Davon Maloney's play during the springs and summers competing for the Nike-sponsored City Rock on the national-level AAU boys' basketball circuit helped his recruitment level rise steadily.
Late in July, however, Maloney suffered a scaphoid fracture in his right hand. When some schools hesitated pursuing Maloney, Vermont raised the level of its recruitment for the senior, who now plays at the Newman School in Boston after previously starring at La Salle Institute.
And, when it came time to make a college choice, Maloney decided playing at Vermont for coach John Becker was his best course of action. The Catamounts, a member of the America East Conference along with the University at Albany, have won at least 20 games in every full season Becker has coached and advanced to postseason play 11 times during that span, including six bids to the NCAA Tournament.
"Overall, it just felt like a big family atmosphere. A bunch of the coaches have been there over 10 years," Maloney said this week after making his commitment. "The same goes for the academic office and the strength trainer. There are so many people there that have been there so long. I just got the sense of consistency. For the basketball coaching staff, specifically, they have won a bunch. … That spoke to me as a player because I want to win.
"I feel like I can go in there and impact the game immediately."
Maloney, an athletic 6-foot-7 wing player from Clifton Park, said he felt his strengths on the hardwood as a defender, rebounder and scorer aligned with what the Catamounts needed.
Maloney generated a great deal of recruiting interest over the last 18 months, including getting offers from such schools as Penn State, UTEP, Hofstra, St. Bonaventure, Drexel, Iona, Siena and UAlbany.
"In the beginning of the summer, I looked forward to making my decision in the fall," Maloney said. "Things were going well. I had a good spring going into the summer, but I got hurt at the end of July. My recruitment slowed down a little and I wasn't able to play in the open gyms when the coaches were coming these past couple of weeks. Vermont came in… and a bunch of the other schools slowed down their recruitment process."
Vermont still came to see Maloney even when he was unable to play and Maloney felt he built a strong relationship with the coaching staff.
"It just felt right once I set up the visit," Maloney said.
Vermont finished 22-12 overall during the 2025-26 season, losing in the America East final against UMBC.
Maloney's first year at Newman saw his team capture the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) Class AAA title with a 101-68 victory against the Hoosac School and the National Prep Championship with a 92-72 triumph over Blair Academy.
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There’s more to Albany with the Times Union. Subscribe today for just 25¢.This article originally published at Clifton Park's Davon Maloney, a former La Salle star, commits to play men's basketbal at University of Vermont.