Vermont adds Bellarmine star Dylan Penn

Big day for Vermont. 

The Cats added their most heralded transfer ever in Dylan Penn, a 6-3 guard from Evansville, IN who just completed a 4 year career at Bellarmine. It cannot be overstated how significant this is for the Vermont program. This is the type of one year transfer that almost universally goes to a Power 5 school. In fact the list of the other schools that inquired about Penn was littered with Power 5 programs. He has been Bellarmine's best player for the last few seasons, which included the schools first two in Division I. Penn led his team to the Atlantic Sun championship and was named the tourney MVP. Unfortunately Bellarmine was ineligible for the NCAA tourney due to their transitioning status.  He was an all Atlantic Sun selection in both of his years in the league. Should I go on? Can you tell that I am giddy with excitement? Penn also happens to be a very unique player who led the country in scoring in the 9-10 foot range from the basket. He is a kind of a throwback/"post player in a guards body" type scorer who makes up for a lack of outside shooting with an array of moves in the paint. Hooks, floaters, layups, push shots with either hand are his bread and butter. An incredibly ambidextrous player who despite shooting left handed loves to spin back to his right in the lane for one of those half hooks from 9 feet.  He is going to fit perfectly in the Vermont system coming from a Bellarmine program that is also a team oriented, work the ball for the best shot system. To go along with the scoring ability Penn also does a little bit of everything. Just check out these four year totals: 1260 points, 346 assists, 334 rebounds, 38 blocks, and 92 steals. A true star player who will immediately be one of the favorites for the player of the year in the America East. The battles with conference newcomer Bryant, who have also made some big transfer additions are going to be fierce this season. Another incredible job by the coaching staff and I have to think a little help from the fellow Evansvillians? Evansvillers? the Duncan's. The butterfly effect of Ernie Duncan committing to the Cats almost ten years ago continues to change the Vermont program.