2023 2024 FINAL FOUR PICKS
VERMONT Division 1
Drippy. While the ground begins to freeze in Vermont with snow beginning to fall a long awaited thaw is also upon us. Were talking 8 panel, 84ft of proving ground, Vermont High School Basketball is back! Woot woot.
A great philosopher, 16 time world champion, Ric Flair, once said, “To be the man you have to beat – THE man.” Good advice for life. Which brings us Redhawks of CVU. Hey they have two of the top five players in division per prephoops and our hooperindex player watch, Kyle Eaton and Tucker Tharpe. From what we saw last year to duo work seamlessly together, complimenting each others game. Tucker Tharpe is a coaches +/- dream, a true environmentalist he cleans up everything around the rim. Along side Eaton’s ability to freeze defenders with a hesi and slash CVU has the tools to repeat, will they execute?
The Green Knights of Rice Memorial High. Led by Mr. Drew Bessette, who, under the tutelage of coach Paul Pecor, has developed year after year are primed for a title run. When was the last undefeated season? Look at the end of the day Bessette has the discipline of a much older player. Consistent shot blocker and three point shooter sure. Throw down dunks? Yup. The magic is in the off ball productivity. Lethal bump screens, hunting down boards on both ends, communication. Along side Bessette is Abdi Sharriff. Sharriff game has evolved even more than his height, now at about 6’4″ Abdi finishes well and is simply relentless on both defensive and offensive boards. Were taking Rice as a close second for this opening round.
The Wolves of South Burlington are a solid #3 pick. With the season concluding 52-51 last year at BFA in the playdowns last year, the Wolves return with lil sum to prove. Tyler Bergmans, Tbird as it were, has sharpened his ability to go left after the square up, leaving defenders relying on help or watching the back of the kids jersey. Bergmans has visited Cushing, Thomas College, SUNY ESF and Fisher College. On the glass Bergman will have company. The Wolves have three players, Kahlil Quebec-Hill, Simon Russell and Oliver Avdibegovic who are over 6’4″. Deng Aguek and Andre Bouffard return as captain for the backcourt. Coach Sol Bayer-Pacht also is returning sophomore Jack Lafayette. Ranked 2nd for the class of 2026 by prephoops.com, Lafayette will seek to compliment Aguek and Bergmans production.
Rutland Rutland. Not a poem, that’s the moniker they’ve chosen after retiring the Raiders twice in a year. Imagine that? Digging up apet just to put it down again. Sleep easy Patches! Anyways, we like this team. The Rutlandaners? They’ll return several key pieces from last year. Braeden Elnicki, Luke DelBianco and Eric Swain all return from last year. How can you not like a physical team where most players also play football? If you keep Rutland off the glass you have a chance. Easier said then done. A team that will get quick transition buckets from their trapping quarter and half court defensive sets.
The 2023 2024 campaign will be one of the most competitive in recent D1 history. Outside of the four teams chosen you have to bet BFA, MMU, Saint J will all be more than capable of flipping the script. With a shorter than normal season, the boys division one is slated to conclude February 17th, 2024 with the final four to tip off February 26th at Patrick Gym in Burlington, VT.