Today's post marks the 400th that I have written. It has been a pretty incredible 9 years building this blog and connecting with people in the Catamount community. This week I got to swing by after the Becker basketball camp and watch the players play a little bit of pick-up. It was exciting to see the newcomers out on the court for the first time. It has been several years since Vermont has had such a big group of young players and that always adds to the excitement for next season. Even though it was only pickup and the first time this group has played together, here are a few things that jumped out at me. Perry Smith Jr. looked every bit the big time recruit. He is certainly the most highly regarded recruit that Vermont has been able to land as a freshman and looks like he will be a big part of this year's team. He is big and athletic underneath with soft touch and the ability to finish in a variety of ways. What impressed me the most was how well rounded of a player he is. Smith Jr. plays with tremendous pace and awareness on the court and is a good passer. He is comfortable on the perimeter and handling the ball in the open court. Definitely going to have a day one impact and looks to be one of the top freshman in the league. TJ Hurley also stood out with great size as a guard and incredible shooting touch. Fluid, simple mechanics and brimming with confidence, Hurley has all the makings of a big time shooter. Great feel for moving without the ball and smooth footwork in his shot preparation. Jorge Ochoa brings size and shooting ability and Jackson Skipper played with a very high motor on both ends of the court. Those are a few of the things that stood out to me in the hour or so that I watched. This team is bigger and more athletic than a typical Vermont squad and has wing depth for maybe the first time ever. With so many new players there is going to be a steep learning curve but the ceiling for this Vermont team is very high.
I love this...keep those updates coming. And kudos again for your good work.
ReplyDeleteThank you!!
DeleteLove to hear the inside scoop especially during the off season and about the new players. Wondered what you thought of Michel's progress and skills. Thanx
ReplyDeleteMichel is very fast, probably the quickest player on the team. No fear and strong with a low center of gravity. He could certainly grow into a role in the future. On the defensive side of the ball his size does get taken advantage of so that will be the area that he would have to work to improve to get minutes down the road.
DeleteThanks for the update, Lee. Have you anything about heavily recruited Taylor Bol Bowen. Vermont is on his list.
ReplyDeleteI have heard that the bigger schools are leading the pack. Including Vermont may have been a nod to his roots.
DeleteLove this blog
ReplyDeleteThank you!!
DeleteTaylor is going to FSU.
ReplyDeleteGreat! That will be a good fit.
DeleteI think that Vermont would be a better fit! Taylors do very well here!
ReplyDeleteIs Perry Smith Jr. a more highly regarded recruit than Lamb? You seem to say that.
In terms of recruiting level Smith Jr. is more highly regarded for sure. Lamb was getting A10 level recruitment whereas Smith Jr. had legitimate SEC offers.
DeleteThanks for all of the well researched nicely documented and very balanced coverage of my favorite team! Your hard work is appreciated here! I can't wait to see what the coaching staff can doe with thus squad. Will Smith have to wade through the Becker system and see freshman big man bench time next year or is he ready to go
ReplyDeleteThanks! I am glad you enjoy the blog. That is the big question. Which young players will run the gauntlet and get the system under their belt in time. Smith Jr. Certainly has a clear path to playing time and most of his competition for minutes is inexperienced as well so I think he will be ready to go, and Becker is going to be forced to play some of the young guys no matter what. Might have to be a slightly longer leash this year.
DeleteIf Lamb had A 10 offers, I think they were low level, if anything. St. Bonaventure did not offer him. However, Lamb had a lot of mid-major interest, which is saying something. Ditto for Davis. It sure seems as if the Cats are getting higher rated players these days. Dylan Penn had major, major offers.
ReplyDeleteHe did have a St. Joes offer. Becker's whole philosophy has been for every new group of players to be slightly better than the last to keep the program moving forward. I would say that he has been pretty successful in doing that and this round of recruiting has been particularly successful. Penn and Smith Jr are certainly the best transfer and freshman respectively that they have snagged based on who they were competing with to get them.
DeleteWondered if you had any impressions of Varetto and Faleye
ReplyDeleteFaleye did not play. He was doing work on the side. Veretto looked good. Ran the sets very well, nice touch from the three point line, good rebounder. Strikes me as a guy who will do the dirty work and make little plays that will help the team win.
DeleteI was wondering this as well.
ReplyDeleteCheck the reply above.
DeleteDid Alamatu play in that scrimmage? Impressions? He seemed to have great promise for bringing explosiveness and physicality to the program but we have seen really nothing of note from him.
ReplyDeleteAlamutu did play. He didn't really assert himself. Ran the point. He is physically imposing for sure and is a good rebounder. He looked like he still has a little ways to go in his development but the tools are there. I think the change in level of competition put him a little bit behind.
DeleteThanks
DeleteAny word on the reported Perry Smith injury??
ReplyDeleteI have not heard about it.
DeleteBFP said it is a minor shoulder injury.
DeleteLee, Do know anything about games UVM will be playing in Montreal in August? Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThe team will be in Montreal August 12th-14th. They will have a game each day with the Friday game being an evening game an the other two will be afternoon games. So far there are no times and locations for the games. They have played at College Jean de Brebeuf each of the last two times for the friday night game and Mcgill and UQAM were the locations for the weekend games last time. The family and I went last time and had a blast and we will be up for the weekend this time around as well. The details are not usually announced until August.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete