Vermont vs NJIT 12/28/20

 NJIT 81 Vermont 80 2OT

What a game. What a heartbreaker.

With both teams trading blows in a hard fought game, San Antonio Brinson was able to corral an airball and put it up before the buzzer to give NJIT their first America East win. Vermont struggled to get stops down the stretch and their perimeter shooting disappeared again, making every possession a battle. Dylan O'Hearn exploded in the extra periods and finished with 26 points. Vermont just couldn't string any buckets together and survived as long as they could before succumbing to the Highlanders. Once again the perimeter shooting from Vermont's guards was non-existent. Vermont finished 5-21 from three and only made one three after halftime. Stef Smith made the only three for Vermont's perimeter players and for the second straight game, the big men provided the perimeter shooting. This is an area I keep harping on because it is going to be very difficult to have a consistent offensive flow if their guards continue to struggle from the perimeter. It is a small sample size but through the first four games, the combination of Bailey Patella, Justin Mazzulla, Robin Duncan, Ben Shungu, and Aaron Deloney are a combined 3-24 (12.5%) from three. Ouch. The loss unfortunately overshadowed another dominant effort from Ryan Davis. He finished with a new career high 27 points on 11-14 shooting from the field. Davis looks downright explosive around the rim and his touch has been incredible. He finished the weekend with 49 points in the two games and looks capable of putting this team on his back. Ben Shungu continued his strong play as well with 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists. His ability to post up underneath and finish around the rim is giving the Cats a nice dimension to their offense. Nick Fiorillo continued his strong play and is playing himself in a nice role in the rotation. Outside of those three the rest of the Cats really struggled and as a result they lacked the offensive balance they are accustomed to. Stef Smith had a great game yesterday and looked ready to find his footing. He took another step back today as he just doesn't look comfortable in the offense. He is now the focal point for opposing defenses and it is going to be an adjustment that takes time and has been made more challenging by the shortened season. The Vermont defense really struggled down the stretch and they allowed NJIT to stay in an offensive rhythm. The Highlanders shot 51% from the field and imposed their will on the Cats. You could see the minutes start to pile up and the rotations were a step slow. As I mentioned in my preview these back to backs going to produce some wild results. All of the games in the America East were tightly contested today and Vermont wasn't the only team to end up on the wrong side of the result reversal. Binghamton fought hard to get their first win of the season by snapping UMBC's seven game win streak. Now Vermont has four days to get ready for a big showdown with Albany at Patrick this weekend. One positive is now Vermont has experienced both versions of the back to back split and they will be able to use that experience as fuel and motivation to clean up the mistakes and build momentum to be playing their best basketball by the end of the season. 

Vermont vs NJIT 12/27/20

 Vermont 92 NJIT 78

Back at Patrick. Back on track. 

Vermont used an offensive explosion, courtesy of ten first half threes, to take control against NJIT and win their conference home opener. With Ryan Davis returning to the starting lineup, Vermont's offense did a 180 from last week. The Cats couldn't miss from the outside and found much more balance with their full team available. Stef Smith led the Cats with 27 points (5-7 from three) and 7 rebounds. He was in an offensive rhythm from the get go and looked much more comfortable within the offense. Davis looked fantastic in his return to the court, tying his career high with 22 points. He knocked down 2 threes and finished with an array of moves down low. When healthy Davis is one of the best big men in the league. It was an incredibly balanced effort as Vermont shot 56% from the field and had 21 assists on 33 made baskets. The big men really showed their floor stretching ability as Stef was the only guard to make a three. As I mentioned Davis had two, Isaiah Powell and Nick Fiorillo made two as well, and Tomas Murphy made one in his first action as a Catamount. A funny box score to say the least. Murphy only played 6 minutes but made the most of it, scoring 7 points in his first game action. He did not look 100% and it will be interesting to see how he and Davis respond to the back to back game schedule. The coaching staff did a nice job managing minutes as no one played more than 29. Once Vermont got up big in the first half there was a shift to having a foot in both games for sure. Vermont faces the opposite problem of last week's series as they now need to find a way to stay engaged and come out with the same energy after a blowout win. Today's game was a glimpse of the potential of this Cats team when they are fully healthy. They have offensive balance and are a threat to score from just about every position. This schedule really makes game two of the series an exciting chess match and I can't wait to see what the game looks like tomorrow. 

