GetVerts.py

import maya.cmds as mc
import maya.OpenMaya as OpenMaya
def getVertices(mesh):
    mc.select(mesh)
    selList = OpenMaya.MSelectionList()
    OpenMaya.MGlobal.getActiveSelectionList(selList)
    meshObj = OpenMaya.MObject()
    selList.getDependNode(0,meshObj)

    meshFn = OpenMaya.MFnMesh( meshObj )

    meshVtxCount = OpenMaya.MIntArray()
    meshVtxArray = OpenMaya.MIntArray()

    meshFn.getVertices(meshVtxCount,meshVtxArray)

    vtxList = []
    for i in range(meshVtxArray.length()):
        vtxList.append(meshVtxArray[i])
    print len(vtxList)
    return vtxList
    
getVertices("pCubeShape1")