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What do you get when you combine size with skills and an aggressive style of play? A defenseman who became a target recruit for several Division I programs. Meet Kyle Nawrocki. The rising junior from Hauppauge High School decided last week that his college career will be spent at Binghamton University, as first reported last […]

The Yorktown-to-Rutgers connection started when the Scarlet Knights tabbed former Husker assistant Brian Brecht as head coach prior to the 2012 season. And now, it’s in high gear. Connor Vercruysse became the latest Husker who will came RU his home. The rising junior attackmanwill join 2012 YHS grad Eric Cooley and rising senior Jack Phelan […]

When it comes to lacrosse recruiting showcases, the National Invitational 175 may have been the Rookie of the Year in 2012. The National Invitational 175 launched this  summer with a successful debut at Union College in Schenectady, N.Y. So much so, in fact, that the Nat Invite Fall Showcase has launched. Needless to say, the […]

The Friars are coming. The Friars are coming. We’ve been updating tristate schools that have the most members of the Class of 2013 awaiting college lacrosse. While Long Island power Chaminade still leads the way with 15, CHSAA rival St. Anthony’s is closing in. The Friars’ rising senior group is now at 13. Among the […]

In some ways, lacrosse is still almost brand new to Nolan Callahan. In other ways, the rising junior at Avon Old Farms (Conn.) is already a student of the game. The goaltender, who did not start playing the sport until age 15, has crammed what many take years to acquire into what has turned into […]

A total of eight players from three of the top high schools programs in the tristate area — Massapequa, Chaminade and Yorktown — will remain teammates at the collegiate levels. That’s among the topics Joe Lombardi explores in his latest column on the tristate lacrosse scene for InsideLacrosse.com.  Have a recruiting commitment to report? Email […]

Massapequa is building a strong connection to a school south of the tristate region. Defenseman/longstick midfielder Nick Capuana, a rising junior, verbally committed to Towson yesterday, joining Pequa teammate and classmate Ian Kirby as a Tigers commit. The 5-foot-10, 170-pound Capuana is an athletic and aggressive defender who thrives in transition. Now, here’s a Q&A […]

One of the top players in New Jersey, Christian Cuccinello, has decided on his college destination. The rising junior attackman from Mountain Lakes is equally dangerous as a feeder and finisher. At 6-foot, 198 pounds, Cuccinello, who also plays midfield, has good size. The righty is also strong with either hand and has a high […]

Looking for the best way to sting the defense when you go man up? We’ve got just the play to run from the LaxLessons.com playbook. It’s called “The Sting.” For an in-depth breakdown of the play, complete with a 3-D illustration and animation, check the InsideLacrosse.com story. You can subscribe to LaxLessons coaches page by […]

In a sport marked by strong family connections, there may never be another quite like it. Brothers Casey, Ryan and Mikey Powell all have made enormous impacts on lacrosse both as players and as ambassadors of the game. All three starred at Syracuse University, where they each were four-time All-Americans. Now, the final Powell brother […]

The fact that Timmy Burke will be playing lacrosse at the major Division I level should hardly come as a surpise. After all, the Chaminade High School (N.Y.) rising senior defenseman/longstick midfielder is the youngest of four lax-playing brothers. If that’s not enough, his cousin, Brian Burke, a former St. Anthony’s star, played at North […]

Considering he didn’t start playing lacrosse till age 12, it should come as no surprise that Ryan Nardi’s physical abilities are ahead of his stick skills. For starters, the recent graduate of the Fieldston School in New York City is 6-foot-3, 200 pounds. He was also a four-year letterwinner in football. So a post-grad year […]

‘Nade is now No. 1. With the 2012-13 school year about to start, we have been tracking how the leaderboard looks among tristate high school programs with the most rising senior commits. And Chaminade High School (N.Y.) Flyers has been flying high. The Flyers have soared to the top spot on our leaderboard with a […]