Vermont at UMass Lowell 12/22/20

Vermont 62 UMass Lowell 53

Vermont used a 20-1 run to take control of the game and bounced back to pick up their first win of the season. The game was equally as disjointed as last night's game as both teams struggled to find an offensive rhythm. Vermont was able to limit their mistakes and were much more engaged on the defensive end of the floor. This is a big win as the Cats are going to be in survival mode until they can get Ryan Davis or Tomas Murphy back. The grit and determination that are trademarks of Vermont teams were on full display in this one. Ben Shungu was an absolute warrior today. He played 37 minutes of tough, physical perimeter defense and led the Cats with 12 points (a perfect 8-8 effort from the line) and 6 rebounds. He really set the tone with his defense and the rest of the team responded. Justin Mazzulla followed Shungu's lead with tough physical defense of his own. Through two games it looks like Mazzulla is going to be a special player for the Cats. He is a ball hawk on defense and tenacious when attacking the rim. Mazzulla also played 37 minutes and added 9 points and 5 rebounds. Bailey Patella still isn't 100% but he battled hard and also chipped in 9 points and 5 rebounds. Stef Smith once again looked completely out of sync but was able to finish with 10 points. Nick Fiorillo impressed again in limited minutes. Fiorillo chipped in 7 points including knocking down one of Vermont's two threes. The fact that he is able to already be a positive contributor is nothing short of amazing for a walk on playing in his second ever college game. He is playing with confidence and taking advantage of his chance to contribute. Vermont took better care of the ball with only 11 turnovers while forcing 21 for Lowell. The three point shooting was once again atrocious as the Cats finished 2-17. This group doesn't have the shooters that Vermont has had over the post several seasons and it is going to take hard work to make themselves a real threat from the perimeter. Coming out of this weekend at 1-1 is big and now that the season is real hopefully the players can get after it this week in practice before hosting NJIT at Patrick on Sunday. The Cats showed some heart in getting a win when they were dealing with injuries and not playing their best basketball. Now it is time to lock in and execute. 

Vermont at UMass Lowell 12/21/20

UMass Lowell 73 Vermont 65

Basketball is back.

In their first game since March, Vermont struggled to find a rhythm and fell to UMass Lowell in the season opener. The game was as discombobulated and filled with mistakes as expected. At full strength this first game was going to be a difficult one as the Cats tried to shake off the rust. Being down two frountcourt starters made the task even harder. With the frontcourt thin, Vermont was forced to play small which fits right into the way UMass Lowell wants to play. As a result the Riverhawks were able to dictate the flow of the game. Obadiah Noel shook off a scoreless first half due to foul trouble and pumped in 17 second half points. He is going to have a very good season for Lowell and will absolutely be making a push for player of the year. The hero for Lowell tonight was Ron Mitchell. The sophomore guard came off the bench and made big shot after big shot on his was to a career high 24 points. Every time Vermont made a run, Mitchell had an answer. Lowell capitalized on the Cats mistakes and led the game wire to wire. Becker has been very honest in saying that the team is not where it needs to be and that was clear tonight. The Cats committed 16 turnovers, missed 10 free throws, and shot 8-26 (30.8%) from three. The defensive rotations were slow and there was a lot of confusion when players were switching. The three point shooting was something I highlighted in my preview and I think this game illustrated what could be an area of difficulty for the Cats. Outside of Smith there is no other "can't leave" shooter. Stef Smith led the Cats with 18 points but struggled to find a rhythm before fouling out. Justin Mazzulla was a big time bright spot for Vermont as he almost single-handedly brought the team back in the second half and finished with 17 points. He looked great getting to the rim and used his size and physicality to score through contact. He also tied for the team high with 6 rebounds and played hard on the defensive end. He is going to be a force for the Cats this season. Robin Duncan continued his typical production. He was a non-factor offensively while playing tough defense and leading Vermont with 6 rebounds and 5 assists. His shooting has just not progressed and he is going to continue to fill the Brian Voelkel type role. I thought Nick Fiorillo performed well in his limited minutes. He couldn't get a shot to fall from the perimeter but scored his first collegiate points and wasn't overmatched. If these injuries persist he may see his role grow. The injuries to Ryan Davis and Tomas Murphy are a big blow to the Cats and they are going to have to try and grind out games to survive until they can get to full strength. They just don't have a replacement for their scoring ability in the point. This series seemed like a split to me from the get go so tomorrow is the crucial game in my mind. The rust is off. The games are happening. Now it is time to see what kind of adjustments can be made. That is going to be the true test this year. Win or lose how do teams respond to the game the next day. 

