X-Factor Guards: Under-the-Radar Guys Catching My Eye

Catch wind on a number of names who've been key components on their squad either as go to guys, gluey presences, or freshmen making names for themselves. Let's dig in!   Kole Fotion, 6'1 G - Hartford H.S. Class of 2026   It's fun to see a player develop over time. I first saw Kole as an explosive combo-guard, but he's now taken the reigns at the 1 and has shown his intuition as an orchestrator. He's measured in his approach, reads defenses well, and hits his passes on time, rarely taking that extra dribble which comes at a cost. In turn, teammates get good clean looks and the O runs smoothly. His slashing is still tough, he sees the rotation and makes readers clear as ever, and his movement off the ball relays pure shooting off the catch. An increasingly savvy facilitator with sound scoring.   Clayton Foster, 6'1 G - Montpelier H.S. Class of 2025   When you play with as much talent as Foster, sacrifices are made team-wide. And yet, I sense that Clayton is a guy who enjoys seeing teammates succeed. Foster is that player whose presence glues everything together; crisp and timely passing, heady cuts and screens to bend and exploit the D, and gutsy hustle plays + defensive work. It all translates into a well-oiled machine which has run through D2 the last 4-5 years. And don't get it twisted, Foster can break out for 15+ any night with his slithery slashing and knockdown shooting. An all-around guy who makes everyone better.   [player_tooltip player_id='2571911' first='Tyrell' last='Robertson'], 6'1 G - Burlington H.S. Class of 2028   Tyrell is finding his rhythm with this loaded Burlington team as a steady feature in the rotation. Robertson's frame, athleticism and IQ make him plug and play in BHS' pressure defense and free-flowing offense. Ty's ability to cover ground defensively and force tough decisions is evident, he works the boards a bit and can guard 1-3. On the offensive end, he scores in the flow; in transition and from various spots in the halfcourt. He's shown comfort in the clutch too, knocking down a 3 + huge FTs in the rematch of last year's Final. Keep watch.   [player_tooltip player_id='2547073' first='Jerrick' last='Jacobs'], 5'9 G - Richford H.S. Class of 2025   One of the toughest 2-way players in his division, Jacobs' combination of speed + athleticism are enough to cause trouble. Jerrick's springy game and relentless attack on the rim brings about plenty of tough finishes and FTs. Moreover, he has the jumper to make defense's pay when they sink off him. Dynamic defensively, I like Jacobs' ability to pressure the ball, recover, and wear opponents down over the course of the game with nonstop disruption. An explosive up-and-down guard.   Kleo Bridge, 6'3 W - Montpelier H.S. Class of 2025   Like his teammate Foster up above, Bridge plays alongside so much talent that the numbers don't always jump off the page. And yet he's proven himself to be a guy who does it all. The swiss-army knife covers 2-4 with his size and footwork, relishing tough matchups when they come. His rebounding is strong and he's more than capable of making plays in the open court. In the halfcourt, he's showcased his ability to break a defender down, read the defense and make the right play, or just nail the jumper from range. Talented with a strong frame.   [player_tooltip player_id='2553748' first='Cooper' last='McCurley'], 5'11 G - Essex H.S. Class of 2026   McCurley has the clutch gene, a guy who rises to the moment. In his most recent outing, Cooper went for 18 and sent the game to OT by nailing three straight FTs. It's McCurley's ability to balance facilitation and scoring that I've also found impressive. The QB is a keen passer, able to pick apart defenses up with his vision, yet he'll strike for nice slashes and open jumpers when the D over adjusts. Defensively, Cooper has the awareness as a help side defender to muck opponents up, yet he knows his matchup and adjusts on the fly to sharpshooters vs non-shooters. Aware with widespread impact.   [player_tooltip player_id='2553737' first='Oli' last='Avdibegovic'], 6'7 F - South Burlington H.S. Class of 2026   The big man has become a key part of this SB crew, solidifying himself as a 3rd option. His interior presence is quickly obvious, the wingspan is all there and he's able to affect shots you might think he has no business getting to. Moreover, his engine never putters; Oli is a worker whose goal is to own the interior and make it his own. His rebounding numbers are high, and he finagles plenty of 2nd chance points with that work. Yet he's shown a post-game mixed with a short-range jumper too, proving he has a little offensive bag. A solid 2-way inside man.   Brady Gangl, 6'2 G/W - Champlain Valley Union H.S. Class of 2028   It looks like the freshman has broken into the starting rotation, and for good reason. Gangl is gifted with his length and height, able to add some extra size. With that wingspan, Brady covers ground quickly and assists on the glass too. On the other end, he's able to pass over the top of smaller defenders or take bigger defenders to the rack off the bounce. He's still finding his groove at this level but Gangl is going to be a guy who this young team relies on over the years.

Catch wind on a number of names who've been key components on their squad either as go to guys, gluey presences, or freshmen making names for themselves. Let's dig in!