2012 America East Recruiting Thread

[Quickdraw62]

Originally Posted by UVM Hoop Cat

No idea the actual interest level, but there's definite interest...some places have said we have offered, some places say only interest...His recruitment seems to be all over the place. Holds a lot of offers currently.

He's from PA, the same AAU program as Four McGlynn/Donovan Jack/ the kid going to LaSalle (Zack), etc. He's a big, strong kid. Someone with the size to come in and bang right away in the America East, that's for sure:

http://highschoolsports.pennlive.com.../MIKE-ZANGARI/

I know Jeff Lebo- who is from PA- is recruiting him at East Carolina.

Hoopcat, you called it; Mike Zangari committed to East Carolina today.....

[UNHFan]

Nice call Hoopcat! Can you give me the Mega Millions Numbers

[Quickdraw62]

http://www.centralpahoops.com/mike-zangari-2012.html

[UVM Hoop Cat]

Originally Posted by UNHFan

Nice call Hoopcat! Can you give me the Mega Millions Numbers

Hahhaha...I wish

Nah, it was pretty easy to connect the dots on this one. Lebo was recruiting him the hardest to ECU and Lebo was a HS legend in the same area Zangari grew up. I'm not sure how much the new staff at UVM was recruiting him, seemed to be more of a recruit when Lonergan was still at UVM- as evidence by the fact GW reportedly offered and he took an official to GW and committed to ECU after his GW visit. I'm not sure how much we stayed on him and I don't even think he took an unofficial visit.

Not even sure how much GW was still in the mix after taking Kopriva from UVM to GW and they also got 6'8'' Villanova transfer Isiah Armwood. Plus whatever other big men are on the GW roster. Two new kids right there that play the same position.

That said, he looks like a great get and potential solid big man. Certainly passed over higher ranked offers to attend East Carolina.

[UVM Hoop Cat]

Originally Posted by dnapolit

As a Vermont fan, I hope that Becker can make a recruiting announcement for the 2012 season soon as Vermont historically (last 5 years) has been one of the frontrunners on the recruiting battles. In order for Becker to establish legitimacy and prove to Vermont fans that this transition will be smooth he needs to get some quality players to commit. My sense is that when you aim high it's important to get early commitments as players get more offers as the school year proceeds.

Yeah, I'm not sure if either the coaching staff is sweating bullets or staying cool because they have some fish they are waiting to reel in the Catamount boat. Hopefully it's the latter.

I'd be a bit more concerned if it sounded like some of the players that we have offered that have chosen other schools were players that we were really, really targeting, or were really interested in us as their "final 2- 5" or whatever. So far, it doesn't sound anything like that has happened.

That being said, we should find out relatively soon (maybe) what F Ethan O'Day decides to do- he took an official visit to Davidson this weekend and supposedly Davidson and Vermont are his top two and have recruited his the hardest. I think St. Joe's offered as well. We'll see what happens.

[icemchine9]

O'Day is going to be visiting Vermont officially this weekend after visiting Davidson this past weekend according to Adam Finkelstein's Twitter. Good sign that he didn't commit to Davidson after the visit.

[UVM Hoop Cat]

Originally Posted by icemchine9

O'Day is going to be visiting Vermont officially this weekend after visiting Davidson this past weekend according to Adam Finkelstein's Twitter. Good sign that he didn't commit to Davidson after the visit.

Yeah saw that. Hopefully the visit goes well.

Sounds like O'Day and Puriefoy are the two players that have intent to do official visits to Vermont (that I've heard of at least). Really like them both, would be great additions.

[UVM Hoop Cat]

Zangari chose ECU over George Washington, Ball State, and Old Dominion were his final list. Had 20 offers:

http://highschoolsports.pennlive.com...east-carolina/

[Quickdraw62]

Originally Posted by UVM Hoop Cat

Yeah saw that. Hopefully the visit goes well.

Sounds like O'Day and Puriefoy are the two players that have intent to do official visits to Vermont (that I've heard of at least). Really like them both, would be great additions.

Puriefoy is doing his official visit to Vermont next weekend; that's confirmed. Should be interesting to see what O'Day does after his visit.....what other recruits are on the radar for visits?