Vermont Basketball season outlook

Is it really here? Can we finally get excited?

After nine months of waiting, Vermont basketball is back. 

Without the typical preseason to see the team and get comfortable figuring out player's roles and system tweaks, it is tougher than ever to know what the team is going to look like. After all this waiting, it is going to be like opening a present on Christmas morning. Sometimes it is the thing you have been wishing for all year and wanted most of all..... and sometimes it is a subscription to the jelly of the month club. I have never been more excited to finally see what kind of team Vermont is going to be. So lets dive in and put some of the puzzle pieces together. 

The lineup

Ben Shungu and Stef Smith are the two very clear and very predictable members of the starting lineup. No surprises here. I expect them both to be the tremendous players that they have been over the past few seasons. Smith is poised to have a monster season and lead this team in scoring. Hopefully Shungu has shaken off the injury limitations that he had to play through last season. He was incredibly effective at less than 100% and I am excited to see what he can do at full strength. I listened to the Catamount insider podcast this week and Becker provided some clarity about how the rest of the rotation is starting to take shape. He spoke very highly about Justin Mazzulla and praised him as the "alpha" on the team. A guy who will do it all, set the tone, and bring energy and toughness. Sounds like he is going to start at the three. I am excited about what Mazzulla will bring to the program this year and think he is ready to make a big impact on both ends of the floor. Becker was very high on the guard group as a whole saying that "all six guys could start". Aaron Deloney, Robin Duncan, and Bailey Patella will all have big roles as well. With the back to back schedule, the coaching staff is going to be looking to manage minutes even more carefully. Eric Beckett put in big time work in the offseason will also have a chance to contribute. As you might expect with the abnormal preseason, it sounds like there have been various injuries that have hampered Vermont's ability to play with lineups and have the whole team available at the same time. Becker specifically mentioned that Patella and Ryan Davis had been dealing with various injuries. That brings us to how the frontcourt is going to play out. This is the area with the most question marks and the play of the frontcourt will be the deciding factor in Vermont's success this season. Davis, if healthy, will be a cornerstone of the lineup and a big part of their offense. Injuries have really hampered his consistency and it is unfortunate to hear he hasn't quite shaken the injury bug. The positive news is it sounds like Tomas Murphy has looked excellent thus far and Becker went so far as to say "maybe the best big man they have had during his tenure". Wow. It sounds like this praise is due to his array of post moves and nice touch around the rim. Now that may be some coach speak, but if you have watched any of Murphy's highlights form his Northeastern days, he has incredible fundamentals, footwork, and feel around the rim. His success this season is going to hinge on his ability to be equally as effective on the defensive end. As every Vermont fan knows, no defense, no court time. It sounds like at full health, Becker would like to see if Vermont could roll out a lineup with Murphy and Davis rounding out the starting five. Due to injuries that has not happened yet so to begin the season I think Isaiah Powell will be a big part of the rotation and will get the start if Davis can't go. 

