Speidel to Vermont

Becker got his man.

Josh Speidel a 6’7 210lb PF from Indiana committed to Vermont today for the 2015 recruiting class. This is an important moment for Vermont basketball for several reasons. First and foremost, Speidel is going to be a great player in the America East. He is tough, versatile, and a winner. From highlight videos and articles I have read, they all agree that Speidel can hit shots from the perimeter and still bang down low. He has a nice touch around the rim and isn’t afraid to get physical. With the guard heavy freshman class on campus now, Speidel fits the need for a big man to balance out the roster. The second reason I believe this is an important signing is that Becker made Speidel his priority, traveled all over the country, and sold the Vermont program. This signals two things. One is that this is officially Becker’s program. He has a roster full of his guys who play the game the way he wants to play. The second and most important piece is that the Vermont program has begun to compete on a national scale for recruits. Becker now has the ability to sell the Vermont basketball program to kids that may not have heard of UVM. Gone are the days where the only players UVM could get were from the New England area. I have to take a moment to give Becker and round of applause for doing the hard work it took to build a program. It is going to be an exciting time in Catamount Country, which I am now officially nicknaming “Indiana North”.