[oceandogs]

Originally Posted by Quickdraw62

Puriefoy is doing his official visit to Vermont next weekend; that's confirmed. Should be interesting to see what O'Day does after his visit.....what other recruits are on the radar for visits?

Has Puriefoy visited Stony Brook or does he plan on visiting Stony Brook? We are a point guard shy of me being very satisfied with this recruiting class.

[UVM Hoop Cat]

Originally Posted by Quickdraw62

Puriefoy is doing his official visit to Vermont next weekend; that's confirmed. Should be interesting to see what O'Day does after his visit.....what other recruits are on the radar for visits?

Great news Quick- I know there have been other unofficials but I haven't heard of any other 2012 Official visits- these are the two I know about.

As a fan of the school and basketball in general I really, really hope we get both of these players. I think both fill positions we need, where there are minutes available form the jump, and are very good players, and high character kids.

Quick- as a person who has seen these kids play and knows the game- what are your thoughts on Santo being able to transition from a post player to a wing player going up against D1 athletes? You think that transition can be done? It's one thing to do a position change in HS- it's another to do it at the D1 level. Can Santo adapt? I think he gets minutes because of his length and he's always around the ball- but curious to see what he does.

[Quickdraw62]

Originally Posted by oceandogs

Has Puriefoy visited Stony Brook or does he plan on visiting Stony Brook? We are a point guard shy of me being very satisfied with this recruiting class.

Just saw on Twitter that Puriefoy is at Stony Brook tomorrow

[usslider]

Originally Posted by Quickdraw62

Just saw on Twitter that Puriefoy is at Stony Brook tomorrow

Honestly with the way recruiting is shaping up I hope Vermont gets him

[Quickdraw62]

Originally Posted by UVM Hoop Cat

Great news Quick- I know there have been other unofficials but I haven't heard of any other 2012 Official visits- these are the two I know about.

As a fan of the school and basketball in general I really, really hope we get both of these players. I think both fill positions we need, where there are minutes available form the jump, and are very good players, and high character kids.

Quick- as a person who has seen these kids play and knows the game- what are your thoughts on Santo being able to transition from a post player to a wing player going up against D1 athletes? You think that transition can be done? It's one thing to do a position change in HS- it's another to do it at the D1 level. Can Santo adapt? I think he gets minutes because of his length and he's always around the ball- but curious to see what he does.

Hoopcat, in my opinion, Santo can and will make the adjustment to being a "wing" on the college level, with the ultimate question being to what level of effectiveness? IMO, the biggest question will be on the defensive end, as it is with many players with a similar skill set. As to his offensive transition, he has worked to become a good stand still 3-point shooter; he must work on shooting his jumper off the dribble, which he really didn't have to do on the HS level. Also, he must work on being able to create his own shot, specifically going to his left, and breaking people down off the dribble. He runs the floor extremely well in transition (his HS team featured him in this role), and no one will outwork him for loose balls, rebounds, and 50/50 balls. His biggest offensive asset is his relentless work ethic/effort, and his ability to be effective inside (question: can he do it against bigger/stronger/more athletic players). He makes his FT's, and again, plays hard all the time. Defensively, guarding wings is my question about him. In HS, he played down low in a zone defense, so man to man defense must be a question. Lateral agility and guarding players of a similar size on the perimeter are questions he must answer. He rebounds very well in space, but his defensive instincts in a man to man defense are unknown. Overall, IMO (and what's that worth?), he will succeed b/c of his effort, work ethic, and intellect. Putting him in postions that accentuate his strengths, while minimizing his weaknesses will obviously help him. He is the type of player that a winning team always has, and I would not bet against him....

[UVM Hoop Cat]

Kinda always knew this was lower probability but Tyler Cavanaugh appears out of the picture:

http://www.irishsportsdaily.com/recr...official-visit


"(George Washington head) coach (Mike) Lonergan used to be at Vermont and they recruited me there. They were one of my first scholarship offers last summer after my sophomore year. They’ve been after me since they got to GW. I just really respected how they recruited me and they’re going to turn that program around.”

Taking official visits to Notre Dame, Wake Forrest, and George Washington. ND hasn't offered yet. Has a bunch of other offers. Will also visit Davidson. Last visit may be Syracuse, Stanford, or SMU. Plans to make a decision in November.