Mike Lonergan had his eyes set on Nick Vier from the day he took the job at Vermont. The first-year Catamounts head coach got good news on Tuesday when the 6-foot-1, 165-pound senior point guard committed to Lonergan and his staff.
Vier is a guy who missed much of the spring and summer due to an ankle injury. However, he came back and played well in Las Vegas with the Playaz Basketball Club at the end of July.
Vier took an official visit to Burlington, Vt., this past weekend – and one official was all he’d need.
``I loved the campus, the city of Burlington and I felt comfortable with Coach Lonergan and the rest of the staff,” Vier said. “Coach Lonergan has known me from when he was at Maryland.”
``Right now the opportunity to go there and log minutes right away and possibly even start was exciting,” added Vier. “I loved the excitement in the area and the atmosphere around the campus.”
Vier, a pure point guard who is an important get for Lonergan and his staff, also considered Fairfield, Davidson and Columbia.
``I think Coach Lonergan is going to get another good player in this recruiting class and hopefully by the time I get there, we’ll be back to the level we were at last year and get into the NCAA Tournament again.”
Vier averaged 14.5 points and six assists last season at Bergen Catholic (N.J.) and is hoping to do some of the things that floor leader T.J. Sorrentine did in his illustrious career at Vermont.
``He’s one of the best players ever to play at Vermont,” Vier said. “I’m hoping, down the road, I can become that type of player.”