Filling in the frontcourt rotation

This is the biggest question mark for the Cats this season as I mentioned above. If they do indeed have injuries or run into foul trouble, who gets the minutes? Duncan Demuth really struggled in his first year as a Catamount but certainly has the talent to be a contributor. After that everything is up in the air. Georges Lefebvre has loads of talent and it is more a matter of when, rather than if, he will be able to contribute. This season really puts freshman behind the eight ball and it remains to be seen how quickly he will be able to make the adjustment to the college game. Nick Fiorillo has been getting a lot of buzz this offseason and Becker called him their "best frontcourt shooter". He will certainly have to improve in other areas and it might be alot to ask for him to be able to step in this year, but it looks as though he will absolutely be a contributor during his Catamount career. This rotation will likely be a source of game to game experimentation and the minutes distribution will be very matchup dependent. 

Style of play

After four years of running their offense through Anthony Lamb, this guard oriented team will likely play faster and look to get out in transition. Becker wants to take advantage of the size of Mazzulla, Duncan, and Patella to play smaller lineups where Vermont can pressure the ball and try to take advantage of their depth to run teams down. It will be very different than what Vermont teams have looked like in recent years as Vermont has the size, athleticism, and depth at the guard position to get up and down the court. That is not say that they won't still look for the best shot or grind it out on defense. I do think that where they will miss Everett Duncan and Lamb the most is on the defensive end. Offense is "easier" to replace than the defensive presence and experience those two players brought every game. This team might give up a few more points per game but will likely try to make up for it by forcing a few more turnovers. 

Key Questions

Where will the three point shooting come from?

Everett and Lamb accounted for 40% of both Vermont's makes and attempts from three last season. That is a big number. That is a lot to replace within the context of the offense. Stef will certainly fill in but he was already a huge part of the Cats success from three and already owns a high percentage of their perimeter offense. If you take out Lamb, Everett, and Stef from the three point statistics, the rest of the team shot 27% from three last season. Not great. Someone is going to have to make a big leap in their three point efficiency in order to make Vermont more than one dimensional from the perimeter. Mazzulla is a career 27% shooter from three and it is not a big part of his game. Deloney is the most likely candidate to make a big improvement as he is a much better shooter than he showed last season. I do however see him as very streaky and again that potentially leaves Stef as the only guy who is a "must guard" on the perimeter. Vermont has plenty of capable shooters that can keep teams honest but I could see teams daring guys to shoot from the perimeter, packing it in to stop penetration, and living with the results. This is where you might see Becker try to use Fiorillo in short bursts to try and stretch the defense. 

Can they really play an uptempo style?

Vermont always ranks in the back half of the pack in terms of tempo each year. Part of this is due to the defensive system that they run which forces other teams to slow their tempo as well. However, the Cats have always been very comfortable in their half court sets and always defer until they get the best shot possible. It would be a major departure from the Vermont teams of the past to try and push the tempo. I think this team has the makeup to do it and it will be interesting to see if they can execute a new vision. 

How will the mental aspect of the game play out?

I believe Vermont's greatest advantage over the years has been their mental toughness. The game preparation, goal setting, and winning culture has carried them through challenges every season. I am not questioning the players on this team's ability to continue the high level of mental focus displayed year in and year out. However, this is an unprecedented time in history and it would naive to think that all of the stress can be blocked out. This pandemic has affected everyone, no matter how strong their resolve. No fans, constant anxiety about will the games happen or not, family health and safety, etc. There is so much uncertainty and there is no way that it doesn't make its way on the court at points throughout the year. 

So what will the season look like?

How will they finish?

