Piqued Interest: 5 Captial Division Standouts So Far

Cody Quattrocci

January 13, 2024 @ 11:05 AM

Phew, it was hard to stick with five guys. But once I started adding more it just waterfalled into a group of 10+ hoopers. Montpelier H.S. has numerous guys I like, and Harwood has made a name for themselves this year too with a star talent and other solid players. What makes the Capital so difficult to get a read on is the variance of competition; some of these guys are playing against some of VT's best comp, and others are feasting on lower division opponents. Regardless, I stuck with my gut and gave props to those who I know are cut from high-level cloth. Tap in.   [player_tooltip player_id='2406051' first='Tobey' last='Bellows'], 6'3 G - Harwood Union H.S. Class of 2024   Once I saw Bellows for the first time over the summer, I knew he was going to have a huge year, but honestly, Tobey has surpassed what I anticipated. TB has been absolutely blazing through the first third of the season, averaging essentially a triple-double on 22-11-9. He's the engine that makes HU run, initiating the offense and creating thoroughly with his multi-level scoring and exceptional vision even as opponents gameplan for him. Kid is on fire right now and HU sits at second in the D2 rankings.   Carson Cody, 6'3 G - Montpelier H.S. Class of 2025   Everyone knows a natural scorer when they see one; Cody is that guy for MHS. Carson's been hovering around the 20ppg. mark all season with his savvy footwork in the second layer, impressive touch in the mid to short-range, and stroke from deep. He has a short memory and his confidence never waivers. Plus, he and MHS put serious work in on the defensive end to cause chaos, opening the transition game up. Cody already gets a ton of defensive attention, and I think his next step will be sharpening his ability to make plays for others.   Carter Bruzzese, 5'10 G - Montpelier H.S. Class of 2025   This guy right here is one of the purest PGs in the state. Carter is a natural orchestrator and tough ballhandler, handling pressure and organzing teammates with wit and ease. Moreover, he's someone who tends to notch around 10-15 ppg., adding a nice burst of scoring out of MHS' pressure defense, slashing in the halfcourt, and knocking down open jumpers. Plus, his defensive work leaves little to be desired. This MHS backcourt is tough and I expect they climb back to the top of D2.   Xavier Hill, 6'3 G - Hazen Union H.S. Class of 2024   Hazen is constantly churning out real deal players and Hill has been on my radar for a while now. The southpaw is Hazen's primary ballhandler and offensive spur. Xavier's put up some huge numbers this year, including a 22-15-12 triple-double. His multi-level scoring and stringy frame make it difficult to bother his shots, and he makes quick reads to feed teammates. An adept rebounder and multi-positional defender too, Hill has been highly impactful on each end.   Mitchell Parkman, 6'2 W - Thetford Academy Class of 2024   An absolute workhorse, Mitchell leaves every ounce of effort on the floor; there aren't many guys who play harder. Parkman is a consistently logging around double-digit boards and his defensive effort is top tier. He defends 1-4, playing bigger than he is at times and often disrupting offenses with nice anticipation and physicality both inside and out. On the offensive end, Mitchell's a rugged slasher, tough offensive rebounder, and someone who makes sound reads on the ball and off. A high-IQ with a relentless motor.

Phew, it was hard to stick with five guys. But once I started adding more it just waterfalled into a group of 10+ hoopers. Montpelier H.S. has numerous guys I like, and Harwood has made a name for themselves this year too with a star talent and other solid players. What makes the Capital so difficult to get a read on is the variance of competition; some of these guys are playing against some of VT's best comp, and others are feasting on lower division opponents. Regardless, I stuck with my gut and gave props to those who I know are cut from high-level cloth. Tap in.