BURLINGTON, Vt. – Cioffi Men's Basketball Head Coach John Becker has unveiled his roster for the 2022-23 season, which welcomes seven newcomers to the University of Vermont. The Catamounts add five forwards and two guards to the squad.
 
RELATED LINKS
2022-23 Roster
Montreal Schedule
 
Three transfers and four first years make up the new additions to the UVM men's basketball program. The 2022-23 Catamounts will look to defend their America East Title from a season ago, and extend their regular season championship streak to seven seasons.
 
Ileri Ayo-Faleye
6-8 • 210 • F • Lebanon, Pa. • Cedar Crest/Rhode Island
"Ileri is a high-level athlete that spent two years with a great program down at URI. He has the chance to be a great switchable defender and rim protector. Offensively, he will have the opportunity to be an inside-out threat for us. He is maybe the best athlete we've had since Marqus Blakely," Becker said.

• Transfers to Vermont as a redshirt sophomore from Rhode Island
• Appeared in eight games for the Rams, and tallied two blocks against Providence

TJ Hurley
6-5 • 190 • G • Pelham, Ontario • The Rock School
"TJ is a super skilled guard with a great feel. He can really shoot it, and has picked up our system as quickly as any player I've coached. His parents are coaches and he plays like it. TJ will have an immediate impact on our team," said Becker.

• Joins the Catamounts after a season with The Rock School in Gainesville, Fla.
• Was named a 2022 Biosteel All-Canadian

Jorge Ochoa
6-7 • 225 • F • Los Angeles, Calif. • Veritas Training Academy
"Jorge is a skilled four man that has a scorer's mentality. He has a chance to be a great player for us. Jorge has a nice feel and plays at his pace," Becker said.

• Comes to Vermont by way of Veritas Training Academy, where he averaged 23.0 points and 8.0 rebounds
• Ranked as a three-star recruit by ESPN's recruiting database, and No. 18 out of California

Dylan Penn
6-3 • 195 • G • Evansville, Ind. • Evansville Reitz Memorial/Bellarmine
"Dylan brings a wealth of experience having played four years at Bellermine. He was an all-league player in the Atlantic Sun and MVP of the ASUN Tournament last year. He has one of the most unique games we've seen in Catamount Country. He has incredible touch in the paint and can score with a variety of finishes around the rim. He will be an important piece in our pursuit of our seventh straight regular season title," said Becker.

• Transfers to Vermont for his fifth season after leading Bellarmine to an ASUN Championship
• Averaged 16.6 points, 5.0 assists, and 4.2 rebounds in 2021-22, and was named the ASUN Tournament MVP

Jackson Skipper
6-7 • 170 • F •  Tulsa, Okla. • Link Year Prep
"Jackson is a long, slender combo forward with huge upside. He has a chance to be an elite defender. Offensively he is good in transition and finishes really well in the paint. He has a bright future," said Becker.

• Joins the Catamounts after playing the 2021-22 season at Link Year Prep in Branson, Mo.
• Ranked as a three-star recruit, and the No. 2 Missouri high school recruit by ESPN's recruiting database

Perry Smith Jr.
6-9 • 225 • F •  North Augusta, S.C. • Legacy Early College
"Perry is a super talented, athletic big man that really complements our other frontcourt players. He has a great motor and really rebounds the ball on both ends. With his athleticism and physicality, he should be a very effective player for us. Perry and Jorge are a great young core to our frontcourt and team," said Becker.

• Comes to Vermont by way of Legacy Early College, where he won two USA National Prep Championships
• Ranked as a three-star recruit by ESPN's recruiting database, and a top-five recruit out of South Carolina

Matt Veretto
6-8 • 220 • F • South Windsor, Conn. • East Catholic/Delaware
"Matt is a grad transfer with two years of eligibility for us. He has not played college basketball for three years after playing his freshman year at Delaware. He's a skilled, tough, high-energy player that should fit in with how we play. He is going to be an x-factor for us after a three-year hiatus. I'm really excited to see what he can do for us this year," said Becker.

• Transfers to Vermont after completing his undergraduate degree at UConn.
• Last played collegiate basketball for Delaware in 2018-19, averaging 6.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, and shooting 39.1% from deep as a rookie

The Catamounts will be traveling north of the border for a three-game in three-day tour against several Montréal schools, starting on Friday (Aug. 12) against Concorida. Tip-off is slated for 8 p.m. at College Jean de Brebeuf. Tickets will be available at the door for $10 CAD, cash only. Visit UVMathletics.com and follow @UVMmbb on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for updates throughout the season.