Max Good doesn’t do a lot of bragging. When he does, it’s probably wise to listen to what the sixth-year coach of the Maine Central Institute postgraduate basketball team has to say.

“This is the most talented team we’ve ever had, and we’ve had some good teams,” said Good before leading the 17 members of the 1994-95 MCI team onto the floor for Monday’s third official practice of the new season.

That “Ouch” you heard was the response of the eastern prep hoop opposition. Most talented MCI team ever? Better than the 27-0 New England champs of ’91? Better than the NE champs of ’93?

“It could be. They just have to prove it on the court,” said Good whose team begins a series of in-state scrimmages Thursday in South Portland against the St. Joseph’s College varsity from Standish at 7 p.m.

Good bases his optimistic assessment on what he calls “the best post players ever in this state’s history.”

Start with Luther Clay, the Parade All-American, top five national Division I prospect from Oberlin, Ohio. Clay is a 6-foot-8 high school senior who averaged 17.3 points, 11.6 rebounds and 5.1 blocks last season for MCI. He is reportedly leaning toward signing with Purdue University on Wednesday, the start of the NCAA early signing period.

Joining Clay up front are 6-6 postgrad Llewellyn Cole of New York City; 6-9 high school senior Isiah Epps of Kingstree, S.C.; and 6-8 postgrad Miles Tarver of Oakland, Calif. Cole will likely attend Providence College next year.

“They’re going to make us awfully strong inside,” is how Good assessed the foursome.

When opponents pack it in inside to stop any of these post masters, MCI will look for some backcourt offense from the following:

Andy Bedard, the 6-1 All-Maine high school senior from Rumford who transferred from Mountain Valley High; Kellii Taylor, a 6-foot postgraduate guard out of Silver Spring, Md., who appears headed to the University of Pittsburgh; Tony Avezzano, a 6-2 postgrad from Dallas, Texas; and Len Brown, a 6-3 senior from Wilmington, Del.

Also expected to contribute from either the frontcourt or backcourt will be 6-4 sophomore Rahim Johnson of New York City and 6-3 sophomore Shawn Smith of Springfield, Mass.

Following Thursday’s scrimmage, MCI will take on Westbrook College’s varsity next Tuesday at the Augusta Civic Center. The final scrimmage before the regular season will be at Husson College on Dec. 16.