When it comes to prototypical midfield skills, Dillon Confalone rates pretty high. Good athleticism and speed. Check. Ability to shoot on the run with either hand. Check. Strong dodger. Check. So it should come as no surprise that the rising senior from the Delbarton School (N.J.) is bounded for a strong Division I program. The […]

That’s the question Joe Lombardi asks in his weekly column on tristate lax for InsideLacrosse.com. Right now, it’s a heated race between Delbarton (N.J.), Chaminade (N.Y.), St. Anthony’s (N.Y.) and Don Bosco Prep (N.J.). Joe had three separate commit updates yesterday at Twitter.com/joe_lombardi that had big  impacts on that unofficial recruiting race: * Chaminade (N.Y.) […]

There will be a new event on the fall recruiting landscape. The National Invitational 175, which launched this  summer with a successful debut at Union College in Schenectady, N.Y., has now added a fall showcase event, called the National Invitational Fall Select 175, which is now accepting applications. The one-day event for members of the […]

There’s one word that, above all others, describes Michael Fahey as a lacrosse player. Versatile. For starters, the rising senior at Manhasset High School (N.Y.) can play either attack or midfield, including d-middie. “I think my greatest asset as a player is being a do-it-all type of guy,” Fahey said. The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Fahey will […]

John Distler, the head coach Joel Barlow High School, has used a term not often heard in relation to lacrosse players to describe Mike Mattson, one of the Falcons’ leading players on this past season’s Connecticut Class S state title team. That word is slippery. “I generally agree with that label,” said the 5-foot-11, 175-pound […]

When it comes to midfield play, being steady is better than being spectacular almost every time. “My style of play is not flashy,” Jake Kaiser said. “It’s more of a simple and a textbook style of playing lacrosse.” And it’s landed the Byram Hills High School (N.Y.) rising senior a chance to play Division I […]

Conner Phillips has all the attributes you would look for in a Division I defensive recruit. The rising junior at Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School in New Jersey is 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds. In addition to his size, he has outstanding stick skills, especially for a defenseman. His talents are on full display on his […]

CHSAA fans have an intriguing game within a game to look forward to the next two seasons whenever archrivals Fordham Prep and Iona Prep meet on the lacrosse field. It will be happening in the faceoff X. The matchup will feature a pair of players bound for major Division I programs. For Iona Prep, it’s […]

Only five varsity programs from the New York/New Jersey/Connecticut tristate area have more seniors who have committed to play in college than Seton Hall Prep. In case you haven’t checked our “Updated recruiting review and commitment rundown” lately, SHP has six of them, including Brendan Barrett. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound attackman/midfielder has committed to the brand-new […]

Drew Custance brings plenty to his position. Make that positions. That very point is illustrated by the fact that the 6-foot, 155-pound rising senior is equally proficient as an attackman or midfielder for national power St. Anthony’s, the three-time defending New York CHSAA champions. Custance, an adept dodger with good footwork and an aggressive style […]

Jordan Barlow wrapped up an impressive varsity career this past spring by helping Kingswood-Oxford (Conn.) win the Fairchester Athletic Association championship with a 12-5 win over St. Luke’s (Conn.). The lefty attackman recorded 51 goals and 55 assists — numbers that bode well for his upcoming college career at Siena College. But before the 5-foot-9, […]

With the summer travel season now over, the number of verbal commitments surged last week. Among the stories we brought to you, the decision of one of the nation’s top rising sophomores, Henry Grass of two-time New York State Class C finalist Bronxville, who decided he will follow the lead of his older brother, All-America […]

Chris Dowd is an aggressive and unselfish player. Those attributes would serve any midfielder well, and the rising school from the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Conn., is no exception. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound lefty was recruited by several Division I and III programs before deciding on D-III power Tufts, which won the 2010 national title. Now, […]

