With a schedule that includes 10 consecutive road games to start the season, University of Vermont men's basketball coach Mike Lonergan is aware his team might take a few lumps this month.

With national accolades still ringing in the ears of some of its top players, the Vermont men’s basketball team opens its regular season tonight when it travels to Maryland to face the Greyhounds of Loyola University.

The inaugural “Vermont College Showcase” featuring about 50 of the best high school boys basketball players will be held Sunday afternoon at St. Michael’s College. The event, sponsored by Lone Wolf Athletics of Colchester, is primarily for college recruiters but will be open to the public, according to Wayne Lafley, one of the organizers. Admission costs $5.

Former Keene State College men’s basketball player Tyler Kathan, signed a contract to split time between the Leicester Warriors and the Northampton Neptunes of the England Basketball League (EBL) Wednesday afternoon. The Warriors will make the transition from Division II to Division I, while the Neptunes compete in Division II for the 2009-2010 season. The Ludlow, Vermont native isn’t nervous about going to play in England and has his family’s blessing too. “I’m just really excited,� said Kathan. “It is something that I have always wanted to do and it is something that my family and I are really happy about. I think my dad is more excited than me because he wants to come and visit and see me play.�

SPRINGFIELD - Which AAU basketball teams north of the mid-Atlantic are the best of the best? That will be decided by Sunday. The Best of the Best Boys & Girls Basketball Tournaments will be held throughout Springfield Saturday and Sunday, with 48 teams in nine divisions vying for championships at the elite first-year event. "Every team that's coming to the event this weekend either had to finish high in their state tournament, a super regional, or another very high-level type of tournament," said Colin Tabb, General Manager for BasketBull, LLC, which is coordinating the tournament. "All these teams have credentials that back up their invitation."