After conversations, texts and email messages with media colleagues, coaches and athletic directors throughout Vermont, below is our list of the state’s top returning high school girls basketball players.
The 2023-24 campaign kicks off Friday night and the regular season wraps no later than Feb. 24. Tournament play is slated to start Feb. 27, with championship tilts scheduled for early March at Barre Auditorium (D-II, D-III, D-IV) and the University of Vermont (D-I). The Vermont Principals’ Association winter guides for all sports can be found on the VPA’s website.
(Editor’s note: Watch lists for girls hockey, boys hockey and boys basketball to follow).
The ’23-24 girls basketball watchlist
(Note: Players listed in alphabetical order)
Kaia Anderson
► School: St. Johnsbury
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Forward
► 2022-23 season: Landed on the Metro Division honorable-mention squad for the Division I state finalists.
Jordan Alley
► School: Blue Mountain
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Forward
► 2022-23 season: The Mountain Division first-team honoree averaged 14.3 points, 12.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.8 steals a game for the Bucks, who reached the Division IV title game.
Samara Ashooh
► School: Champlain Valley
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Forward
► 2022-23 season: Averaged 3.5 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks a game for the Division I state champions.
Maya Auger
► School: North Country
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: Landed on the honorable-mention team for the Lake Division after averaging 8.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 2.3 steals a game for the undefeated Division II champion Falcons.
Aubrey Beaulieu
► School: West Rutland
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: Made the SVL ‘C’ Division honorable-mention squad after helping West Rutland claim the second of back-to-back Division IV titles.
Elise Berger
► School: Champlain Valley
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: The 5-foot-11 point guard made the BFP all-state second team after averaging 7.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.0 steals in 21.1 minutes per game, helping CVU reclaim the Division I crown.
Lily Briggs
► School: Fair Haven
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: Averaged 9.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 3.1 steals a game to earn a spot on first team in the SVL ‘B’ Division.
Brianna Brownell
► School: Mount Mansfield
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Forward
► 2022-23 season: Averaged 10 points and 8.3 rebounds a game to garner a spot on the Metro Division honorable-mention team.
Sabine Brueck
► School: North Country
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: The Free Press’ reigning girls athlete of the year was named to the BFP all-state first team and selected as Vermont’s Gatorade player of the year after leading the Falcons to the Division II title. She averaged 16.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 4.2 steals and 1.0 blocks a game while shooting 49% from the floor.
Marlie Bushey
► School: Milton
► Class year: Sophomore
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: The Mountain Division rookie of the year averaged 15.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 3.9 steals and 2.7 blocks a game. Bushey was also a Dream Dozen selection in D-I, II.
Addie Cadwell
► School: Thetford
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: A BFP all-state honorable-mention selection and second-team pick in the Capital Division.
Kelli Cieplicki
► School: Rice Memorial
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Forward
► 2022-23 season: The BFP all-state first-team honoree averaged 12.5 points, 9.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.4 blocks per game.
Isabelle Cole
► School: Fair Haven
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: Shot 45% from the floor to average 9.8 points a game, to go with 4.1 rpg and 1.0 spg. Landed on the honorable-mention list for SVL ‘B’ Division.
Ruby Dasaro
► School: BFA-St. Albans
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: Landed on the BFP all-state honorable-mention squad.
Caitlyn Davison
► School: Hazen
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: The Mountain Division player of the year averaged 21.0 points, 11.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 6.1 steals per game for the Wildcats, who reached the Division III semifinals.
Sierra Derby
► School: Richford
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Forward
► 2022-23 season: A first-team selection out of the Mountain Division.
Kyrielle Deuso
► School: Richford
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: Named to the second team in the Mountain Division and picked for the Dream Dozen for Division III, IV.
Tanner Drury
► School: White River Valley
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: Selected to the Dream Dozen for Division III-IV and earned a spot on the SVL ‘C’ Division first team.
Jasmine Evans
► School: Rutland
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Forward
► 2022-23 season: Averaged 7.6 points and 11.0 rebounds a game to make the honorable-mention squad for the SVL ‘A’ Division. Evans also established a new Patrick Gym D-I tournament single-game record for rebounds (26) in Rutland’s semifinal loss.
Isabel Greb
► School: Proctor
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: Made first team in the SVL ‘A’ Division as well as a Dream Dozen pick for Division III, IV.
Peyton Guay
► School: West Rutland
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: Averaged 26.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 5.2 steals a game to lead undefeated West Rutland to a second straight Division IV crown and make the BFP all-state second team. Also the coaches’ player of the year, Guay has returned from an ACL injury suffered this past spring to be cleared to play this winter, according to the Rutland Herald.
