802 Groove: Highlights – VT Preseason Second Team
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Get a taste of my second five, a group who can really put the ball in the hoop! Bree McDonald Bree McDonald 5'6" | PG Burlington | 2025 State New E , 5’6 G – Burlington High School Class of…
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Continue ReadingGet a taste of my second five, a group who can really put the ball in the hoop!
Bree McDonald Bree McDonald 5'6" | PG Burlington | 2025 State New E , 5’6 G – Burlington High School Class of 2025
Bree got into a groove leading BHS’ varsity squad at the PG last year, as a ninth grader, and has only gotten sharper. McDonald is a certified three-level scorer. Highly capable of knocking down jumpers from deep and in the mid-range either off the bounce or the catch. Moreover, she’s super-efficient when she gets in the paint. Her playmaking is still coming along, yet she has the passing ability and vision to set teammates up with easy to convert looks. Defensively, Bree uses her quickness to stick to ballhandlers. You can write in an on-ball rip or two per game for transition buckets. McDonald is a tough PG who can really dominate a game.
Hayden Wilkins, 5’8 G – St. Johnsbury Academy Class of 2024
A heady combo-guard, Hayden is a dynamic plug and play type who can fit into most molds. Wilkins can run the point with her crafty playmaking and scoring abilities, balancing both well to keep teammates involved and defenders honest. Yet she’s not inherently ball dominant and moves well off the rock. Hayden relocates well for knockdown looks for three when the defense collapses on drivers, or she’ll sneak in on the backside for an easy layup as they rotate into help positions. There are times when Wilkins is in a groove and could call her own number more, which goes to show how unselfish her game is. Defensively gritty and anticipatory, Hayden locks in on ballhandlers and plays passing lanes well. All in all, Hayden is a well-rounded combo guard.
Atika Haji, 5’10 G/W – Rice Memorial High School Class of 2025
With her impressive length, athleticism, and skill set, Haji is a hooper with tremendous upside. Atika has the ability to be a lock down perimeter defender with her length and agility, bothering ballhandlers and shooters with her active hands and agility. Furthermore, she’s a solid rebounder, rising up for rebounds and immediately looking for outlets. Or Atika will run her own lane to push the ball. In transition, Haji drives hard to the rim, taking on contact and finishing with poise. She can also pull-up for short range jumpers on the break, an incredibly tough shot to guard. Lastly, in the halfcourt, Atika is a crisp shooter from three, especially off the catch. And she has the skills to create looks for herself and others when necessary. Haji is already a tough player, however she has a few more gears she’s yet to tap into. Scary!
Cora Nadeau Cora Nadeau 5'9" | SG North Country | 2023 State New E , 5’11 W – North Country High School Class of 2023
At 5’11 with a strong frame, Cora is a dynamic hooper for North Country. Nadeau has inside out game, capable of doing damage in the post on smaller guards or on the perimeter with her increasingly crisp handle and shooting stroke. In NC’s scrimmage against St. J the other day, Cora was in a groove, knocking down numerous pull-up jumpers in isolation, a number of them from three, and she coupled those with a balanced attack to the rim. Moreover, Nadeau is a solid rebounder with that strong frame and is a quick outlet. Plus, she’s a coast-to-coast threat herself, sparking fastbreak opportunities often and finishing looks in transition at a high clip. Cora can defend 2-4, relishing both sides of the ball as a tough two-way player. I’m excited to watch what she does this winter.
Allison Fullem, 6’1 F – Mount Mansfield Union High School Class of 2023
Alli is your prototypical modern forward. Fullem has a nice catch-and-shoot stroke from three, pulling forwards out from the paint. Moreover, her mobility allows her team run dynamic offensive sets where we see her range from the post and short corner to the wing and top of the key. In all of these spots, Alli poses an offensive threat both as a shooter and passer. In addition, Alli is a nice ball screening forward, as she rolls hard to the rim for lays and harbors nice pick-and-pop ability for mid-range jumpers. Defensively tough, Alli hustles hard by taking charges, boxing out bodies, recovering 50/50 balls, and owning the paint. Fullem’s toughness on both sides of the ball and her shooting make her a tough matchup for opposing forwards.