For over a decade, the Vermont Catamounts have defined excellence in the America East Conference. Under head coach John Becker—a seven-time America East Coach of the Year and the winningest coach in program history—Vermont has earned national respect for its discipline, defensive toughness, and consistency on the March stage.
After missing the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2021, the Catamounts enter 2025–26 hungry. They return a veteran, high-octane backcourt led by senior TJ Hurley, bring in impact transfers across the roster, and add international and prep talent for depth. Analysts again tab Vermont as the America East favorite, with a roster designed for another March Madness push.
Becker’s program isn’t just built on talent — it’s built on culture. A culture that values unselfish offense, suffocating defense, and maximizing every possession. This year’s Catamounts combine perimeter firepower with frontcourt length, making them one of the more dangerous mid-majors in the national conversation.
🏀 Vermont Deep-Dive Scouting Report
(for scouts, evaluators, and die-hard basketball fans)
Symbol Key:
🎯 = elite shooting | ⚔️ = defender | 🧠 = feel/IQ
🚀 = athletic burst | 🧱 = size/strength | 🔁 = versatility
▲ = growth area | ▼ = concern | ⭐ = impact piece
⭐ TJ Hurley — Sr, G, 6-5
2024–25 Stats: 15.8 PPG · 38.2% 3FG · 89.0% FT · 2.4 REB · 1.3 AST
- 🎯 Deadly perimeter shooter — thrives off screens and spot-ups
- 🧠 Clutch scorer with confidence in late-game possessions
- ▲ Low creative distribution (1.3 AST)
- ▲ Needs to become more consistent as a defender
Coach Becker on Hurley:
“TJ Hurley… made a huge shot… we found out a lot about ourselves today.” (Myrtle Beach Invitational)
⭐ TJ Long — Gr, G, 6-4
2024–25 Stats: 11.1 PPG · 34.0% 3FG · 29.0 MPG
- 🎯 Proven shot-maker with deep range
- 🔁 Can play on or off the ball
- ▲ Needs consistency finishing at the rim
- ▲ Durability after missed time
Coach Becker on Long:
“TJ Long all year has been incredible… shooting the lights out and just scoring and doing a little bit of everything.”
⭐ Ben Johnson — Gr, G, 6-3 (Transfer, Bellarmine)
2024–25 Stats: 11.4 PPG · 2.2 AST · 2.5 REB
- 🎯 Off-ball spacing and shooting weapon
- 🧠 Late-game decision-maker
- ▲ Efficiency dips (38.7% FG)
- ▲ Needs to finish stronger at the rim
⭐ Chris Kuzemka — Gr, G, 6-0 (Transfer, Loyola-MD)
2024–25 Stats: 6.0 PPG · Career 39% 3FG
- 🎯 Feet-set shooting threat
- 🧠 Low-mistake, reliable floor spacer
- ▲ Defensive target at size
- ▲ Limited off-dribble creation
⭐ Trey Woodyard — Gr, F, 6-6 (Transfer, UNH)
2024–25 Stats: 6.3 PPG · 3.7 REB · 2.8 AST · 48.3% FG
- 🧠 Connector wing with high IQ passing
- 🔁 Switchable defender (2–4 spots)
- ▲ Needs higher scoring volume
- ▲ Must add physicality vs. stronger forwards
⭐ Gus Yalden — R-So, F, 6-9 (Transfer, Seton Hall)
2024–25 Stats: 1.8 PPG · 1.5 REB
- 🧱 Big frame with soft touch
- 🧠 Reads well in short-roll actions
- ▲ Conditioning for Becker’s pace
- ▲ Rim protection limited
⭐ David Simon — R-So, F, 6-11 (Transfer, San Diego)
2024–25 Stats: 4.9 PPG · 2.3 REB · 40.9% FG
- 🧱 Legit 6-11 size and length
- 🎯 Developing touch out to midrange
- ▲ Needs stronger rebounding presence
- ▲ Still building back from injury
Jackson Skipper — Sr, F, 6-7
2024–25 Stats (Oral Roberts): 4.9 PPG · 2.3 REB · 36.1% 3FG
- 🎯 Stretch-4 floor spacing
- 🚀 Runs hard in transition
- ▲ Needs to add defensive strength
Sean Blake — So, G, 6-2
2024–25 Stats: 4.2 PPG · 36.0% 3FG
- 🎯 Reliable spot-up shooter
- ⚔️ Competes hard defensively
- ▲ Handle and playmaking need work
- ▲ Must bulk up for AEC guard matchups
Noah Barnett — R-So, F, 6-9
2024–25 Stats: 3.1 PPG · 2.4 REB · 71.7% FG
- 🧱 Efficient rim finisher
- ⚔️ Provides length defensively
- ▲ No perimeter shooting threat
- ▲ Foul-prone in traffic
Ben Michaels — So, F, 6-8 (Transfer, Buffalo)
2024–25 Stats: 8.1 PPG · 4.0 REB · 45.6% FG · 28.6% 3FG
- 🚀 High-motor athlete in transition
- 🔁 Can guard 3–5 at mid-major level
- 🎯 Midrange shooting touch
- ▲ Needs to improve from deep
Depth & Developmental Players
- Sincere Clemons (R-Fr): ⚔️ Defensive motor, 🚀 burst, ▲ jumper still developing
- Ben Wesson (R-Fr): 🎯 Perimeter stroke, 🔁 guard size, ▲ physicality growth
- Drew Bessette (R-Fr): 🧱 Strong frame, ⚔️ instincts, ▲ adjusting to speed of play
- Momo Nkugwa (Fr): 🚀 Slasher with quick step, ⚔️ on-ball energy, ▲ shooting growth area
- Lucas Mari (Fr): 🧠 European fundamentals, 🔁 versatile, ▲ adapting to NCAA physicality
Coach Becker on Vermont’s Identity
“I think it might be my best defensive team… We don’t turn the ball over; we rebound the ball; we’re very good defensively.”
That quote echoes the core identity of Vermont basketball: tough, unselfish, and defense-driven. It frames the Catamounts’ 2025–26 outlook as a program intent on not just winning the America East, but proving they can compete with anyone on the national stage.
🏁 Closing Read — Catamounts’ 2025–26 Outlook
Vermont has the guard play to carry games late (Hurley, Long, Johnson, Kuzemka), the frontcourt length and depth(Yalden, Simon, Michaels, Woodyard, Barnett) to win possession battles, and the coaching stability of John Becker to keep the system humming.
This team has all the markers of a fourth straight America East title and the confidence to be more than just a 15-seed in March. For the Catamounts, 2025–26 isn’t about rebuilding — it’s about redemption.
📝 Editorial Disclaimer
Unit 1 Hoop Source evaluations are grounded in scouting, film analysis, verified statistics, and coaching insights. Player assessments reflect independent judgment for informational use only. Projections may evolve as the season progresses. Unit 1 Hoop Source remains committed to accuracy, rigor, and transparency in every insight.
© 2025 Kim Muhammad | Unit 1 Hoop Source. All Rights Reserved.
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