The top returning Vermont high school boys basketball players? Our 2023-24 watchlist.
The Vermont high school boys basketball season started in earnest this past weekend. And to honor the beginning of another winter, the Free Press is happy to unveil our annual players to watch list.
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 boys basketball players.
The Division II, III and IV championships are tentatively slated for Saturday, March 2 at Barre Auditorium. The D-I title game date is to be determined, but will be held at the University of Vermont's Patrick Gym.
Enjoy!
Girls basketball: The top returning Vermont high school girls basketball players.
Girls hockey: The top returning Vermont high school girls hockey players.
The '23-24 boys basketball watchlist
(Note: Players listed in alphabetical order)
Deng Aguek
► School: South Burlington
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: Averaged 10.2 points and grabbed four rebounds a game to earn a spot on BFP's honorable-mention team.
Khamis Ali
► School: Burlington
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: Key returnee for Burlington after securing eight wins in BJ Robertson's first season at the helm.
Will Ameden
► School: Burr and Burton
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: Named to the Southern Vermont League 'A' Division coaches' first team.
Tobey Appenzeller
► School: Essex
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: Key returnee for Essex this season.
Freddie Bacon
► School: Colchester
► Class year: Sophomore
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: The multi-sport standout was a starter in Colchester's backcourt last season.
Tobey Bellows
► School: Harwood
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: The 6-foot-3 guard earned a spot on the Capital Division honorable-mention team after averaging about 17 points per game.
Tyler Bergmans
► School: South Burlington
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Forward
► 2022-23 season: Averaged 15.8 and 8.7 rebounds per game last winter and made BFP's honorable-mention team.
Drew Bessette
► School: Rice Memorial
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Forward
► 2022-23 season: The BFP first team selection averaged 14.9 points and 12.1 rebounds per game last season.
Andre Bouffard
► School: South Burlington
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: A defensive standout, Bouffard took 1.5 charges a game and scored seven points per contest.
Carter Bruzzese
► School: Montpelier
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: Bruzzese led the point guard role as the Solons captured their third straight title.
Joe Buxton
► School: Fair Haven
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Forward
► 2022-23 season: Averaged 10 points per game and shot 40% from beyond the arc.
Phil Bean
► School: Fair Haven
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Forward
► 2022-23 season: Averaged 10 points and seven rebounds per game.
Haidin Chilafoux
► School: North Country
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Forward
► 2022-23 season: Supplied 11 points per game last season for the D-II runners-up.
Carson Cody
► School: Montpelier
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Guard/forward
► 2022-23 season: Supplied nine points in the championship win last season and made BFP's honorable mention team.
Jaiden Cole
► School: Rutland
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Forward
► 2022-23 season: Saw time on varsity last season.
Carter Crossmon
► School: Proctor
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: Made the SVL 'D' Division first team and scored 22 points in the championship game of the Bob Abrahamson Tip-Off Classic on Dec. 9.
Zach Davis
► School: Colchester
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Forward
► 2022-23 season: Named to BFP's honorable-mention team.
Evan Eaton
► School: Rice Memorial
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: Was a cog in the Green Knights' rotation last year and figures to start this winter.
Kyle Eaton
► School: Champlain Valley
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: The sharpshooter averaged 10.9 points and 2.4 rebounds last season for the defending champions.
Owen Eaton
► School: Rice Memorial
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: Started for Rice as a sophomore and made BFP's honorable mention team.
Will Fuller
► School: Rutland
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Forward
► 2022-23 season: Rutland's lone returning starter this season.
Ian Funke
► School: Mount Abraham
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Forward
► 2022-23 season: The 6-foot-6 forward was named to the Lake Division first team last season.
Harry Geng
► School: St. Johnsbury
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: Geng earned a spot on BFP's second team after averaging 16.3 points per game on 34.1% 3-point shooting with 3.3 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game.
Ben Godin
► School: Milton
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Forward
► 2022-23 season: Averaged about 18 points last season.
Rex Hauser
► School: St. Johnsbury
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Forward
► 2022-23 season: The big man scored 11.3 points per game and grabbed 6.3 rebounds.
Xavier Hill
► School: Hazen
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: The 6-foot-2 guard averaged 11.4 points, four rebounds, 4.9 assists last season.
Jerrick Jacobs
► School: Richford
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: Scored 10 points in the Falcons' opener after making the Mountain Division second team last winter.
Andrew Joncas
► School: Danvile
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: Averaged 20 points and six rebounds last winter.
Musa Kasanga
► School: Burlington
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: Returning starter for the Seahorses.
Dezmond Krakowka
► School: Rutland
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Forward
► 2022-23 season: Transferred from Mount St. Joseph after making the Dream Dozen team last year.
Cooper McCurley
► School: Essex
► Class year: Sophomore
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: Key returnee, who figures heavily in the backcourt.
Kerrick Medose
► School: St. Johnsbury
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: Averaged 8.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game last winter.
Corey Lockwood
► School: Windsor
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: Made the SVL 'B' Division honorable-mention team and scored 12 points in the season-opener.
Ethan Lussier
► School: Lyndon
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: Supplied 10.5 points and 4.9 assists per game.
Brayden Russ
► School: White River Valley
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Forward
► 2022-23 season: Named to the SVL 'C' Division first team.
Abdi Sharif
► School: Rice Memorial
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Forward
► 2022-23 season: Returns to Rice's starting rotation after missing most of the season.
Ryan Simons
► School: Poultney
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Forward
► 2022-23 season: The 6-foot-5 captain returns to the Blue Devils' frontcourt.
Ryan Smith
► School: Mill River
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: SVL 'C' Division honorable-mention selection.
Tucker Tharpe
► School: Champlain Valley
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Forward
► 2022-23 season: Started for the D-I champions in the frontcourt and averaged 10 points and seven rebounds per game.
Carter Thompson
► School: Mount Anthony
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Guard
► 2022-23 season: Totaled 19 points, five rebounds and 3.1 assists a game for the Patriots.
Brody Tyburski
► School: Hartford
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Forward
► 2022-23 season: The multi-sport standout made BFP's honorable-mention team last season.
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Contact Jacob Rousseau at JRousseau@gannett.com. Follow on Twitter: @ByJacobRousseau
This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: VT high school boys basketball players to watch during 2023-24 season
