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A generation ago, Vermont basketball felt like a world away.
During my two decades in college coaching, I logged thousands of hours in gyms across the Northeast. Bronx showcases, New Jersey team camps, prep circuits in Massachusetts — all regular stops on the recruiting trail. But Vermont? That was a rarity. A handful of names every few years. A few flashes of talent here and there.
The infrastructure wasn’t there yet. No travel circuits. No pipelines to exposure. Just hardworking players tucked away in high school gyms north of the spotlight.
That’s no longer the case.
Vermont is now exporting real basketball talent — and Jack Lafayette is proof.
A 2027 guard out of Peoples Academy, Lafayette is part of a new generation of Vermont players competing — and standing out — on the regional stage. Arguably the best player in Vermont boys high school basketball, Lafayette plays for Green Mountain Select, a fast-rising grassroots program that’s helped bridge the gap between Vermont and larger circuits in Upstate New York.
What stands out most when watching Lafayette? Polish and poise. You’d never guess he’s still in the early half of his high school career.
At a recent Upstate New York showcase, he secured a Top 35 selection, earning praise for his efficient shot, feel for spacing, and ability to attack out of closeouts.
In fact, it was a breakdown from a scout in attendance that captured it best:
“Lafayette has a beautiful stroke which no doubt makes him a threat from 3, but the ability to do so makes defenders especially vulnerable when closing out — which allows him to take advantage of the midrange.”
“He has excellent footwork catching the ball on the move and a knack for finding space with and without the ball. Again, using a quick first step against closing-out defenders.”
“The aforementioned shooting ability combined with his good decision-making makes him a serious threat in pick-and-roll scenarios.”
This isn’t raw talent. This is read-and-react ability — the kind you usually see from juniors and seniors at prep schools, not underclassmen from small public schools.
And Lafayette isn’t alone. There’s something real happening in Vermont.
A recent grassroots watchlist circulating on Reddit highlights over a dozen names with real D2/D3 potential — and a few with even higher ceilings:
Vermont High School Basketball Player Watchlist (Reddit)
These names keep coming up, and for the first time in a long time, coaches across the region are paying attention.
Greg Sanderson is a former NCAA D1 assistant coach turned independent scouting consultant. He now focuses on player development and regional scouting across the Northeast, with an emphasis on under-the-radar prospects from Vermont, New York, and New England prep programs.
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Photo provided by the owner Jennifer Smith.
