Vermont lands their first 2023 recruit

Last night Vermont got a jumpstart on their 2023 recruiting class with a commitment from 6-9 PF Seth Joba. Joba is from Clifton Park, NY and is currently completing a prep year at Bridgton Academy in Maine. The 2023 recruiting class is the most important one at Vermont in quite some time. With so many experienced players graduating this season, the Cats will be an extremely young team next fall. It is going to be important to find players who a ready to contribute and reset the roster. Joba is the perfect start to this important group. He is a big, strong, and versatile player. After a few years of being undersized and thin in the frontcourt, the Vermont coaching staff is clearly looking to turn that weakness into a strength. In watching highlights there are a few things that jump out about Joba's game. First of all he is very dangerous in the pick and roll. With a smooth lefty stroke from distance and strong footwork and body control underneath, Joba can be a threat from inside and out. He can finish with either hand underneath and is ready to dunk the ball on every possession. He is also great on one or two dribble straight line drives to the rim, demonstrating quickness and fluidity with the ball. The second thing that jumps out and what could help him transition quickly next season is he shows some good defensive instincts. Joba can move his feet and has a good feel for shot blocking, something that the Cats desperately need. From what I have read is a smart, hard working kid who is making a big jump this season playing for Bridgton Academy. Adam Finkelstein of 247 Sports broke the news and he feels that Joba is an instant impact player in the America East. If there is any recruiting analyst to trust out there, it is Finkelstein. This season has demonstrated that predicting freshman impact is an inexact science but Joba really looks the part of a future all league caliber player. Next season is the beginning of a new and different era for the Vermont program, the first one without a Duncan on the team in a decade and the youngest team that the Cats have had in that timeframe as well. Joba looks like a great fit with the young guys on this year's team and a good place to start in building next seasons roster. 

Check out Joba's Hudl page for some highlights.