Mid-Season Reflection: 5 Out – Five 2025’s Showing Out

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This class is deep! It was absolutely brutal trying to pin this down to five players. Names just kept coming up and I couldn't say no. That being said, I got down a "top five" of sorts and dropped in a healthy honorable mentions list. Tap in and get a good dose of 2025 hoopers!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='645688' first='Peyton' last='Guay'], 5'8 G - West Rutland School Class of 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='645688' first='Peyton' last='Guay'] is one of the best in her class, she's proven it. Guay impacts every play she's on the floor and leads by example, doing everything imaginable to catapult WRS to a win. Guay orchestrates the offense naturally and handles ball pressure well. She creates in myriad ways, whether she's sinking jumpers from all over the floor, taking someone off the bounce, reading the defense and feeding teammates, or with savvy off-ball movement of her own. Plus, her defensive prowess is smart and anticipatory, and she'll clean the glass. Not many players as well-rounded and impactful as PG; she's a lock for 2,000 at some point over the next year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='645601' first='Sabine' last='Brueck'], 5'8 G - North Country Union H.S. Class of 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last years GPOY is in her groove. Brueck has been steadily posting 20-point scoring nights with her open court finishing, halfcourt slashing, and occasional 3-ball off the catch. Sabine's offensive creation is key for this NCU squad, using her defense as a catalyst to get out on the break. She orchestrates well, even though she's naturally a 2-guard. But defensively, Sabine is one of the best in VT with her foot speed, anticipation, and sheer effort whether she's on the ball or off. Sabine's two-way effort and efficiency has her hooping. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='450194' first='Bree' last='McDonald'], 5'7 G - Burlington H.S. Class of 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>BHS sits 3rd in D1 rankings and Bree has been the catalyst. McDonald's scoring abilities are thorough; she's a threat at each level and is liable to pop for 20+ any given night as she hovers around 15 ppg. Bree does it primarily on the ball, using her handle and shiftiness to create space for 3s and drives, or she does it in the open court with good finishing at the rim. On the defensive end, McDonald is measured with her pressure, but her active hands often tip passes and she'll burst into the open court from there. A dynamic offensive threat. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='645777' first='Bella' last='Schultz Mitchell'], 5'10 G/W - Mount Mansfield Union H.S. Class of 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bella's versatility shines through. Schultz Mitchell is often the primary ballhandler, initiating the offense intuitively and driving to collapse the defense or finish herself. Yet she's an adept off ball player too who'll exploit defensive holes with good cutting for rim finishes and perimeter relocation where she knocks down 3s at a good clip. Defensively she's highly dynamic, able to cover 1-5 yet typically she'll defend 2-4 with good fullcourt instincts and nice awareness in both zone and matchup defenses. Bella's all-around ability is key for MMU. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='576153' first='Alexa' last='Rabidoux'], 5'7 G - Essex H.S. Class of 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The foundation of Rabidoux's game is her gritty defense and connective offensive ability. Lexi's often assigned to the opponent's best guard, using nice foot speed, stamina, and good hoop-IQ to ruffle feathers and take them out of rhythm. Yet her scoring has really bloomed this season, often contributing double-digits as the 3rd option. She's a good shooter off the catch, moves really well off the ball as a cutter and a screener, and can attack closeouts for good looks in the second layer. A pesky two-way guard who plays the right way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Honorable Mentions:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='834838' first='Isabelle' last='Cole'], 5'11 W/F - Fair Haven Union H.S. Class of 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='496099' first='Audrey' last='Rupp'], 5'7 G - Windsor High School Class of 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='496193' first='Sophia' last='Rockwood'], 5'8 G - Windsor H.S. Class of 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='645602' first='Cassidy' last='Kittredge'], 5'11 G/W - St. Johnsbury H.S. Class of 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->