Entering the 2022-23 season, the entire state of Vermont is looking toward one program who has dominated them all over the past three seasons. Rice enters the year having won three straight championships, and they don’t expect things to get any easier this season.”We’re still Rice. Everybody wants to beat Rice,” said Green Knights’ head coach Paul Pecor. “For some teams that’s their biggest game of the year.”It hasn’t always looked pretty for Pecor’s squad, as he recalled one of the games that got away from last season during a practice on Wednesday afternoon. The recipe for success, though, is rather simple.”It’s a lot of that alumni group we’ve had that know and have had success here,” Pecor said. “They’re paving the way for these guys.”A couple of those alumni include former University of Vermont star Ben Shungu, along with current UVM player Michel Ndayishimiye. Both stay connected with the program, helping advise current team veterans such as senior Sharif Sharif.”I talk to ‘Mich’ a lot, and Ben still mentors me,” Sharif said.The current senior scored 20 points in the championship game as a sophomore, but now finds himself in a leadership role.”My personal goal is to make everyone on the court better,” Sharif said.He’s already got three championships under his belt, and this year he could make it a clean sweep during his high school career.Another big contributor heading into this season is expected to be the Green Knights 6-foot-7 big man Drew Bessette.”I feel like we’re more of a team this year compared to last year,” Besette said. The junior is quiet off the court, but hopes to grow into a more outspoken role on the court this year.Rice opens up the season against its opponents from both of its last two title wins. The Green Knights open up their season on Dec. 10 against South Burlington before hitting the road to take on Rutland on Dec. 14.
Entering the 2022-23 season, the entire state of Vermont is looking toward one program who has dominated them all over the past three seasons. Rice enters the year having won three straight championships, and they don’t expect things to get any easier this season.
“We’re still Rice. Everybody wants to beat Rice,” said Green Knights’ head coach Paul Pecor. “For some teams that’s their biggest game of the year.”
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It hasn’t always looked pretty for Pecor’s squad, as he recalled one of the games that got away from last season during a practice on Wednesday afternoon. The recipe for success, though, is rather simple.
“It’s a lot of that alumni group we’ve had that know and have had success here,” Pecor said. “They’re paving the way for these guys.”
A couple of those alumni include former University of Vermont star Ben Shungu, along with current UVM player Michel Ndayishimiye. Both stay connected with the program, helping advise current team veterans such as senior Sharif Sharif.
“I talk to ‘Mich’ a lot, and Ben still mentors me,” Sharif said.
The current senior scored 20 points in the championship game as a sophomore, but now finds himself in a leadership role.
“My personal goal is to make everyone on the court better,” Sharif said.
He’s already got three championships under his belt, and this year he could make it a clean sweep during his high school career.
Another big contributor heading into this season is expected to be the Green Knights 6-foot-7 big man Drew Bessette.
“I feel like we’re more of a team this year compared to last year,” Besette said. The junior is quiet off the court, but hopes to grow into a more outspoken role on the court this year.
Rice opens up the season against its opponents from both of its last two title wins. The Green Knights open up their season on Dec. 10 against South Burlington before hitting the road to take on Rutland on Dec. 14.