Kate Hadwen
► School: Fair Haven
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: Selected to the honorable-mention squad for the SVL ‘B’ Division after averaging 7.3 points, 1.2 assists and 1.1 steals a game.
Atika Haji
► School: Burlington
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Guard/forward
► 2022-23 season: Played at Rice and was a starter for the defending champions.
Sidney Herrington
► School: Arlington
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Forward
► 2022-23 season: The multi-sport athlete earned a spot on first team in the SVL ‘D’ Division and a Dream Dozen selection for Division III, IV.
Merrill Jacobs
► School: Champlain Valley
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: Averaged 5.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.0 steals a game for the Division I state champions.
Charlotte Jasmin
► School: Hartford
► Class year: Sophomore
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: As a freshman, Jasmin made the honorable mention list for the SVL ‘A” Division and landed on the Dream Dozen squad for Division I, II.
Laura Kamel
► School: Bellows Falls
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Forward
► 2022-23 season: An honorable-mention selection out of the SVL ‘C’ Division.
Cassidy Kittredge
► School: St. Johnsbury
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: Made the honorable-mention team for the Metro Division for the Division I runners-up.
Eloise Lilley
► School: Harwood
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: Also a soccer standout, Lilley averaged 11 points a game.
Bree McDonald
► School: Burlington
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: The lone sophomore to make the Metro Division first team. Also made Dream Dozen for Division I, II, as well as honorable mention for BFP all-state.
Nylah Mitchell
► School: Burlington
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Forward
► 2022-23 season: A Dream Dozen pick for Division I, II who also earned a spot on second team in the Metro Division and snagged honorable mentions for BFP all-state.
Breya Montague
► School: Essex
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: Helped Essex reach the Division I Final Four by averaging 14.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 4.0 steals a game. Landed on the BFP all-state honorable-mention team and Metro Division first team.
Anna Moser
► School: Rutland
► Class year: Sophomore
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: Averaged 11.6 points and 1.5 steals a game to make first team for SVL ‘A’ Division. Also landed on BFP all-state honorable mention and Dream Dozen for Division I, II.
Kyra Nelson
► School: St. Johnsbury
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Forward
► 2022-23 season: Played at Blue Mountain, where Nelson earned a spot on first team for the Mountain Division.
Quinn Nelson
► School: Harwood
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Forward
► 2022-23 season: A first-team pick out of the Capital Division who averaged 10.0 points and 11.0 rebounds a game.
Nicole Norton
► School: Colchester
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: Landed on second team for the Lake Division.
Sydney Perry
► School: Windsor
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Forward
► 2022-23 season: Selected to the BFP all-state second team after averaging 15.9 points, 14.5 rebounds, 2.1 steals and 2.4 blocks a game for the Yellow Jackets, who repeated in Division III.
Evie Pirie
► School: Lamoille
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: A Dream Dozen selection for Division I, II.
Alexa Rabidoux
► School: Essex
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: An honorable-mention selection for the Metro Division who averaged 10 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 3.0 steals a game.
Brooke’lyn Robinson
► School: Lyndon
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: The Capital Division first-team pick averaged 20.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.8 steals a game. Also made the Dream Dozen for Division I, II, and earned spot on BFP all-state honorable mention list.
Sophia Rockwood
► School: Windsor
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: Averaged 15.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.6 steals a game for the Division III champion Yellow Jackets. Also made SVL ‘B’ Division first team.
Audrey Rupp
► School: Windsor
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: Landed on SVL ‘B’ Division first team after averaging 11.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.9 steals a game.
Bella Schultz-Mitchell
► School: Mount Mansfield
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Forward
► 2022-23 season: Starter who averaged 5.0 points and 3.0 rebounds per game.
Macie Stagner
► School: Springfield
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: Averaged 21.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists a game to make SVL ‘A’ Division first team. Also made Dream Dozen for Division I, II, and honorable mention for BFP all-state. Sits 172 points shy of 1,000 for career.
Meghan Thompson
► School: Mount Mansfield
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: Played at Colchester, were she was a starter and outside sharpshooter.
Hayden Wilkins
► School: St. Johnsbury
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: The Metro Division player of the year and BFP all-state first-teamer averaged 13.0 points, 3 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game for the Division I finalists.
Bianca Williams
► School: Essex
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Forward
► 2022-23 season: A second-team Metro Division selection who averaged 12.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.0 blocks a game. Also made BFP all-state honorable mention list.
Kennah Wright-Chapman
► School: West Rutland
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: Selected to the honorable-mention squad for SVL ‘D’ Division.
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Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter: @aabrami5.