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Last summer, Nylah Mitchell played AAU basketball with her cousins, Mia and Mya Pauldo, the Morris Catholic (NJ) pair who are committed to play at the University of Tennessee in the fall. With New Jersey's HUrban Legends AAU team, Mitchell had the chance to play against tougher competition, travel the country and see some elite college coaching staffs. That experience prepared her for her senior year at Burlington High School.
"I kind of realized my potential a little bit," Mitchell said. "Being able to play higher level competition definitely made love the game even more because I'm like a really gritty player. I love to play hands on so I was like 'this is tough.' I'm going to bring this energy to Vermont."
Seahorses head coach Bev Robertson also saw plenty of improvements to Mitchell's game following her stint with the HUrban Legends.
"I saw that she was more determined," Robertson said. "She was more aggressive, wanting it more, and knowing that she could do more."
Burlington entered the year with championship aspirations with a roster that featured several key seniors including Mitchell, Bree McDonald and Hawa Mubarak. Mitchell knew her and McDonald's game was more developed while the rest of the team was strong.
"All of us are so tough individually, so if we could bring that together as a team than nobody could stop us," Mitchell said.
And in the end, no team could stop Mitchell and the Seahorses. Burlington claimed the Division I state title to snap a 49-year championship drought, with Mitchell scoring 20 points and adding eight rebounds and five steals.
Besides a championship, Mitchell concludes her BHS career as this year's Burlington Free Press' Miss. Basketball, an honor given annually since 1991 to the state's top girls basketball player. Mitchell is the second BHS player to receive the honor of Miss. Basketball, joining Sharmion Selman (2001).
More: The Free Press' Mr. Basketball returned home, became leader to push BHS to D-I title
This year, the 5-foot-9 forward averaged 17.9 points, 16.4 rebounds and 6.5 steals per game, leading her team in both scoring and rebounding.
"I think she's just a great kid and great competitor, super athletic," Mount Mansfield coach Mark Pfaff said. "Just can get to the rim through space, finishes through traffic ... sometimes you bring in help from other people but those help from other draws fouls because she can get through everybody."
Mitchell's ability to draw contact and shoot free throws was on display in Burlington's 53-37 victory over Rutland in the quarterfinals. The senior shot 10-for-10 from the foul line as part of a 24-point outing that carried the Seahorses to the Final Four.
The senior's confidence never wavered despite Burlington relying on just seven players. Mitchell was determined to go out on top with longtime teammate McDonald.
"It's always been me and her and we were not losing," Mitchell said. "We were texting each other before the (championship) game. 'How do you feel if we lost?' She's like, 'Yeah we not losing.' I'm like, 'We not losing.'"
"When we have the confidence like we're getting what we want," Mitchell continued.
Mitchell's basketball genes run strong. Besides her connection to the Pauldo twins, Mitchell has ties to local basketball royalty. The senior's great uncle is BHS coach Bev Robertson, whose sons were stars for the Seahorses. Despite being family, Robertson only started working with Mitchell on the court when he got the Seahorses coaching position.
"He definitely is my favorite great uncle," Mitchell said. "We always have good chats ... I definitely saw a different side of him which is like his competitive side because he gets really worked up sometimes, but it's been nice for both of us to bond over basketball."
Bev Robertson helped Mitchell develop her offensive game, including the addition of a 3-point shot. Robertson has prepared Mitchell to take the next steps in her career. The senior will continue playing basketball collegiately at Emmanuel College, a D-III school in Boston, where she will study psychology.
"You always want to set a seed and hopefully it grows and make the person better than what they were when you came to them," Robertson said. "She picks up stuff, she learns it and she works at doing it. Sometimes she would do things that you think she hadn't picked up ... that's what you want in a leader."
Contact Judith Altneu at [email protected]. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter: @Judith_Altneu.
2025: Nylah Mitchell, Burlington
2024:Elise Berger, Champlain Valley
2023:Addi Hunter, Champlain Valley
2022: Paige Winter, Essex
2021: Catherine Gilwee, Champlain Valley
2020: Olivia Rockwood, Windsor
2019: Sadie Stetson, St. Johnsbury
2018: Sadie Stetson, St. Johnsbury
2017: Sadie Stetson, St. Johnsbury
2016: Sadie Otley, Champlain Valley
2015: Laurel Jaunich, Champlain Valley
2014: Emily Kinneston, Champlain Valley
2013: Emily Kinneston, Champlain Valley
2012: Abby Iannotti, Mount Anthony
2011: Reagan Jewell, Rice
2010: Abbey Lalime, Lake Region
2009: Tiffany Johnson, BFA-St. Albans
2008: Alyssa Herrington, Mount Anthony
2007: Kelli Hier, Rice
2006: Alissa Sheftic, Essex
2005: Corey Rusin, Twin Valley
2004: Corey Rusin, Twin Valley
2003: Dani/Jevy Rayner, Bellows Falls
2002: Courtney Ludwig, Mount Anthony
2001: Sharmion Selman, Burlington
2000: Morgan Valley, Rice
1999: Morgan Valley, Rice
1998: Libby Smith, Essex
1997: Rachel Bryan, Mount Abraham
1996: Jazz Huntington, Oxbow
1995: Jazz Huntington, Oxbow
1994: Kathy Ardell, Essex
1993: Carrie Smith, Oxbow
1992: Sarah Schreib, Essex
1991: Carrie Lapine, Essex
This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Vermont Free Press Miss Basketball: Burlington senior Nylah Mitchell
Continue reading...