Vermont got a very good schedule draw as they will have 10 home games and 8 road games. They also got  Albany and Stony Brook at home. So far it looks as though homecourt advantage is a little less important than in past years but a slight advantage still exists. I think the back to back games will make it hard to have a 1-2 loss season that has been the norm over the past four years. I think Vermont will shake off the rust and finish at the top of the league. It will likely come down to the final series of the season at UMBC but I think Vermont finishes in first place at 13-5. The Cats have the talent and depth to continue to perform as one of the best mid-majors in the country. I think there will be some rust early on, but as long as the season plays out with a relatively predictable rhythm and players can stay healthy, Vermont will be playing at a high level by the end of the season.

Never been more excited for some basketball. 

America East Conference preview

Is it finally time for some basketball?

With the conference schedule set to begin this weekend, it is time to start talking basketball again. As with everything in 2020, it is hard to look ahead very far and even harder to know what the future will bring. This conference season will be unlike any other and as such will be equally as unpredictable. In a typical season every team has prepared for the season in roughly the same way. Preseason, scrimmages, exhibitions, and a non-conference schedule year in and year out. That makes predictions easier as you can for all intents and purposes compare apples to apples. This year all of that gets thrown out the window and now it is time to try and sift through the rubble. The list of factors that will make this college basketball season just as unpredictable as everything else this year would be enough to fill the pages of a book. Some are simple and don't need long explanations. Teams have had different amounts of practice time, different practice protocols, different amounts of games played, roster changes, etc. These are all pretty straight forward and will undoubtedly affect teams significantly. There are a few I would like to dive into in more detail. First off, the schedule. With a two game, home and home schedule structure, there was no way to make it "fair". Some teams have more home games than others. Not every team has to travel to every school. Also, playing back to back games is a whole different animal than rest days in between. All of this unbalance is going to lead to some wacky results. If a team is dealing with injuries or ineffective play in December, there is no return game late in the season to avenge an earlier loss. This season it is going to matter even more when you play which team. Also if you have followed back to back series so far this season it has led to some wild swings in results. Team A dominates night one, only to get blown out night two. It is going to lead to some interesting basketball and will absolutely test every teams resolve. And I don't even need to mention postponements, pauses, and further COVID disruptions that are bound to occur. I probably forgot about five other points I was going to make but that will have to do as I too have to try to get back into the swing of things. I am going to group the teams rather than try and predict an actual record because I feel like that is going to be more applicable for all the reasons mentioned above.  

The Contenders:

UMBC

UMBC has been a bright spot for the America East so far as they have gone 4-1 in the non-conference. They were picked to finish second way back when the poll came out and I think they have jumped Vermont as the favorite as of this moment. The Retrievers are a veteran team with guys who have won consistently and competed at a high level. They bring back much of last years team led by RJ Eytle-Rock and Brandon Horvath. The Retrievers have executed at both ends of the floor to begin this season. A healthy Daniel Akin gives them a big presence down low and he and Dimitri Spasojevic complement each other well. The biggest addition for UMBC is getting back a healthy Darnell Rogers who packs a lot of punch into his 5-2 frame. Throw in L.J Owens and Keonte Kennedey and you have a rotation that is strong at every position and versatile. The only real fly in the ointment is they got the short end of the scheduling stick. They have 10 road games and those road games are against the upper tier of the AE. They do host Vermont to close out the conference schedule at the end of February that will most likely have implications regarding the regular season title (I mean UMBC/Vermont has quickly become one of the best mid-major rivalries, love it).

Vermont

What kind of team will Vermont be this season? They were already in for a big transition losing Anthony Lamb and Everett Duncan. Those two were solid as a rock over their careers and replacing them goes beyond the box score. The offseason has included two pauses for COVID, a cancelled non-conference schedule, and the Cats lost Bernie Andre before he ever stepped foot on the court. All of this adds up to the most uncertainty going into a Vermont season in quite a while. Stef Smith is poised to take the reins and lead the Cats. With Ben Shungu, Robin Duncan, Aaron Deloney and newcomer Justin Mazzulla, Vermont has depth and size at the guard position. Ryan Davis made a big jump last season but he will be counted on to climb even higher. After that Vermont has a lot of talent but a lot of questions marks as well. Will Duncan Demuth produce with year under his belt? Can Isaiah Powell find some consistency? How quickly will newcomers Tomas Murphy and Georges Lefebrve get up to speed? Vermont runs a complicated system and without a full offseason, will the Cats be able to play with the unity and chemistry that makes them so tough? I will dive more into the nitty gritty in my Vermont specific preview before their first game on Monday. 

