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Interviews
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Written by UVManiac
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Friday, 18 July 2008
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 Vermont has an outstanding incoming men's basketball class this season. Jordan Clarke, a forward out of Good Counsel high school in the DC area, is yet another dynamite recruit that Coach Lonergan and staff have been able to land. Preston was able to catch up with Jordan "It's Da Boss" Clarke for a few questions. Get to know this new Catamount and look for hm this Fall. VTSN: Tell us a little bit about your career at Good Counsel? JC: My career at Good Counsel had its ups and downs. I transferred there half way through my freshman year after attending Prep with Garvey. I was not allowed to play in varsity games because of the transfer rule so I had to sit out the rest of the season. The summer going into my sophomore year I broke my leg, and had surgery. That pretty much destroyed my sophomore year, but I tried to come back half way through at about 50 percent to help the team. My junior year I averaged 16 points and 10 boards and earned all conference and all Met honors. My senior year everything was going great I was averaging about 24 points and 16 rebounds, but halfway through I got Mono and had to sit out for about 12 games. VTSN: What was your biggest accomplishment in basketball so far? JC: I measure success and accomplishments by championships, and as I have not won any conference championships through my high school career I do not feel that I have accomplished anything. VTSN: What is your official height, weight and wingspan? JC: I went to the Doctor about a week ago and I was measured at 79.5 inches (6’71/2) and 244 lbs. My wingspan I am unsure of. VTSN: We've heard you are a good scorer and rebounder. What are your other strengths or intangibles that set you apart from other DI players? JC: I’m very versatile. I can handle the ball and bring it up the court, I can shoot the three and the midrange jumper, I can take the ball to the cup, and I can also post up smaller players. Also I will do anything to win. You don’t see that a lot these days. I will dive on the floor, take a charge, and just do whatever it takes. VTSN: The Cats can use some help in the post. How do you think you'll be able to help in that department? JC: As far as scoring in the post that really is not my forte. With that said however, because of my size and strength I can score effectively in the post against smaller players. Against bigger players I may start off in the post, but I will most likely end up facing them up. VTSN: Where did you receive offers from? JC: I received offers from about 45 or so schools--so that is a pretty long list. VTSN: What did you do on your recruiting visit to Vermont? JC: I went out to eat, spent some time on the water, met with some academic advisors, and just hung out with the team. It was a really good time. VTSN: What about Vermont was so special? Anything in particular? JC: I think that the greatest thing about Vermont is the people. Everybody was really nice, and really wanted to reach out to make me feel comfortable. VTSN: How do you feel about playing with your friend and DC-area rival Garvey Young, here at Vermont? JC: I feel really great about it. First of all I want to get it out of the way by saying that we are much more friends than we are rivals. Of course when we play each other over the year we want to go at one another, but after that we are good friends. It’s great to go somewhere where you already know somebody. It makes the transition much easier. Also its great to be playing with other great players. VTSN: Do you think you can help get the team to the Big Dance? How? JC: I really do think I can help the team. I just have that drive to win that is infectious. Even though I am a freshman I still see myself as a leader, so I’m going to try and push everyone to be the best they can be. VTSN: Were you at the America East Tournament in Binghamton? JC: I was not at the tournament at Binghamton, but I hope to win the Tournament next season. VTSN: Now what is your schedule for this summer? JC: I am going to be at Vermont for summer school through July then I am going back home to spend some time with my family and friends, and after that I will come back to Vermont about a week or so before classes start to get back into the flow. VTSN: Tell us about your basketball work ethic? How many hours a day do you play/practice? JC: I pride myself on my work ethic. I would not have been able to overcome by broken leg and Mono if I didn’t work really hard to get myself back. On a regular day at home I would spend about 30 min on my ball handling and then get up anywhere between 500- 700 shots. I work out with my trainer Brandon Broadnax at Elevation training 2-3 times a week and we do a lot of great work. VTSN: Have you decided on a roommate for your freshman year? JC: Garvey Young. D.C guys have to stick together… [LAUGHS] VTSN: What are you currently rocking on the iPod? JC: The Lloyd Banks mix tape, The Carter 3 Lil' Wayne, The Cool Lupe Fiasco, and Reasonable Doubt Jay Z. VTSN: Favorite movie of all time? JC: He got game. Anybody that plays ball has to love that movie. VTSN: Congratulations and welcome to the team Jordan! Catamount nation looks forward to cheering you on. |
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Interviews
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Written by Preston Junger
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Saturday, 12 July 2008
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 VT Sports Network recently caught up with one of the newest Catamount hoopsters, Garvey Young--A 6' 4" Guard from DC. G-Young, as he has been dubbed, is one of the several players expected to help bring the Catamounts back to the NCAA Tournament. We hope you enjoy getting to know Garvey a little bit more and look for him on the courts later this year.
