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.
