Vermont snags Oklahoma State transfer Duncan DeMuth

Vermont received its second commitment from a transfer in Duncan DeMuth, a 6-8 forward from Florida who played at Oklahoma State this past season. He will sit out this season and have three years of eligibility beginning in the 2020-2021 season (the coaching staff must have been concerned about the number of Duncan's on the team). That is two players from big time programs making their way to Vermont in the past week. Coach Becker has stuck to his word about continuing to push the program forward. Getting two players of this caliber would have been a coup over a 5 year period much less in the same season. The profile of the Vermont program has changed and is continuing to attract stronger and stronger talent. Vermont recruited DeMuth out of high school before his recruitment took off. He chose Oklahoma State over Iowa State, Florida State, and Princeton. Needless to say, the talent is there. DeMuth is a strong scorer at all three levels and is a playmaker off the dribble. Every article I read mentions how hard working and smart he is as on and off the court. A player who is committed to doing whatever it takes to help his team win. The type of player that excels in the Vermont system. He didn't find much success in a dysfunctional program at Oklahoma State still dealing with the fallout from the FBI investigation into player payments. I fully expect DeMuth to use the redshirt year to get himself ready to be a big contributor in a post Anthony Lamb world. This off-season has been a home run for the coaching staff thus far. They filled their need to go for it and maximize the potential of Lamb's senior season while making sure the cupboard isn't bare following the his graduation. There honestly has never been more buzz around the Vermont program and they are in position to make a splash on the national stage next season. November seems too far away.

Daniel Giddens transfers to Vermont

Vermont landed a big time graduate transfer to fill an area of need for next season. Daniel Giddens began his a career at Ohio State before transferring to Alabama. Giddens is a 6-11 center from Georgia who was a 4 star, top 65 player nationally coming out of high school. That makes him on paper the highest rated recruit to find his way to Catamount country. How does a player like that end up at Vermont? First off Giddens hasn't found consistency at the college level. He owns career averages of 3.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 14.4 minutes. He missed significant time last season with injuries and has struggled to live up to the lofty expectations. So what does that mean for Vermont? It means they are getting a player that could put them over the top next season. The coaching staff is clearly going all in for next season. Taking on a grad transfer can be a challenge for a team as the player has to be brought up to speed quickly and they don't have time to form the kind of close knit relationship that comes with playing together for years. In recent years graduate transfers have made significant impacts for many teams including fueling Texas Tech's final four run this past season. The Vermont program has been on the cusp for several years and with the group that is returning next season, they are ready to go for it. Giddens fills the only significant hole in next seasons rotation. After the Ra Kpedi transfer, the roster was razor thin down low. Now they add a player that will immediately bring shot blocking and rebounding. I think about how much production the coaching staff squeezed out of Samuel Dingba this season and am drooling thinking about what they could do with Giddens. Dingba was in year 3 of being a part of the Vermont program and Giddens has to get up to speed in only a few months but his ceiling is very high. His role on the team really boils down to blocking shots, grabbing rebounds, and dunking the ball when teams double Anthony Lamb. Anything else he can bring to the table is gravy. If he can stay out of foul trouble he will get big minutes next season. The coaching staff will make sure he is put in a position for success and I am guessing that is part of why he wants to come to Vermont, for a chance to succeed. If he is bought into working hard and the team first attitude that the Vermont program prides themselves on, he will make a significant impact for the Catamounts. I would guess that Vermont is not finished looking at transfers and wouldn't be surprised to see them grab a player that will have to sit out for the 2019-2020 season. Next season's team is looking like a group that will continue to push the Vermont program forward.