VTSN: Tell us a little bit about your career (Georgetown Prep)?
GY: I started, led the team in scoring and made All Conference for all four years. I was selected all county and all met multiple times. I was selected to multiple tournament teams. In basketball we won a conference title and two tournament championships. In soccer we were conference champions twice. Off the court I gained the respect of faculty, staff and fellow students.
VTSN: What was your biggest basketball accomplishment so far?
GY: I have won championships in Elementary school, Jr. High, AAU and High School and I was recognized for scoring over 1,800 career (high school) points. The love that I felt from the crowd during senior night was a very high moment.
VTSN: What is your official height, weight and wingspan?
GY: My official height is 6'4 1⁄2” and I weigh 190 lbs. My wingspan, however, is 6'7".
VTSN: We've heard you are a good shooter. What are your biggest strengths and weaknesses?
GY: My biggest Strength is my feel for the game. I really understand the game of basketball. My biggest weakness is that I do not have college basketball experience, but that is soon to change.
VTSN: The Cats will need someone to fill Senior Kyle Cieplicki's shoes next season. How do you think you'll be able to help in that area?
GY: Kyle did so many things, and will be missed. I can help by learning as much as I can as fast as I can. I can help by being a good teammate, playing good defense and smart basketball. I can help by being a positive influence.
VTSN: What colleges were you recruited by?
GY: I was recruited by teams in the ACC, Patriot, Big East, A-10, CAA, Ivies’, Conference USA, MAAC and a few others.
VTSN: What schools ended up offering you scholarships?
GY: Too many to list, but only one that matters, Vermont!
VTSN: Great answer!! When did you visit Vermont? What did you do?
GY: I made an unofficial and an official visit. I hung out and had a few meals with the guys on the team. I checked out the campus and surrounding area. I met school administrators, faculty, staff and students.
VTSN: What about Vermont was so special? Anything in particular?
GY: The people, the team, and the coaches are special. Everyone I met seemed genuinely nice and interested in me beyond basketball.
VTSN: How do you feel about playing with your friend and DC-area rival Jordan Clarke, here at Vermont?
GY: Jordan is a friend. I don't think of him as a rival. I'm very excited about what we can do to help UVM do over the next four years.
VTSN: What are your expectations for next year (with you, Jordan, MoJo and Pat Bergmann as new additions to the team)?
GY: I expect UVM to win a lot next year and for years after.
VTSN: Do you think you can help get the team to the Big Dance? How?
GY: Yes. I want to win and I know how to win. I can help by doing whatever the coach needs me to do to win.
VTSN: Now what is your schedule for this summer?
GY: I am working to earn some money. Of course I am playing basketball, strengthening my core. I am also taking a couple of classes at UVM, spend time with my family, go fishing with my dad but not necessarily in that order.
VTSN: Have you decided on a roommate for next year?
GY: Jordan (Clarke) will be my roommate next year, I can't wait!
VTSN: What are you currently rocking on the iPod?
GY: I am listening to Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, and lot of mix-tapes. I have anything you can think of in my iPod (comedy, jazz, gospel and more).
VTSN: Favorite movie of all time?
GY: He Got Game!
VTSN: Well congratulations and we look forward to hearing more from you the next four years! If you'd like to say anything to Catamount Nation, the floor is yours.
GY: Thank you! I’m looking forward to a great four years here at UVM.
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UVM Men's Basketball
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Written by UVManiac
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Tuesday, 01 July 2008
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 The University of Vermont Men's basketball team is actively recruiting Brewster Academy (NH) standout, Luke Apfeld, and has offered him a scholarship to join the Catamounts in 2009.
Apfeld is a 6'6" athletic forward that New England Recruiting Report ranks #17 among all players in the class of 2009 in New England. For a while Vermont has been following his super athleticism, but this past spring it has been Apfeld’s ability to make plays on both ends of the floor that have stood out to the schools recruiting this rising star. In addition to Vermont, Apfeld is considering a list of college suitors including: Northeastern, George Washington, Davidson, Columbia, Princeton, Lehigh, Harvard, Yale, Cornell and American. If Apfeld chooses to attend the University of Vermont, he will join a talented team consisting of Jordan Clarke, Evan Fjeld, Garvey Young, Marqus Blakely and Nick Vier who will lead the charge in '09. Additionally, the Cats hope to add Power Forward, Oderah "OD" Anosike to their '09 roster to round out a team destined to contend in the America East and NCAA Tournament (think Davidson of 2007-2008...)
