Steve Pratt, a veteran basketball trainer who has worked with players like Elton Brand and Jon Scheyer, recalls how he got into basketball after realizing his football aspirations were unfeasible. Cut from the Johnson State College basketball team as a freshman, Pratt remained involved by working out with the squad, eventually making the team in his sophomore year.
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Vermont, however, remains an outlier in the NBA landscape, as it is the only state yet to produce a native player in the league's history. Pratt's laughter echoed when asked if the NBA pays attention to Vermont, highlighting the state’s lack of representation. Notably, Alaska and Hawaii each have two NBA players, and even smaller nations have seen more players reach the league.
The closest Vermont has come to representation in the NBA was Taylor Coppenrath, who played for the University of Vermont and went undrafted in 2005 after summer league appearances with the Celtics and Pacers. The last time a Vermonter was drafted was in 1986, when Jim McCaffrey was selected by the Phoenix Suns in the sixth round but ultimately did not make the roster.
While the 1980s saw the Suns take chances on various players, McCaffrey joined the Celtics but did not secure a spot on the team. Vermont's drought of NBA players has continued for nearly 40 years, with only a few who have made brief appearances in professional basketball, such as the Vermont Frost Heaves, which existed from 2005 to 2011 in the ABA but did not lead to a significant influx of talent into the NBA.
The reasons for Vermont's absence from the NBA pipeline include demographic challenges: as of 2024, Vermont's population stands at approximately 648,493, predominantly white, which contrasts sharply with the league's diversity. Only 89% of Vermonters identified as white, while the NBA was 82.5% players of color in the 2022-23 season. Moreover, Vermont’s rural nature limits access to adequate basketball training facilities and competitive environments.
Coaching at the high school level remains focused on team success at the state tournament, often at the expense of individual player development. Local coaches like Aaron Hill note that the AAU scene is underdeveloped, with few resources for players seeking to compete at higher levels.
A glimmer of hope appears in Taylor Bol Bowen, a 6-foot-10 forward who transferred to Oregon for his senior year after stints at Florida State and Alabama. Although Bowen identifies as a Vermonter, much of his basketball development occurred outside of the state.
As local players express their dreams of joining the NBA, there is hope that one will eventually break through, prompting state pride and perhaps igniting a new era for basketball in Vermont.