Growing up in Ridgewood, N.J., it didn’t take Brett Kennedy long before he picked up a lacrosse stick for the first time.
“Lacrosse is big in my town,” Kennedy said. “Most kids have a stick in their hands at a very young age. I was probably in first or second grade when my dad bought me a stick and took me to my first clinic.”
Fast forward 10 years and Kennedy, who is entering his junior season at Ridgewood, the defenseman/longstick midfield is just two years away from the start of a major Division I career.
He will be spending it at Syracuse University, a decision first reported by Joe Lombardi on LaxLessons.com’s Lacrosse Insider premium coverage section.
The 6-foot, 178-pound Kennedy, a righty, is an aggressive defensive with outstanding stick skills and speed.
Now, here’s a Q&A with Brett on his commitment.
What were the main factors in your decision?
When I first started getting recruited, my parents and I visited many schools. After careful consideration, Syracuse was a great fit for me academically and athletically.
The lacrosse tradition and the coaching staff is incredible.
What other schools were you considering and what schools did you visit?
We visited many schools. The other schools I liked were UNC, Army, Colgate and St Joe’s.
How would you describe your style of play?
I like to play very fast and aggressive on defense. When I get the ball I look to push transition as much as possible to my teammates up field.
What area of your game do you need to work on?
There is always room for improvement on stick skills, speed and strength conditioning.
What other sports do you play?
I also love basketball and I am on the varsity basketball team at Ridgewood HS. I also played football from third grade through eigth grade as a running back/ linebacker.
What travel team do you play on what showcase events did you participate in?
I play on two travel club team in the summer – NJ Riot and Maroons Lacrosse Club. The individual showcases I went to were Philly Showcase, Nat Invite 175, 3d Blue Chip, Fab Frosh and Garden State Showcase. I was also invited to Nike Blue Chip and Adrenaline Black Card but was unable to attend. I was also selected to the 2016 Under Armour All American 2016 uncommitted team.
Any final thoughts?
I would like to thank my mom and dad. The amount of time and miles they have put in to taking me all over is incredible. I would also like to thank my Uncle B. If my dad couldn’t make something, he was and is always there for me.
I would like to thank all the Ridgewood coaches and Ridgewood HS head coach Mike Pounds for all his help from the youth level through HS.
I would also like to thank my NJ Riot coaches – Coach (Lee) Southren, Coach (Bill) McCutcheon (now assistant head coach at Monmouth University) and Coach Novak. This is a great program and these coaches had a big impact on taking my game to the next level.
Have a recruiting commitment to report? Send an email to info@laxlessons.com, contact Joe Lombardi directly at joe@laxlessons.com or send a Tweet to @Joe_Lombardi or @LaxLessons.
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Posted In: New Jersey lacrosse, Recruiting Rundown
