ray added.

The result? He was held under 20 points only three times this year despite having almost every conceivable defense thrown at him, said Ray.

Second Team

In addition to his scoring and rebounding, Landrith averaged 4.5 blocks and three assists per game.

“He’s a great role model for the kids down here,” said Windjammers coach Jeff Hart. “He has tremendous character and his work ethic is his greatest strength.”

The 6-8 center’s work paid off in the form of numerous honors, awards, and a basketball scholarship to the University of Hartford.

“His best basketball is still ahead of him. He can do so many things,” Hart said.

Henderson was a big cog in the Hodgdon Class C state championship machine.

“His intensity and work habits set him apart,” said Jason Tarr, Hodgdon coach. “And he’s got the complete package offensively.”

The 6-3 forward’s versatility was also key. His ballhandling ability allowed him to play point and shooting guard as well.

Dahl was Bangor’s primary ballhandler and defensive leader.

“Danny went from being expected to carry the offensive load (at Houlton) to being asked to distribute the ball more,” said Reed. “He really matured this year and really improved his total game.”

The 6-3 senior point guard, who also averaged 3.5 assists and 3.0 steals per game, will study business and play ball at Bryant College on a full scholarship.

Jamo led his Wolverines to the EM semifinals, and Schenck coach Steve LeVasseur says his point guard’s greatest assets are his desire and willingness to work hard.

The 6-0 junior also averaged 5.2 assists and 2.6 steals per game.

“He’s by far our best ballhandler,” said LeVasseur. “It’s like having an extra weapon. He’s two guards in one, a shooting guard and a point guard.”

A finalist for Mr. Maine Basketball, Sanborn shot 79 percent from the foul line and 48 percent from the field to help lead the Scots to the Class A state final.

“He’s 6-4, but plays well on the perimeter,” said Scots coach Paul Piscopo. “And he’s even more effective with his back to the basket. That’s what makes him special.”

Third Team

Rivers already enjoyed a solid season, but it will be the 6-3 senior guard’s play in Skowhegan’s EM quarterfinal game that many will remember – 27 points, many of which came on acrobatic, twisting and turning drives to the lane.

Although he stands 6-6, the Phillips-Exeter-bound Gallagher was forced to play on the perimeter a lot due to a lack of quality guards. Despite the radical move to outside shooter, he adapted well, shooting 38 percent from the 3-point arc.

Despite a height of 6 feet, Martin played like a 7-footer – routinely slam-dunking the ball. The junior point guard shot a stellar 49 percent beyond the 3-point line and 53 percent from the field in leading Fort Kent to the EM tourney.

Manchester was a major factor in Machias’s drive to two big postseason upsets and the Class D gold ball. The 6-2 forward shot 72 percent from the line and 50 percent from the floor, and averaged 5.7 assists per game. He plans to study engineering in college.

Senior shooting guard Kopp was a main ingredient in Bonny Eagle’s Western Maine championship season. The 6-2, 1,000-point scorer also shot 71.2 percent from the line. He will attend Swarthmore College this fall. 1995 All-Maine Schoolboy Basketball Team

FIRST TEAM

Name School Class Ht. PPG RPG

Josh Nash Medomak Valley Senior 6-4 25.5 10.0 T.J. Caouette Winthrop Junior 6-7 34.6 14.6 Chris Funk Caribou Senior 6-5 24.0 12.0 Matt Kinney Bangor Senior 6-4 18.7 4.5 Corey Zimmerman Cape Elizabeth Senior 5-8 28.6 3.8

SECOND TEAM

Name School Class Ht. PPG RPG

Dale Landrith Camden-Rockport Senior 6-8 20.4 15.8 Sam Henderson Hodgdon Junior 6-3 19.5 8.5 Danny Dahl Bangor Senior 6-4 14.0 4.5 Thomas Jamo Schenck Junior 6-0 23.3 4.5 Doug Sanborn Bonny Eagle Senior 6-4 14.9 6.0

THIRD TEAM

Name School Class Ht. PPG RPG

Jared Rivers Skowhegan Senior 6-3 15.0 6.4 Pat Gallagher Sanford Senior 6-6 20.5 13.4 Ryan Martin Fort Kent Junior 6-0 21.0 7.5 Darby Kopp Bonny Eagle Senior 6-2 16.3 3.2 Tim Manchester Machias Senior 6-2 15.7 5.7

HONORABLE MENTION: Tim Brewer, Central Aroostook, Sr.; Matt Casavant, Presque Isle, Sr.; Rob Cooper, Sanford, Sr.; Marc Corliss, Mount Desert Island, junior; Chris Fitzpatrick, Greely, Sr.; Ryan Fortier, Mt. Blue, Jr.; Sean Foye, Marshwood, Sr.; Jody Grant, Nokomis, Sr.; Kregg Jarvais, Skowhegan, Sr.; Tyler Lakin, Traip, Sr.; Tom McLellan, Presque Isle, Sr.; Brad Olson, Dexter, Jr.; Perry Rogers, Hyde, Sr.; Jared Seavey, Brewer, Sr.; Lance Sherman, Valley-Bingham, Sr.; Adam Sterrs, Boothbay, Jr.; Shawn Stetson, Thornton, Sr.; Matt Townsend, Central Aroostook, Jr.; Scott Wiercinski, Brunswick, Sr.