The challengers:

Albany

For two years now the Great Danes have struggled mightily to live up to the standards that they have set with their years of success. They have the talent to compete with anyone in the league but have been missing that spark that they have had on their championship caliber teams. Too many mistakes and lackluster play. If this group can shake off the inconsistency they have a chance to push their way back to the top. They along with Vermont, Maine, and NJIT will enter conference play without any games under their belt. That could be a challenge for Will Brown as he often needs time to incorporate a slew of newcomers before settling on a rotation. Albany will attempt to incorporate several transfers and freshman into the mix to surround their returning core. Cameron Healy is one of the best players in the conference and along with Anthony Rizzuto, gives the Great Danes two of the best long range snipers in the league. Trey Hutcheson will try to build on a strong freshman season and Adam Lulka will look to stay healthy and give the Danes the tough physical presence they need. 

Hartford:

Oh what could have been. The Hawks were days away from playing in their first title game since 2008 before the cancellation. Is that unfinished business going to give the Hawks an extra boost as they enter this season? They will have to replace Malik Ellison which is no easy task. Moses Flowers has exploded to start the year and has become the Hawks go to player. Traci Carter and Hunter Marks return to build on last season. The big newcomer for the Hawks is Marist transfer Austin Williams who has started all five games this season for Hartford. The big questions for Hartford are the same as they have been every year under John Gallagher. Do they have enough of a presence down low to compete on the boards and can they consistently make shots. Time will tell. 

New Hampshire:

New Hampshire has quietly built themselves into a competitive team again. They play hard and tough on defense which keeps them in a lot of games. Their entire team is back and that continuity is going to be an advantage this season. Nick Guadarrama (the guy you want on your team but really bugs you as an opposing fan) is an all league caliber player and has improved every season. The Wildcats will get a boost with the blanket transfer wavier that was passed today as I believe they will now have Houston Baptist transfer Qon Murphy available to give them more depth at the guard position. New Hampshire is another team that that needs to find consistent shooting from the outside in order to make the leap.

UMass Lowell

Lowell has been knocking at the door since they come into the league. They play an exciting fast paced style of play that really stretches opposing defenses. Their offensive efficiency in a league that prides itself on defense has made for some very exciting games. Unfortunately the defense has not yet caught up to their offense leaving them on the outside looking in. Has this wacky year left the door open a crack? Lowell owns the most impressive AE win of the non-conference as they knocked off a strong San Francisco squad to open the season. The River Hawks have a player of the year candidate in Obadiah Noel and Wagner transfer Darion Jordan-Thomas has provided a nice spark in his first season with the team. We wont have to wait long to find out where the Riverhawks stand as Lowell host Vermont next Monday and Tuesday for what should be a very telling series for both teams.  

The question marks:

Stony Brook

The Seawolves had the strangest offseason of any team losing all five starters to transfers. The cupboard was bare and it remains to be seen exactly how well Geno Ford and his staff were able to fill it back up. Transfers Frankie Policelli, Tyeki Greene, and Jaden Sayles have led the charge thus far with JUCO product Juan Felix Rodriguez at the controls. Lone returner Mo Gueye has provided a spark as well as he looks to build off and up and down season. I expect them to be very competitive and push the teams at the top. This group could surprise some teams and may very well play the spoiler. 

