It's been a while....

So I have to first apologize for the ridiculous amount of time in between my last post and now. It’s been a very busy spring with the AAU season, clinics, 1-1 work etc. However, I would like to finish up my Top 10 of the last 10 entries with the grand daddy of them all, the top 10 HIGH SCHOOL players in the last 10 years.

Now I and my other VT hoop guru's have been going back and forth over this for a while, debating not necessarily who the best 10 players of the last decade were, (we were able to agree on the vast majority of them) but more so what is the criteria? Is it strictly opinion (well obviously its opinion based, but its nice to be able to back up your argument) or is it based on player accolades and state titles? Is it based on pure talent and athletic ability? How about the question of what these guys did after their high school careers? Does that come into play at all? If you’re a hoop nut like me, you can see where this debate (although really not that important at all) could become seriously heated and go on for much longer then one would think.

I have decided that this will be based on one question, and one question alone. Who was the best "basketball player" of this time period? The player that if you were choosing a team, you would probably select 1st overall. It's not necessarily who the strongest player was, or the smartest, or who won the most state titles, or who did what in their college careers. Realistically all this should come into play to give you what one might consider the best basketball player...if you know what I'm saying.

So upon much debate, many arguments, and WAY too much time spent on this, here is the Green Mountain Hoops Top 10 Players of the last 10 years. I'm sure I have to remind no one that this is strictly opinion based, and hopefully will lead to many of your own opinions in the comments section...don’t be shy!

# 10 Jon Goldberg - PG - Rice Memorial - Class of 2009
It's very hard to not include Jon in this group. Although he was by no means one of the best athletes in this group, he had maybe one of the highest hoop IQ's. It doesn't hurt the fact he lead Rice to two Division 1 State titles in his 3 years while enrolled there. He was also an All-State selection 3 times, and has now just finished his Soph. year at St. Lawrence. A very heady PG, and at 6'4" was a rare breed in VT High school hoops.

# 9 David Ball - SF - Spaulding - Class of 2002
By far the best athlete the state has seen on the hardwood in the last decade, Ball was part of arguably the best duo this state has ever seen playing along side of Mike Perez. A 6'4" slasher who could literally jump out of the building, he was an instrumental piece in Spaulding's last state title back in 2002. He was a 1,000 pt scorer and an All-State selection who went on to star on both the football and basketball court at Worcester Academy before eventually breaking Jerry Rice's national touchdown record as a wide receiver @ UNH. What is not mentioned much about Ball's game at SHS was his defensive abilities, one of the best Vermont has seen in a long time!

# 8 Chad Powlovich - SG/SF - Mt. Mansfield - Class of 2004
Powlovich was an extremely versatile player at the high school level. Big and strong enough to play in the post, but skilled enough to handle the ball on the perimeter which he did often for Coach Jeff Davis. A multiple year All-State selection, and member of the VT vs. NH Twin State game, Chad went on to score over 1,300 pts for MMU and was named the BFP's "Mr. Basketball" in 2004 before having a solid 4 year career at UVM.

#7 BJ Robertson - SG - Burlington - Class of 2002
Bj may be one of the most talented players to ever play for the Sea Horses. He led BHS to the finals at UVM 3 of his 4 years, winning a title in 2001 over a strong Spaulding team. He scored over 1,400 points in his career and was named the BFP "Mr. Basketball" in 2002. Bj then went on to have a great 4 year career at Saint Mikes, before playing for Vermont's only professional Basketball team, the Vermont Frost Heaves from 2005-2007. He now coaches for the VT Cats AAU organization in Burlington.

#6 Kyle Cieplicki - PG/SG - Rice Memorial - Class of 2003
Maybe one of the most basketball savvy players this state has ever seen, Kyle followed suite in the long list of Cieplicki's that have dominated Vermont basketball for years. As just a sophomore, he helped lead Rice to a state title over rival Burlington in 2000. He then went on to be a first team All-State selection as well as being named the BFP's "Mr. Basketball" in 2003. All this before an incredible career at UVM, where he was the first ever Catamount to be named a team captain for 3 straight years. Ever spending a season as the Director of Operations at Brown University, Kyle is now an assistant coach back in Catamount Country!

