History was made last winter in Vermont high school girls basketball.
Oxbow alumna Jade Huntington had held the record for most career points by a girl in state history since 1988 with her mark of 2,114 points. Thirty-seven years later, somebody finally broke it: West Rutland’s Peyton Guay, who wrapped up her incredible career with 2,279 points, helping lead the Golden Horde to four straight Division 4 titles.
Guay was named Vermont Basketball Coaches’ Association Girls Player of the Year, but she was just the tip of the iceberg of quality basketball being played in the state.
There are girls across the state looking to make the most of their moment. Let’s take a look at some of those girls basketball standouts heading into the upcoming season.
MORE VERMONT PREVIEWS:Â Girls Top 10 | Boys Top 10
Zoey McNabb, Champlain Valley
Class of 2026, 5-7 guard
McNabb has played in a lot of big-time basketball games for CVU over her high school career for a program that is always in the thick of contending. She is great at getting to the basket and can also knock down jumpers, and is a very high-energy guard.
Anna Ebert, St. Johnsbury
Class of 2026, 5-9 forward
St. Johnsbury got to the Division 1 state championship game last year and Ebert is one of the reasons why. She is a relentless rebounding presence for the Hilltoppers. Even in a losing effort in the state final, Ebert racked up 15 rebounds. She can play inside or out.
Brinley Gandin, Rutland
Class of 2027, 5-4 guard
Gandin really broke out last year with former Gatorade Player of the Year Anna Moser transferring to Hoosac in NEPSAC. The lefty-shooting Gandin is one of the best 3-point shooters in the state and has grown increasingly confident in her shot. Rutland has very solid depth around her, but it all starts with Gandin.
Aly Dorman, Mount Mansfield
Class of 2027, 5-6 guard
Dorman is the lead guard on a Mount Mansfield team that has high expectations this year and competes like a gym rat. Mount Mansfield will have the ability to play in or out with her on the perimeter and dominant post presence Maysa Long inside.
Colleen Sonnick, Essex
Class of 2027, 5-8 guard
Sonnick is a strong presence inside for Essex and gobbles up rebounds. She comes off a great sophomore campaign where she earned Metro Division all-league honors. Sonnick can also step out and hit a jumper with her lefty-stroke as well. She could be a featured player for the Hornets this year with the graduation of Metro first-team selection Alexa Rabidoux.
Charlotte Jasmin, Hartford
Class of 2026, 5-9 guard
Jasmin is the reigning Gatorade Player of the Year and for good reason. Jasmin possesses great size for the guard position and is super tough to keep in check. She can get to the hoop at will and has a strength that few of her opponents can match. Last year, she averaged nearly a double-double with 24.8 points and 9.8 rebounds, along with more than five steals per game.
Alana Crittenden, Lamoille
Class of 2026, 5-8 guard
Crittenden is a big reason why Lamoille has become a consistent threat to get to the Barre Auditorium over the last few seasons. Crittenden has very solid size for her position and is a great shooter. One of her best displays of marksmanship last year came in a win against Harwood where she had six treys in the first half. Led by Crittenden and teammate Alyssa Small, there is a core in place to make Lamoille great once again this year.
Marlie Bushey, Milton
Class of 2026, 5-10 forward
Bushey averaged a double-double for Milton last and comes into the season as one of the better post players in Division 2. She played a key role in Milton being the No. 6 seed in the Division 2 playoffs last year and giving Lamoille a really tough test in the quarterfinals.
Addie Nelson, North Country
Class of 2026, 5-6 guard
Former Gatorade Player of the Year Sabine Brueck graduated, but North Country is still well-stocked to succeed and girls like Nelson are a big reason why. She played a key role in North Country’s playoff run, which saw the Falcons get to the Division 2 final for the fourth time in the last five seasons.
Kelsie Rivard, Hazen
Class of 2027, 5-10 forward
Rivard has been a star since stepping foot on the court for Hazen. The reigning Time Argus Player of the Year can get it done in different ways, whether she is scoring down low or showing touch from the outside. Rivard is a great rebounder, which runs in her family as her older brother Tyler was the same way in his standout career at Hazen. Assuming health, Rivard is a shoo-in to score 1,000 points by career end, and she’d join her brother and mother in that group.
Braylee Phelps, Oxbow
Class of 2026, 5-8 guard
Phelps has been a starter on Oxbow’s team since she was a freshman and has continued to build her game. She played a key role in Oxbow making the Division 3 final last year for the first time since 2019 and scored double figure points in that game. Her biggest strength may be her lock down defense though.
Amelia Rockwood, Windsor
Class of 2028, guard
The Rockwood girls are hoopers. Amelia has a sister, Olivia, who nearly scored 2,000 points in her career and played Division 1 hoops at Maine, and another sister, Sophia, who hit 1,000 points for her career as well. Amelia has already shown glimpses of game-changing potential and could continue to build that this winter.
Daisy Berg, Peoples Academy
Class of 2029, guard
Berg took the state by storm last year as an eighth-grader. Berg was the leading scorer on a Peoples Academy team that went from winning one game two years ago to a trip to the Barre Auditorium last year. Berg and senior Sophie Beck make up one of the more impressive duos in their division.
Mia Aldrich, Arlington
Class of 2028, guard
Aldrich was a breakout player for an Arlington team had a lot of intriguing young talent last year. She already looked like a star in the making for the Eagles and that only figures to grow this winter with a year of high school hoops under her belt.
Hayley Raiche, West Rutland
Class of 2026, forward
West Rutland is amid one of the most dominant runs in Division 4 girls basketball history, winning four straight state titles. A good chunk of the core from that dynastic run, including the state’s all-time leading girls scorer Peyton Guay, have now graduated, so it will be on girls like Raiche and teammates to keep it going. Raiche is plenty capable of handling the pressure and is a strong presence inside. Like many West Rutland post players before her, she isn't afraid to be scrappy and physical.