"I kind of realized my potential a little bit," Mitchell said. "Being able to play higher level competition definitely made love the game even more because I'm like a really gritty player. I love to play hands on so I was like 'this is tough.' I'm going to bring this energy to Vermont."
Seahorses head coach Bev Robertson also saw plenty of improvements to Mitchell's game following her stint with the HUrban Legends.
"I saw that she was more determined," Robertson said. "She was more aggressive, wanting it more, and knowing that she could do more."
Burlington entered the year with championship aspirations with a roster that featured several key seniors including Mitchell, Bree McDonald and Hawa Mubarak. Mitchell knew her and McDonald's game was more developed while the rest of the team was strong.
"All of us are so tough individually, so if we could bring that together as a team than nobody could stop us," Mitchell said.
And in the end, no team could stop Mitchell and the Seahorses. Burlington claimed the Division I state title to snap a 49-year championship drought, with Mitchell scoring 20 points and adding eight rebounds and five steals.
Besides a championship, Mitchell concludes her BHS career as this year's Burlington Free Press' Miss. Basketball, an honor given annually since 1991 to the state's top girls basketball player. Mitchell is the second BHS player to receive the honor of Miss. Basketball, joining Sharmion Selman (2001).
More: The Free Press' Mr. Basketball returned home, became leader to push BHS to D-I title
This year, the 5-foot-9 forward averaged 17.9 points, 16.4 rebounds and 6.5 steals per game, leading her team in both scoring and rebounding.
"I think she's just a great kid and great competitor, super athletic," Mount Mansfield coach Mark Pfaff said. "Just can get to the rim through space, finishes through traffic ... sometimes you bring in help from other people but those help from other draws fouls because she can get through everybody."
Mitchell's ability to draw contact and shoot free throws was on display in Burlington's 53-37 victory over Rutland in the quarterfinals. The senior shot 10-for-10 from the foul line as part of a 24-point outing that carried the Seahorses to the Final Four.
The senior's confidence never wavered despite Burlington relying on just seven players. Mitchell was determined to go out on top with longtime teammate McDonald.
"It's always been me and her and we were not losing," Mitchell said. "We were texting each other before the (championship) game. 'How do you feel if we lost?' She's like, 'Yeah we not losing.' I'm like, 'We not losing.'"
"When we have the confidence like we're getting what we want," Mitchell continued.
Mitchell's basketball genes run strong. Besides her connection to the Pauldo twins, Mitchell has ties to local basketball royalty. The senior's great uncle is BHS coach Bev Robertson, whose sons were stars for the Seahorses. Despite being family, Robertson only started working with Mitchell on the court when he got the Seahorses coaching position.
"He definitely is my favorite great uncle," Mitchell said. "We always have good chats ... I definitely saw a different side of him which is like his competitive side because he gets really worked up sometimes, but it's been nice for both of us to bond over basketball."
Bev Robertson helped Mitchell develop her offensive game, including the addition of a 3-point shot. Robertson has prepared Mitchell to take the next steps in her career. The senior will continue playing basketball collegiately at Emmanuel College, a D-III school in Boston, where she will study psychology.
"You always want to set a seed and hopefully it grows and make the person better than what they were when you came to them," Robertson said. "She picks up stuff, she learns it and she works at doing it. Sometimes she would do things that you think she hadn't picked up ... that's what you want in a leader."
Contact Judith Altneu at [email protected]. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter: @Judith_Altneu.
MISS BASKETBALL WINNERS
2025: Nylah Mitchell, Burlington
2024:Elise Berger, Champlain Valley
2023:Addi Hunter, Champlain Valley
2022: Paige Winter, Essex
2021: Catherine Gilwee, Champlain Valley
2020: Olivia Rockwood, Windsor
2019: Sadie Stetson, St. Johnsbury
2018: Sadie Stetson, St. Johnsbury
2017: Sadie Stetson, St. Johnsbury
2016: Sadie Otley, Champlain Valley
2015: Laurel Jaunich, Champlain Valley
2014: Emily Kinneston, Champlain Valley
2013: Emily Kinneston, Champlain Valley
2012: Abby Iannotti, Mount Anthony
2011: Reagan Jewell, Rice
2010: Abbey Lalime, Lake Region
2009: Tiffany Johnson, BFA-St. Albans
2008: Alyssa Herrington, Mount Anthony
2007: Kelli Hier, Rice
2006: Alissa Sheftic, Essex
2005: Corey Rusin, Twin Valley
2004: Corey Rusin, Twin Valley
2003: Dani/Jevy Rayner, Bellows Falls
2002: Courtney Ludwig, Mount Anthony
2001: Sharmion Selman, Burlington
2000: Morgan Valley, Rice
1999: Morgan Valley, Rice
1998: Libby Smith, Essex
1997: Rachel Bryan, Mount Abraham
1996: Jazz Huntington, Oxbow
1995: Jazz Huntington, Oxbow
1994: Kathy Ardell, Essex
1993: Carrie Smith, Oxbow
1992: Sarah Schreib, Essex
1991: Carrie Lapine, Essex
This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Vermont Free Press Miss Basketball: Burlington senior Nylah Mitchell
Continue reading...