#5 Joe O'shea - SG - Burlington - Class of 2010
The most recent active player to make the list, Joe O'shea was one of the first players ever to be crowned "Mr. Basketball" as a sophomore in 2008. He then regained that title in 2010 becoming one of the only three players in the last 30 years to be labeled the state top hoopster twice in their high school career.  He managed to play in the division 1 final all 4 years while at BHS, winning a title in 2008. Joe scored just shy of 1,500 points over his career as a seahorse and has been labeled as one of the best pure shooters this state has seen in a long time. After accepting a full scholarship to Holy Cross, Joe transferred to Bryant University where he will suit up next season.

#4 Taylor Coppenrath - C - St. Johnsbury Academy - Class of 2000
If you have lived in the state of Vermont at any point over the last decade, even if you don't follow hoops you know the name Taylor Coppenrath. The 6'9" center will always be remembered by Catamount fans everywhere after the remarkable career he had at UVM. Coppenrath actually did not play varsity basketball at St. Jay until his junior year, but was a force his last two seasons there being named VT' "Mr. Basketball" his senior year when he lead the Hilltoppers to a final four appearance. He then went on to UVM where after a redshirt freshman year put together a storied career that will stand out in the UVM record books forever. He led UVM to 3 straight America East conference Championships, finishing his career 2nd on UVM scoring list at 2,422 points. He was also finalist for the John Wooden award his senior year. He is still currently playing professional basketball in Spain.

#3 Tyrone Conley - SG - Burlington - Class of 2007
Ty Conley could very easily be #1 on this list. At his 4 years at Burlington he led his team to the D1 finals 3 of those years, winning a title in 2006. Athletic, strong, extremely quick and very skilled, Conley was as tough a perimeter player there is. He was named the states "Mr. Basketball" in 2007 and left Burlington as the schools all-time leading scorer with 1556 points, surpassing names to the likes of Bob Sweeney, and Bj Robertson. Conley accepted a full-ride to UNH where he has had a great career starting for the Wildcats the past two seasons. He may be one of the greatest talents to ever play in a Seahorse uniform.

#2 Matt Glass - SF - Mt. Mansfield - Class of 2006
Glass may have the best actual resume out of this whole group. He too, along with Conley could have grabbed the number 1 spot on this list, and not many would have argued. In his 4 years at MMU not only did he score over 1,000 points, but he led the Cougars to back to back State Championships in 2004 and 2005 and in the process was named "Mr. Basketball" in those back to back years. An extremely skilled player for standing 6'8", Glass could hurt you shooting the three, and dominate you in the paint. After his career at MMU he went onto play one post-grad year at the prestigious Northfield Mt-Hermon Prep school, before accepting a scholarship to UMASS. Glass then later transferred back home to UVM where he currently is still playing.

#1 Mike Perez - SG/SF - Spaulding - Class of 2002
As I mentioned before 1, 2 and 3 on this list is probably pretty interchangeable, but no one, absolutely no one brought excitement to a high school gym like Perez did in the early part of this decade. The 6'4" SF dominated virtually everyone he faced leading the Tide to back to back State Finals appearances and winning a title in 2002. Extremely athletic, quick, and with unlimited range, Perez was the most gifted offensive talent this state has seen in years...hands down. His athleticism and skill set made him almost un-guardable on the perimeter. He was a multi-year 1st team All-state selection and left the Granite City scoring just shy of 1,500 points. He was a household name in Central VT, and to this day could not walk into a gym almost anywhere without people knowing who he is. The high flying act that he and David Ball put on for 4 years at Spaulding had never been seen in the Green Mountain State, and may never be matched again. Following his high school career Mike suffered a devastating Knee injury while training with VT legend Steve Pratt at Full Package athletics in Chicago. He then later enrolled at SUNY Cobleskill but physically was never the same.
This list, as all of my lists are, was based solely on opinion. I have been around basketball in the state of Vermont my whole life, as a player, a coach, a writer, and a fan and I have yet to see an individual talent such as Mike Perez.

Comments? Opinions?