photo by Dorothy Hill
Hazen Union’s Xavier Hill has been voted Player of the Year in the Capital League.
HARDWICK – Hazen Union’s Xavier Hill topped off a stellar senior season on the hardwood last week as he was voted Player of the Year by the coaches of the vaunted Capital League.
The smooth lefty point guard averaged nearly 18 points per game for the top seeded 20-4 Wildcats this past season, leading them to the Division III state title game for a third straight year. Hill averaged career highs in points, rebounds (9.3), and a school record 6.8 assists, while setting a program record with three triple doubles along the way. Since head coach Aaron Hill turned the Wildcat offense over to his talented nephew as a sophomore, Hazen has won 59 games against just 12 losses, winning a state championship in 2021 and back-to-back state runner-up finishes the past two seasons. Hazen’s legendary head coach has seen a lot of talented players come through his program throughout his 400-plus win career and agrees that the versatile Hill ranks near the top with other Wildcat greats.
“We have been fortunate to have so many great players over the years at Hazen, but not since Tim Shedd have we had a player with the versatility that Xavier had. He could bring the ball up and run our fast break or post up and score on the block. He is the first player in our program since Tim to lead our team in scoring, rebounding, and assists. He was also a very good team defender for us and not many players in the state were asked to do what Xavier did for our team this past season,” said Hill.
Joining Hill as a Capital League First Team selection were Montpelier’s Cody Carson, Thetford Academy’s Mitchell Parkman, Harwood’s Tobey Bellows, and Haidin Chilafoux of North Country. Second Team honors went to Carter Bruzzese (Montpelier), Ethan Davignon (Randolph), Brennan Langlois (Spaulding), Caelan Zeilenga (U-32), and Lyndon Institute’s Ethan Lussier.
Hazen’s Brendan Moodie earned an Honorable Mention nod after averaging double digits for the Wildcats for a second straight season. The sharp shooting guard will surely be leaned on for more offense next winter in his senior campaign. Joining Moodie as Honorable Mentions were Malcolm Ernst (Lamoille), Hayden Boivin (North Country), Clayton Foster (Montpelier), and Thetford’s Hunter Clay. Thetford’s Jason Gray was named Capital League Coach of the Year.
Hill’s Wildcat program has thrived since joining the highly competitive Capital over three years ago and now has back-to-back Players of the Year with Xavier Hill joining Hazen’s Tyler Rivard from last season. The Division II-rich league is one of the best in the state, led by a Montpelier program that has won four straight Division II state titles.
Hill will graduate in the spring with a Vermont All-State soccer selection, a pair of Vermont Dream Dozen basketball selections, a VBCA Senior All-Star selections, and a state championship.
