The Burlington Free Press announced the Boys and Girls 2011 All-State Teams, as well as their Player of the Year or "Mr. and Mrs. Basketball" selections. Now although many times these teams can be controversial, I think the BFP was fairly accurate this season. I do however, (as I'm sure many always do, and always will) have a couple gripes of my own. Not many...just a couple...but I do think they are legit gripes to have. Again, this is just opinion, and I do salute all these players for making their respective teams. Its certainly an honor to be named to the top 20 or so players in the state...(but again it is a single newspaper's opinion on the matter).
My only real issues with the selections were as follows:
- Matt St. Amour was hands down a 1st Team player this season.
-Jake Donnelly's team (CVU) may not have had the best season, but there is no question he is one of the top 10 players in the state. Any Coach that has seen him play would have a hard time to disagree. He should have been named to at a minimum 2nd team, if not 1st.
- Colchester's Anthony Granai got the brunt of the biggest snub, not even receiving an Honorable Mention. This is crazy considering everything he did for the Lakes this season. Granai was asked to play out of position in many games, defend in the post, and really anything else his head coach Joe Maheux asked him to do. The scary thing is...he did them all REALLY well. Granai should have been mentioned. Just another case of a great all around player being missed in the media for all the small things he did to help his team win games...its a shame.
- I also think MVU's Kyle Lumsden could have easily been named as an Honorable Mention, nice to see Fournier named here, but Lumsden was also deserving.
I do however agree with the selection for the BFP's Mr. Basketball. Essex's Ben Ferris certainly deserves it. He has improved his game immensely over the last year and seems to only keep improving. Averaging 23.6 ppg and 10 reb. in the Metro is no small task. Congratulations to Ben, and we wish him the best of luck at Tufts next season!
Burlington Free Press 2011 All- State Teams
Player of the Year: Ben Ferris - 6'2 SG Essex
1st Team
Troy Davine, 6'2" PG Rutland
Ben Ferris, 6'3" SG Essex
Alex Snyder 6'6" PF Rutland
Austin Robinson 6'2" SG Rice
Evan Tullar 6'4" SF Spaulding
2nd Team
Nick Swim 5'9" PG BFA- St. Albans
Matt St. Amour 6'2" SG Missisquoi
Chad Copeland 6'6" PF Twinfield
Clayton Palmer 6'8" C Mt. Anthony
Ryan Shea 6'2" SG U32
3rd Team
Jake Donnnelly 6'2" PG CVU
Ethan Brown 6'1" SG Mt. Mansfield
Chris McCormick 6'0" SG Rice
Devon Rollins 5'9" PG Winooski
Rob Coloutti 6'2" SG Fair Haven
Honorable Mentions:
Lucas Dutil- Spaulding, Ben Fournier-MVU, Jack Leclerc- Colchester, Eric Suder- MMU, Soloman Little-Danville, Charles McVay- MAU, Jalen Miller-Winooski, Curtis Rodgers- Burlington, Ryan Tatro-Hazen, Casey Tipson-Rice,
Just a side note, did anyone else notice there was not a comment section on the BFP website where the All-State teams were posted? Seems strange, for I'm sure there were plenty of comments waiting to be posted, as I'm certain there always has been, and most definately always will be.
AAU right around the corner!
I absolutely agree with you on Donnelly and St. Amour. Especially Donnelly, there is no doubt that he is at least a 2nd teamer in this state. Congratulations to Ben Ferris as well. It is well deserved.
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