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UVM Men's Basketball
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Written by UVManiac
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Tuesday, 01 July 2008
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 The University of Vermont Men's basketball team is actively recruiting St. Peters (Staten Island, New York) Center, Oderah (known as "OD") Anisoke, and has offered him a scholarship to join the Catamounts in 2009.
Staten Islands Eagles 6-8 center with a 6-10 wingspan is playing his summer AAU ball for the NJ Shore Shots. In addition to Vermont, Oderah has received interest from Fordham, St. Johns, Boston University, George Washington, Siena, Wagner, Delaware, Hofstra, and Manhattan College. The New York City center plans to narrow his college choices to five by the end of July and make a final decision by November. A reliable source has stated that Vermont is high on Oderah's list of schools.
This past season OD, led his Eagles team with 27 points to a 74-57 win over St. Francis Prep in the first round of the Catholic High School Athletic Association Class AA intersectional playoffs.
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UVM Alumni
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Written by VT Sports Network
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Tuesday, 01 July 2008
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 Source: Press Release
Providence, RI - TJ Sorrentine, a Pawtucket, Rhode Island native and the leader of the Vermont basketball team that upset Syracuse in the opening round of the 2005 NCAA Championship, has been named an assistant basketball coach at Brown in an announcement made by Bears' head coach Jesse Agel. Sorrentine will be reunited with Agel, who guided him as an associate head coach at Vermont and recruited Sorrentine to the Catamounts' basketball program. "I've known TJ as a great player, a tremendous competitor and a leader that players gravitate towards and hoped to emulate," said Agel. "Now Brown basketball will be able to utilize all of TJ's championship attributes to help us achieve the successes he has attained." A 2005 graduate of Vermont with a B.A. in sociology, Sorrentine was a two-year captain, America East Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year, a three-time First Team All-conference player and an Honorable Mention All-American. He was also named to the America East Academic Honor Roll in 2002 and 2003. "It's always been a dream of mine to coach, and having an opportunity to coach at Brown and in my home state is a dream come true," said Sorrentine. I've been coming to the Pizzitola Sports Center for the last 10 years, so it's a home away from home. Coach Agel and I have a great relationship and I've always respected him as a coach and person. This is a tremendous opportunity to learn from him as a coach." The point guard led Vermont to two NCAA Tournament appearances, in 2004 and 2005, and hit the game winning three-point basket that crushed the Syracuse Orangemen in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at the DCU Center in Worcester. Sorrentine played professionally from 2005-2008, playing with Kk Krka in Slovenia, FC Porto in Portugal, Branca Nouvo Trappani in Italy, and the Florida Flame of the NBA Developmental League. He also played in the NBA Summer League with the Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks. He also has extensive camp experience, and was a special guest speaker at the New England Top 90 Invitational, while working as a clinician at the Eastern Invitational Basketball Camp, the University of Vermont Basketball Camp, the University of Pennsylvania Basketball Camp, and the University of Rhode Island Basketball Camp. Sorrentine's roots run deep through Rhode Island where he was a standout at St. Raphael's Academy in Pawtucket, earning All-State honors, while playing for his father, Thomas. He was the Rhode Island Player of the Year (USA Today, Gatorade) in 2000 after leading St. Ray's to back-to-back state titles. He was also guided by Steve MacDonald, WHJJ Sportscaster, in his early years, playing CYO basketball.
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High School Sports
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Written by VT Sports Network
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Monday, 30 June 2008
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 All-Star basketball player Candon Rusin will not return in the fall to Twin Valley High School.
Rusin, who will be a senior, and his brother Connor Rusin, who will be a sophomore, said during the weekend that they have enrolled at Topsail High School in Hampstead, a suburb of Wilmington, N.C.
"We are moving. We're down here as of now," said Rusin, a two-time Burlington Free Press All-State first team selection.
The 6-foot-3 guard, who has drawn interest from several Division I colleges, including the University of Vermont, said the move to North Carolina will slow the selection for a basketball scholarship. He said Topsail coaches have been in touch with some Division I recruiters from Southern schools. "The coach here has a lot of connections," Rusin said.
Rusin said both he and his brother, also 6-foot-3, worked out with the Topsail team. They also got to play for Topsail at a team camp and hit it off well when meeting the other players. The school has about 950 students compared to 240 at Twin Valley. CLICK HERE for Burlington Free Press Article.
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