NJIT

The conference newcomers were suppose to open conference play last weekend but that series with New Hampshire was postponed due to COVID. They are still waiting to play their first game as a member of the America East. They are an exciting addition to the conference and have all the pieces to immediately duke it out in the middle of the pack. Zach Cooks will likely compete for the scoring title and with fellow senior San Antonio Brinson,  they form a formidable 1-2 punch. Along with rising junior Souleymane Diakite the Highlanders are ready to bring their defensive minded team in to the America East.  

The rest:

Binghamton & Maine

These two teams are once again destined to fight it out at the bottom of the standings. Each program has struggled to find consistency and keep their good players in the program. Whether it be transfers, injuries, or just plain bad luck, these two programs have a ways to go before they are ready to put a competitive team out on the court night in and night out.

So that is where it stands as of today. Like everything else this year, things are subject to change, but at least very soon conference basketball will be back (hopefully). Stay Safe. 

Vermont gets 2021 commit number two

After landing a big time recruit last week Vermont makes another splash on the recruiting trail, landing Evan Guillory. Guillory is a 6'2 guard from Joplin, MO by way of  the New Hampton Prep school in NH. He is another big strong guard who likes to get to the rim and finish with authority. This is another classic Vermont player. A guy who play with intensity. poise, and gets after it on defense. Guillory is a capable shooter who will do the little things that will help Vermont win. Guillory can certainly step right into a Ben Shungu type role with his ability to play tough physical defense at multiple positions. This is the first recruit from the Vermont connection at New Hampton. Andrew Gale, who went to Vermont and worked on the Men's basketball staff for four years was named the head coach at New Hampton last season. The branches of the Becker coaching tree are beginning to bear fruit. Guillory will be able to step right in and provide a defensive spark off the bench. It remains to be seen how this season will play out and how many of the seniors will decide to come back next season. If everyone does decide to come back Vermont will be very crowded at the guard position. This gives Vermont some flexibility to fill some gaps depending on how the roster shakes out next season.  As with everything else in life this year, this recruiting cycle has been difficult on so may levels. Not getting to see guys play, not knowing what the roster makeup will be the following season. Despite the challenges Vermont continues to recruit at an incredibly high level and ensures that regardless of how this season pans out, they will continue to field a roster capable of winning a championship. 

Vermont gets first 2021 commitment

Yesterday Vermont received the first commitment in their 2021 class from Sam Alamutu, a 6'5 guard from Ajax, Ontario. Out of the players that Vermont had offered during this past recruiting cycle, Alamutu was the guy I wanted Vermont to land. He is poised to be the next star guard from Canada, following in the footsteps of Trae Bell-Haynes and Stef Smith. He will also be the third player from Ajax, Ontario on the roster, joining Stef Smith and Eric Beckett. Alamutu is a big strong guard capable of dominating the game on both ends of the floor. Like Bell-Haynes and Smith, Alamutu is incredibly driven to be the best, and dedicated to getting better. He traveled a long way to play his prep ball at the Rothesay Netherwood school in New Brunswick where he is a prefect (Harry Potter fans rejoice!) and his coaches rave about his leadership and intangibles. I have been watching his highlight video periodically for months and find myself daydreaming at what he could bring to the Catamounts. Alamutu is tenacious going to the hole and can finish above the rim. He also has a nice pull up jumper and looks to have the tools to be a strong outside shooter. He is also a strong rebounder from the guard position. Alamutu uses his size and strength to his advantage on the defensive end with the ability to guard multiple positions. He is the perfect fit in the system at Vermont where his size and strength at the guard position will continue to give the Cats the ability to be a lockdown defensive team. He is a future team leader and could develop into one of the best players in the league. This quote from North Pole Hoops perfectly sums up his potential:

"There’s been deep study on this type of talent and those before him from Canada who are now in the NBA. North Pole Hoops’ scouting team has evaluated Alamutu in every environment possible and he checks off all the vital boxes that make up a pro at the highest levels."

I am beyond excited about Alamutu's future with the Vermont program and despite what has to be the strangest and most difficult recruiting cycle the coaching staff has faced, the Cats continue to knock it out of the park.