O’Day Calls it for Vermont

New England Recruiting Report | Saturday, September 17th, 2011

Vermont’s first year head coach John Becker scored his second big commitment of the week when Connecticut native and Northfield Mount Hermon senior Ethan ODay committed to the Catamounts on Sunday. 

O’Day, who ran with the Connecticut Basketball Club on this summer’s AAU circuit, walked away from the summer with over a dozen division I scholarship offers that ranged from the Atlantic 10 Conference on down.  Regardless of level though, he said there were three things that were most important to him in finding the right college basketball experience. 
 
“I wanted to be able to play right away, to win, and to get better,” O’Day told the New England Recruiting Report, “and I think Vermont can do all three of those things for me.” 

But O’Day says his decision making process extended beyond just the 94 feet of the basketball court and ultimately included a variety of other factors. 

“Socially, academically, and basketball wise it just felt like the perfect combination,” he said.  “Their coaching staff has been recruiting me for a long time, and after spending time together and being in contact for so long I felt really comfortable.” 

O’Day’s commitment follows Brendan Kilpatrick, who pledged earlier in the week, after spending time together last weekend on their official visits. 

He will be the third NMH product on Vermont’s roster next year joining Josh Elbaum and recruited walk-on Clancy Rugg.  Another former NMH product, Matt Glass, will graduate this year after beginning his career at UMass. 

O’Day’s commitment is a significant one for Vermont as they work to solidify their status as one of the perennial favorites in the America East Conference under Becker.  The six-foot-eight forward gives them an athletic presence along the frontline who should be ready to make an immediate contribution next year and will only reinforce their local New England recruiting pipelines. 
 
“It’s been a long process and I’ve been very fortunate,” he said.  “It was a tough decision but at the end of it all I just thought this was the perfect spot for me.” 

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