Vermont Division 1 Players of the Year: Guards
Sad as it is, the winter season has come to a close, however, now we get to thoroughly honor and recognize the greatness of our student-athletes. This year’s guard list features a variety of underclassmen who’ve taken the state by storm, whether it be through buckets, high basketball IQ, or incredible leadership. Let’s get to it!
Elyse MacDonough, 5’8 PG – RMHS Class of ’24: Gatorade Player of the Year/Dream Dozen
Sophomore point guard Elyse MacDonough led Rice to their first state championship in a decade with her on-court leadership, offensive genius and high basketball IQ. She plays with great poise and never seems to get rattled, regardless of if it’s a close game or the state finals. Elyse’s offensive instincts are a step above many other guards in the state, as she has a great sense of tempo, space, and time. Her range reaches a few feet behind the arc, her dribble drive can go left or right, and she has great interior passing as well as a keen sense of where spot-up shooters are. Defensively, she’s got great senses and rotates well off-ball. Moreover, she’s gritty and is willing to dig in with pressure or track down loose balls. She averaged 15.2 points, 3.4 assists and 1.4 steals a game, and capped it off with a championship ring.
Cassie Beste, 5’6 G – RMHS Class of ’24
Beste could very well be the primary ballhandler on any team in the state, but when you have the Gatorade Player of the Year next to you, sometimes you’ve got to adjust. Cassie has done just that. She starts at the two-guard for the D1 State Champs and has been a consistent bucket, lock-down defender and hustle player all year for this well-rounded Rice team. She’s got range with her sweet lefty stroke that goes a few steps behind the arc, but she doesn’t force anything. Cassie plays within Rice’s offense and creates scoring opportunities when appropriate. She’s a savvy slasher who can finish with both hands, a strong passer, and an all-around team player. She hustles hard for loose balls and is an incredibly good rebounder for her size. Beste’s basketball IQ, impressive offensive skill set, and hustle puts her in the conversation for best player in the state, period.
Paige Winter, 5’6 PG – EHS Class of ’22
Paige is a heady point guard who drives Essex’s offensive output. While she may be the #1 scoring option, she doesn’t play outside of herself. Winter can fill it up in an instant with three balls and drives to the rack, and once she does so and the defense collapses, she’s adept at getting teammates involved. Her passing is next level, and she can see openings develop moments before they’re available. Her footwork is fantastic on both sides of the ball, and she digs in defensively. Paige is EHS’ senior leader, vocally and emotionally. Furthermore, her all-out effort on the court allows her teammates to trust her no matter what. Paige and EHS played a solid semifinal game against the eventual champs at Patrick Gymnasium.
Jada Diamond, 5’6 PG – MMU Class of ’22
Senior PG Jada Diamond was instrumental in MMU’s deep playoff run. Diamond is a feisty defender whose quickness allows her to get up into ballhandlers without giving up a step. She has great defensive instincts off-ball as well and can snatch a pass out of nowhere with her agility and jumping ability. Offensively, Jada controlled the tempo for MMU, getting them into sets or pushing the pace in transition. Diamond is a solid rebounder too, and she can burst out of the pack in just one or two strides. Her hard work on both ends of the court creates serious buy-in with fellow teammates; they see how hard she plays, and others follow suit. Filling Jada’s shoes will be a tough job for whomever steps into that role next year.
Shelby Companion, 5’8 G – CVU Class of ’23, Dream Dozen
Companion is a hard-nosed combo guard who can do a little of everything. She rebounds well and is adept at getting out in transition for scoring opportunities, whether it’s going coast-to-coast or hitting a teammate for the easy two. In the halfcourt, she’s comfortable getting CVU into their sets or playing off-ball. Shelby has great vision and a keen sense of when passing windows will open up; I’ve seen her slow her movement down and shift her eyes to manipulate the defense, then quickly send a bullet pass to a teammate on the opposite block. Moreover, she finishes well inside, and when it’s not there, you better believe she’s finagling a little drop pass to the post. Shelby was awarded a spot on Vermont’s Dream Dozen, and I expect Companion will have the green light next season as CVU’s senior leader.
Karsyn Bellomo, 5’7 G – RHS Class of ’23, Dream Dozen
Bellomo can flat-out hoop, anyone who’s seen her play knows that. Karsyn plays incredibly hard on both ends of the floor and her wind is impeccable considering she plays nearly the entire 32 minutes. Her offensive package is scary good; she’s got finishes with either hand, floaters from 10 feet out, and a jumper out to three-point land. Bellomo’s got great quickness and athleticism, which pairs nicely with her killer crossover; she seems to get to her spot whenever she likes. Defensively, she can dig in against any guard and plays with no fear. Her grit and leadership put Rutland on the brink of a final four appearance. Deservingly so, Karsyn got a spot on VT’s Dream Dozen and is the best guard in the state south of Burlington.
Bree McDonald, 5’6 G – BHS Class of ’25
Young Bree McDonald is one of those players who’s poise and basketball IQ leads you to believe they’re a senior, maybe a junior. But no, Bree’s wrapped up her freshman year by leading #9 seed BHS to an upset playoff win before losing to the eventual champs. McDonald’s tight handle allows her to remain calm under pressure, and it settles her fellow freshman teammates as well. She’s got a great sense of tempo too, she is capable of getting to the rack often but tempers that impulse when the numbers aren’t there, or when BHS ought to slow it down. A natural floor general with plenty of time to sharpen her skills, Bree is an exciting player to watch.