Sunday, May 12, 2024
Vermont rounds out their 2024 recruiting class
Vermont finished their 2024 recruiting cycle with a commitment from 6'4" G Ben Wesson from Charlottesville, VA. Wesson played his high school basketball at Albemarle High School and was named the regional player of the year this past season. He is only 17 years old and was considering a potential prep year to get ready for the college game. Vermont swooped in and offered him the last 2024 slot and he will have a chance to redshirt this season and hit the ground running the following season. The coaching staff has done a great job this cycle adding immediate impact transfers (Jayhlon Young and Shy Odom) and future contributors (Sean Blake, Drew Bessette, and Wesson). Due to their strong veteran rotation, all of the freshman next year will be able to sit for a year and adjust to the college game, giving them a leg up for the 25-26 season when they will have minutes available to potentially add depth to the rotation as redshirt freshman. Freshman across the country are about to have their chance to impact college basketball again as teams get much younger following this season. This feels like a return to the previous era when the Vermont coaching staff always added a combination of freshmen and transfers (when they used to have to sit out) to balance and plan for current and future seasons simultaneously. The Vermont program has had a strong track record with redshirt season development. Now back to Wesson. He is a great fit in the Vermont program. A bit of a late bloomer who has elite shooting potential and playmaking instincts. He plays with a strong motor and has good defensive fundamentals. With a prep year to get stronger and adjust to the college game, he is set up to have an impact early in his career as a shooter. Pick your comparison over the years (Cam Ward, Stef Smith, TJ Hurley, etc.) and Wesson's skill set has often blossomed in the Vermont system. A plug and play Catamount. Another successful recruiting season with loads of potential and for the first time in a few years, completed in early May so the coaching staff gets a little bit of a break before the summer program. Another exciting season in Catamount country is on tap!
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Thank you for the report. Who else recruited Ben?
ReplyDeleteAnd are you sure that he's sitting out? We probably need his shooting!
Iona was his other DI offer. The rotation next year is very full. 99% on the redshirt. I so think the shooting for Vermont will be an interesting storyline next season.
DeleteIona and Frostburg State. If he balls out in preseason he will play. Same for Sean Blake!
ReplyDelete99% sure they will both redshirt regardless of performance. Rotation is full and the freshman impact is still limited by the amount of 23+ aged players in college basketball.
DeleteYou should talk to one of the coaches on the staff. Opinion may change!
DeleteWill be exciting to follow.
DeleteDisagree about returning shooting with Hurley Long and Jacqamore we have decent depth with Ayo Faleye Fiorillo and Joba we should have decent 3 point depth
ReplyDeleteI think the three point shooting will be a x factor. Losing Deloney and Veretto is a lot to replace. Hurley is going to have to step into that role and Long will have to find a little more consistency. Predicting how they will shoot from distance is murky at best.
DeleteUnfortunately, i think we need lights out three point shooting not decent to beat a high major. That being said I’ve never been so excited for summer to turn into fall and to watch this roster next yr. This will be by far the deepest most athletic team we’ve ever had barring injuries. It also may be the most experienced. The only thing that remains to be seen is whose team will this be/who will fill the leadership role left behind by Aaron. Another thing to look at is the AE. From what I can tell from the portal, the other top 3-4 seeds look to be down from last yr. This team depending on scheduling could end up with only 3-4 losses…
ReplyDeleteThree point shooting would certainly help and they will certainly have to be more consistent than they were this season. However their defense will likely be even better next season and that will give them a chance to beat anybody. The depth and athleticism will be really fun to see. Leadership will be key for sure. Bryant managed to retain most of their guys. Lowell is in good shape as well. Whatever their last few additions will be are going to be key to see how much they can push Vermont. I could see a 4-7 loss range depending on the schedule (if healthy).
DeleteGreat work Lee on this blog. Awesome insights. I see we are going to Mohegan in Nov. are there any other opponents identified yet? Hoping for a signature opponent for a chance at a big out of conference win. Agreed with comments on outside shooting. With Bogues driving to lane, he can finish, rim run with Ileri or dish to one of the TJs for a knock down jumper. Would love to see Hurley take that next step. Tj Long on the other wing will be huge. So many big guys this year, wonder if Becker plays big? Ileri, Odom, Joba, Sammy and Nick likely all deserving of rotational minutes.
ReplyDeleteThe minutes distribution will be a fascinating storyline during the season. A percentage of the schedule is part of a series so Yale, Dartmouth, Brown, Merrimack, etc. are all going to be on there.
DeleteIf they do red short the freshman and start Long, Hurley and Bogues, does that mean the only guard off the bench are Jace and Young?
ReplyDeleteYes. I think the three will kind of be a swing spot depending on going big or small.
DeleteBogues is listed as a guard, plays like a guard and finishes like a forward.
ReplyDeleteFor sure!
DeleteDitto re: Sam Alamutu
ReplyDeleteSame
DeleteAlthough Sam is identified as a guard I am not sure his skill set fits that at all. He does very little ball handling, limits his shot making to very near the hoop. I’d love to see improvement on those fronts. His explosiveness seems like it could be put go good use if ball-handling and a willingness to attack going to the hoop from outside became part of his repertoire. No matter what, he serves as a defender/rebounder, par excellence!
ReplyDeleteHe could play a little at the three if there was a lot of shooting on the floor but most likely will remain in a similar role this season as the small ball big.
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