America East Basketball: Vermont Reloads and Reclaims Top Spot in Preseason Poll

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Despite not making it to the postseason conference finals a season ago, the Vermont Catamounts once again find themselves in familiar territory — atop the America East preseason poll. The Catamounts earned 63 total points and seven first-place votes, putting them right back where they’ve been many times before: as the preseason favorite to win the league.

As the 2025–26 season approaches, head coach John Becker welcomes a mix of talented newcomers and experienced transfers to keep Vermont’s championship pedigree alive.

Leading the freshman class is Momo Nkugwa, a 6’3″ guard from Chelmsford, Massachusetts, who starred at Governor’s Academy as a two-sport athlete in basketball and soccer. Joining him is Lucas Mari, a 6’6″ guard from Valencia, Spain. Mari brings impressive international experience, having played for Spain’s U17 and U18 national teams, winning silver medals at both the 2022 World U17 Championships and the 2023 European U18 Championships.

From the transfer portal, Vermont adds David Simon, a 6’11” forward from the University of San Diego. In 2024–25, Simon appeared in 22 games, averaging 12.8 minutes, 4.9 points, and 0.8 rebounds. Another key addition is Chris Kuzemka, a 6’0″ guard who played four seasons at Loyola (MD). Kuzemka, who appeared in 60 games and started four, averaged 19.1 minutes, 5.5 points, 1.2 rebounds, and one assist per game. He joins the Catamounts seeking what he called a “winning culture.”

Gus Yalden, a 6’9″ forward who previously played at Wisconsin and Seton Hall, adds size and skill to the frontcourt. Last season with the Pirates, Yalden averaged 8.4 minutes, 1.8 points, and 1.5 rebounds. A former four-star recruit, 24/7 Sports ranked him as the 17th-best center in his class. Vermont also welcomes Ben Johnson, a 6’3″ guard out of Bellarmine Prep, who adds depth to the backcourt.

Rounding out the transfer additions is Trey Johnson, a 6’6″ forward who makes the rare in-conference move from the University of New Hampshire. Johnson averaged 23.5 minutes, 4.9 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game during his time with the Wildcats — and now looks to bring that experience to Burlington.

Once again, the question lingers: Does the road to the NCAA Tournament run through Burlington, Vermont?
If history is any indication, the Catamounts are well-positioned to make sure that it does.