Check out Joba's Hudl page for some highlights.
Saturday, January 14, 2023
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.
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Happy to see them concentrate on getting another big as they are losing lots of backcourt experience and I wondered how much they would concentrate on bigs.
ReplyDeleteIn the film I watched of him he is very impressive and moves extremely well.
I am guessing they very much do not want to be undersized again.
DeleteNice to see a big man coming in. He is smooth in his highlight videos. Nice range from the outside. With 5 graduating seniors (is Deloney staying?) and the ball handlers leaving, who will run the point? Is Hurley skilled enough to run the ball from the point? Finding a true 1 with experience and poise is tough. Duncan will be missed in this category. Any updates on Hurley? Thanks for the updates Lee!
ReplyDeleteHaven't heard about Deloney's plans. They are going to have to add a point guard for sure either through the portal or rely on a freshman. Hurley is more of a two guard. Haven't heard about his injury timeline.
DeleteAgreed, I wonder if the way things have changed with transfers if they can’t get a sophomore/junior backup guard from a mediocre power 5 that wants to win. Or even a guy from the Atlantic 10, etc.. and fill in needs that way
DeleteHonestly, the highlight videos show him playing pretty soft against kids substantially smaller than him. I like his footwork, his touch close to the rim and beyond but I need to see him mixing it up vs stronger and bigger competition.
ReplyDeleteSoft isn't the word I would use but to your point, much of his DI interest has come since the summer AAU circuit and playing at Bridgton Academy this fall. There are some highlights from his current season on his Twitter page if you want to check them out.
DeleteAssuming we keep all of the bigs it is nice to see some 6'9" to ix in with the couple of 6'8"s and 6'7"s. Still need a couple of sharpshooting ball handlers.
ReplyDeleteI could see a combo of portal and freshman to fill out the guard depth.
DeleteI think they’ll have a lot of length 2-5. I actually really liked what I’ve seen of skipper too in terms of athleticism. If Jorge can developer into a scoring 3 and move fiorillo back into that mold, size will not be the issue going forward. Just going to need to fill the void in terms of leadership and consistent scoring which has been lacking other than Duncan.
ReplyDeletePG will definitely be the most significant area of need from an experience/leadership perspective. I like Skipper too.
DeletePicking up a point guard like Either Ernie or Robin Duncan or a Trae Bell-Haynes would do. For good measure lets get a Ben Shungu type to anchor the 1 or 2 position; good leadership qualities and a hard nosed player.
ReplyDeleteAgreed!
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