Gamechangers: High Impact Northern VT Players Pt. 2/2

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Through mid-August I went through my top players in each class with my <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2023/08/august-company-pt-1-4-top-players-in-vts-class-of-2024/">August Company</a> series. Now I'm going through the state and finding those high impact players that didn't quite make those initial lists. Tap into some of VT's finest with the Gamechangers series!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='649631' first='Aaliyah' last='Wilburn'], 5'11 F - North Country Union H.S. Class of 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A smart forward who can distribute from around the post, Aaliyah brings a nice inside dynamic to North Country. Surrounded by shooters, Wilburn greases the offensive wheels with her passing, finishes her looks inside, shoots well from FT. Plus, she holds it down defensively with solid rim protection and boards. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='648143' first='Jade' last='Garceau'], 5'10 W/F - BFA St. Albans Class of 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jade is that positionless 3/4 wing who brings a toughness to the floor. Garceau's inside/out play is flush with smart movement off-ball, strong slashing, and wise passing. On the defensive end, she's high impact. Jade covers multiple positions, rotates well, and hits the glass. Good stuff. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='649632' first='Natalie' last='Royer'], 5'8 G - Lamoille Union H.S. Class of 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Natalie's speed jumps out quickly. She utilizes her athleticism and high gear to break out in transition and finish tons of plays around the rim. Moreover, she's a strong slasher in the halfcourt with the vision to pass through the defense. A quick defender who disrupts and thus generates offense, Royer is equally impactful on both sides. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='645781' first='Ava' last='Clark'], 5'9 G - Lamoille Union H.S. Class of 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A naturally talented combo-guard, Ava's ability to make plays for herself and others is where she excels. Clark gets to the rim with her savvy handle and athleticism, plus, she can feed others crisp passes for open looks. With a high motor defensively and an up-tempo pressing style, Ava thrives with her two-way impact. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Adriana Hever, 5'10 W - St. Johnsbury Academy Class of 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A do-it-all swiss-army knife, Hever simply plays winning basketball. Adriana's a selfless player with an excellent motor; she defends numerous positions, is a rebound magnet, and can handle the rock + make plays on the break. Her passing in the halfcourt is timely and her scoring package is strengthening. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='630314' first='Alana' last='Crittenden'], 5'9 G - Lamoille Union H.S. Class of 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'm excited to see Crittenden and what she's added to her bag come winter. Alana's an athletic combo-guard who plays with an edge. She's a smart off-ball player who exploits gaps, and once in the second layer, she can finish well or hit shooters + bigs. On the other end, there's no let up. She rebounds well for a perimeter player and guards 1-3. Tough.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tessa Sweeney, 5'7 G - BFA St. Albans Class of 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>BFA seems to churn out tough guards constantly and Sweeney is no exception. Tessa's a solid ballhandler who sees the floor well and takes care of the rock. Her slashing opens up spot-up shooters and weak side cuts, whom she sees consistently. And on the other end, she's a no-quit defender who gives 100%. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='645780' first='Rylee' last='Strohm'], 5'8 G - St. Johnsbury Academy Class of 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dependable and high-IQ, Rylee leaves little to be desired. Strohm's a savvy combo-guard who's impactful on the ball as an organizer + slasher, and off the ball as cutter + screener; her decision-making is on point. On the other end, she's a strong on-ball defender and team defender who clogs holes, forces tough decisions, and rotates tightly. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='630342' first='Cassie' last='Boissoneault'], 5'8 G - Lamoille Union H.S. Class of 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cassie continues to make big steps. The combo-guards shot is looking more and more efficient, her playmaking in the second layer crisp, and her decision-making sound. Defensively, she brings a ton of quickness, smart rotations, and a lot of disruption. Super savvy on both ends. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Emma Harrison, 5'6 G - BFA St. Albans Class of 2027</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Harrison is another BFA guard with grit, and she comes with a solid skillset ready for the next level. Emma's a competent facilitator who takes care of the ball and gets everyone involved. Plus, she's a defender who understands rotations, helps intuitively, and can lock in against ballhandlers. Consistent and reliable. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->