Evan Gagne’s game is made for today’s brand of college lacrosse. The rising junior from Westhampton Beach (NY) is an agile and athletic attackman/midfielder. He’s be taking his game to Fairfield University following two more varsity seasons. Now, here’s a Q&A with Evan on his commitment: What were the main factors in your decision? The […]

Danny O’Connell has all the things college coaches look for in a prototypical attackman. Namely, size, stick skills and shooting ability. He’s also equally effective as a feeder as well as finisher. Add a strong academic resume to the list, and it’s no wonder the 2012 Chaminade graduate will attend Villanova after a post-grad year […]

Earlier this week, we spotlighted Lafayette-bound Matt Cortese, one of two goaltenders for defending New York State Class B champion Garden City who have committed for Division I programs, along with UMass-bound Danny Dolan. Having two D-I goalie recruits is rare. Three is almost unheard of. “This has never happened before to the best of […]

Willie Holmquist is a speedy midfielder who is adept at split dodging. But when it came time to decide on a college, first and foremost in the Half Hollow Hills West rising senior’s check list was academics. After weighing considering some of the top academic institutions along the East Coast, the 6-foot-1, 170-pound righty verbally […]

Ryan Wright (left) of Jamesville-Dewitt High School and Brian Bedell of Fayetteville-Manlius High School are travel teammates for Team United. Soon, they will be playing on the same college squad. Both verbally committed this week to the brand-new Division I program at Monmouth University. Considering they are both rising seniors, Ryan Wright and Brian Bedell […]

In an age of specialization in sports, the way college lacrosse coaches see it, an athlete who can excel in several sports has a big advantage on the lacrosse field. Meet Timothy Covel. A decorated standout in football and lacrosse at Cheshire High School (Conn.), Covel’s future at the next level is in lacrosse. The […]

In their two seasons as teammates on the Bronxville varsity team, Henry and Jack Grass have taken the Broncos to new heights — namely back-to-back appearances in the New York State Class C semifinals. The Grass brothers will be hoping for a three-peat as Section 1 champions next spring. But even though Jack, who earned […]

Nick Haiduk was familiar with his eventual college destination, New York Tech, before the recruiting process even started for him. That’s because of a family tie. The Sachem North rising senior’s brother, Billy, played for NYIT, where he graduated in 2011. Like his younger brother, Billy also is an attackman. Now, here’s a Q&A with […]

Mike D’Alessandro is gearing up for the football season. For any player at Don Bosco Prep, the national power in New Jersey, that’s a way of life this time of year. But after his high school days end, D’Alessandro’s future at the next level will be in lacrosse (with the possibility he could also pursue […]

Luke Palmadesso parlayed excellence in the faceoff X into seeing a significant amount of action for New York State Class B semfinalist Yorktown this past season. But once he earned it, the rising junior showed there’s a lot more to his game. A two-way midfielder who is strong with either hand, the 5-foot-10, 150-pound Palmadesso […]

Garden City will be in quest of an unprecedented second straight state title in 2013. But the Trojans, who enjoyed an unbeaten season in 2012, will have some big holes to fill. Including in goal, where Dan Marino came up big again and again throughout the regular season and postseason. Marino will be in the […]

To say Jordan Lefranc has a tremendous upside would be an understatement. The St. Anthony’s (N.Y.) rising senior has good size at 6-feet, 185 pounds. He can play attack or midfield and is strong with either hand. He’s also an effective feeder and finisher. Lefranc’s best lacrosse is clearly ahead of him. After his senior […]

When it comes to standing your ground in goal, size matters. Case in point, John Quinn. The Sachem North rising senior stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 195 pounds. “I take up much of the cage and I am able to control all aspects of the defense,” he said. Quinn’s college desitination is West Point. He verballed […]

Maine may not be known as a lacrosse hotbed, but it was the breeding ground for one of the nation’s top rising juniors. He’s midfielder Willy Sipperly. Sipperly, who is attending the Taft School in Watertown, Conn., is a native of Portland, Maine, verbally committed to the University of Virginia last week as first reported […]

The Warrior 40 is coming soon, and the nation’s No. 1 hotbed for lacrosse will be well-represented. The three-day event will be Aug. 13-15 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo. Seven players from the tristate region will be competing in the event, which features current high school players. Here’s the breakdown. There will […]

Brian Badgett can beat you in many ways. A two-way midfielder with good speed and athleticism, the 5-foot-11, 160-pound rising senior from defending New York State Class B state champion Garden City is constantly battling for ground balls, and then often triggering transition opportunities after he gets them. After returning for his senior year with […]

So much for the dog days of summer. This past week started and ended with a flurry of commitments, including three by rising sophomores, bringing the total number in the tristate to seven. Joe Lombardi has an overview of all the news in his latest column on tristate lacrosse for InsideLacrosse.com. In case you missed […]

Considering Darien’s tradition of goaltending success, Phil Huffard’s chances of eventually playing at the highest level of Division I lacrosse seemed almost ordained even before he earned a spot on Darien’s varsity team as a freshman. That’s because, as you will learn more about, Huffard’s four predecessors as Blue Wave starting goalie have all gone […]

Every team needs a midfielder who can break down a defense with a variety of one-on-one moves. In Chris Santangelo, Rye High School (N.Y.) has just that. Soon, so too will the University of Pennsylvania. The 5-foot-10, 170-pound Santangelo verbally committed to the Quakers, as first reported at Twitter.com/joe_lombardi. Santangelo’s commitment came after strong showings […]

For Alex Concannon, the Long Island Showcase marked the start of something big. As in the summer travel season. The attackman/midfielder from Syosset High School (NY) earned MVP honors in the Rising Sophomore game at the showcase, and caught the eye of one of the coaches in attendance, Dave Pietramala of Johns Hopkins. Two years […]

He still has two seasons of varsity lacrosse ahead of him, but Josh Miller has already emerged as a leader. And a vocal one. That’s a key attribute for a goalie, which happens to be the post the standout from Brien McMahon High School in Norwalk, Conn., plays in high school, and which he will […]

Change is in the air in the men’s collegiate lacrosse world. The Men’s Lacrosse Rules Committee announced today it is recommending several rules changes to the game, including the implementation of a 30-second shot clock after a stall warning and the elimination of the motorcycle grip on faceoffs. The recommendations will be voted on in […]

Though he has not yet started his junior year of high school, Kyle Foote is already a two-year veteran of varsity lacrosse. And he’s earned some high praise from his coach at Greenwich (Conn.) High School, Scott Bulkley. “Kyle has one of the best split dodges I have seen,” Bulkley said of the natural right-hander. […]

The focus of the latest edition of MSG Varsity’s “Sports Talk” show will be the fourth annual Long Island Showcase, played earlier this summer, lacrosse recruiting and a rundown of tristate summer commitments made prior to today and a review of the U-19 World Games. You can watch the show, co-hosted by Joe Lombardi and […]

It didn’t take long for Shawn Smith to make an impact on the John Jay boys lacrosse team. The midfielder did just that when he earned a spot on the varsity team last year as a freshman. Now, just over a year later, the 6-foot-2, 180-pound midfielder has decided on his college destination. Smith has […]

Syosset has produced no shortage of college-bound players over the course of the last decade. Last week, rising sophomore attackman Alex Concannon verbally committed to Johns Hopkins. Earlier this week, Joe reported at Twitter.com/joe_lombardi that another Braves standout has made his choice. He’s rising senior defenseman Harrison Schoenhaut. The -6-foot-2, 170-pound Schoenhaut is a right-handed […]

Brian Cannon now has some company. The standout attackman from Northport who committed to North Carolina prior to the start of the 2012 season, now has a Division I-bound classmate. He’s Brett Hall. Hall is a 6-foot-3, 195-pound righty defenseman with good size and stick skills. He has verballed to Towson. Now, here’s a Q&A […]