By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 11/21/09
More than 325 of the top players from the Philadelphia area and the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond competed today in the inaugural Philly Lacrosse Showcase at Episcopal Academy in one of the fall’s top boys’ recruiting event.
More than 100 coaches from over 70 Division I, II and III colleges attended the event, looking for talent and watching the three “Fab Forty” All-Star games (see All-Star selections below) that showcased the top 40 players in the sophomore, junior and senior classes. These teams were selected by the Showcase coaches.
Following open registration, each player was placed on one of 16 teams, coached by top Philly scholastic coaches. Each team played three games as college coaches roamed the six Episcopal Academy fields (two turf) searching for talent. The event was co-sponsored by Phillylacrosse.com.
“The people in Philadelphia always put on a great event,” said Hofstra coach Seth Tierney. “It’s organized, it’s well run and the talent is as good as anywhere in the country. The Philadelphia area has come a long way and it’s an event that cannot be missed.”
Tierney said he mostly was looking at juniors, but also was interested in top seniors that had not signed yet and sophomores that are just beginning to emerge.
“We’re looking for everybody,” said Tierney. “We want to see what’s out there. We’re really looking for juniors, but if there are seniors out there that don’t have a home and if there are sophomores out there that want to get on the radar earlier, we like to see them.
“We like to see guys that play very hard. They may not be the most skilled guys, but if they play hard and are coachable, we like to see that.”
Kevin Meany, coach at Division III Alvernia, said he was looking at players that fit into his program.
“We’re looking at seniors that haven’t settled yet,” he said. “And now we’re starting to look at some juniors. There is a lot of good talent here.”
Meany said not all players are looking to go to Division I colleges and that many want to just find a college program where they are happy with the academics and will get the chance to play.
“Kids have to find the right fit,” he said. “There’s plenty of opportunities. If you want to play you can. We’re looking for athletes, players that can play at the next level.”
One of the players, Germantown Academy sophomore goalie Jacob Adoni, was looking to get a kick-start on college recruiting while also getting experience against top competition.
“As a sophomore, I am just starting the recruiting process,” said Adoni. “I wanted to just get a couple looks from colleges. But I pretty much wanted to have fun. I know a couple people out here, but it was about having fun and playing lacrosse.”
A senor, Interboro goalie Adam Moore, was looking to earn a spot on the Fab Forty team in hopes of getting more Division I looks. He has at least one Division III school on his radar, but wanted to keep his options open.
“It went really well, I enjoyed all my teammates and it was great playing having (Springfield-Delco) coach (Michael) Friel as my coach,” said Moore, who later learned he made the Fab Forty game. “It was an awesome experience. My main goal was to broaden my experiences and broaden the level of coaches that could come to see me. It was an unbelievable level of competition, seeing players from all around the state of Pennsylvania, out of state and out of the area.”
The player that came from the greatest distance was St. Ignatius Prep (San Francisco, CA) defenseman Chase Whittingham, who earned a ticket to the Junior Fab Forty game.
“I think there’s great competition over here that we don’t normally get in California,” said Whittingham, who said two of his teammates that originally signed up were unable to attend the event. “It’s an opportunity to play against the best and try to improve. I have been talking to several schools but at this point it’s up in the air.
“I’d say the East Coast game is much cleaner. Overall, it’s a better level of competition compared to California where they’re better athletes, but the overall (level) is not as high.”
In the Senior Fab Forty All-Star game, Gerry Smith (Episcopal Academy) and Jason Demato (St. Augustine Prep, NJ) each scored twice to lead the White team to an 8-6 triumph. Julius Mouser (Shipley School) and Shane Morrell (Episcopal Academy) both had two goals to pace the White team to an 11-5 victory in the Junior Fab Forty contest. The Sophomore Fab Forty game ended in a 6-6 tie as Graeme Weaver (Malvern Prep) tallied three times for the White team and Calvin Hopkins (Pennsbury) notched two goals for the Blue squad.
Look for more coverage and pictures tomorrow from the Philly Lacrosse Showcase
Senior Fab Forty All-Stars
Blue All-Stars
Kenneth Warren, A, Pennsbury
Nate Hare, A, Upper Merion
Chris Brady, A, Neshaminy
Lee Minkoff, A, Cheltenham
Matt Macey, M, St. Augustine, NJ
Luke Laszkiewicz, M, Ontario, Canada
Ercol Acri, M, Mechanicsburg
Josh Sutterfield, M, Spring-Ford
Patrick Nolan, M, Plymouth Whitemarsh
Tom Sardelli, M, Notre Dame, (Rochester, MI)
Dawson Matter, M, Pembrooke, NH
Ryan Kreston, M, Hatboro-Horsham
Stephen Lewallen, D, Neshaminy
Will Thompson, D, Great Valley
Ben Vessels, D, St. Augustine, NJ
Ferrick Maxwell, D, Great Valley
Steve Oppenheimer, G, Germantown Academy
Chris Shubert, G, Pennsbury
White All-Stars
Jason Demato, A, St. Augustine, NJ
Nate Kotarra, A, Harriton
Dale Smith, A, Ridley
Daniele Weymer, A, St. Augustine, NJ
Alex Gibbel, M, Warwick
Gerry Smith, M, Episcopal Academy
Adam Yee, M, Penncrest
James Stanley, M, Bishop Shanahan
Craig Hunsberger, M, Pennridge
Johnny Gregitis, M, St. Joseph’s Prep
James Hennessy, M, Owen J. Roberts
James Lamb, D, Penn Charter
Michael Irvine, D, Malvern Prep
Jonathon Gilmartin, Malvern Prep
Shane Dacey, D, Holy Ghost Prep
Tim Durkin, D, La Salle
Adam Moore, G, Interboro
Mike Zikoski, G, St. Joseph’s Prep
Junior Fab Forty All-Stars
White All-Stars
Kohl Batdorf, A, Owen J. Roberts
Cory Scheuerle, A, St. Joseph’s Prep
Michael Bernier, A, Malvern Prep
Andrew Grabowski, A, Penn Charter
Shane Morrell, A, Episcopal Academy
TJ Hanzsche, A, Malvern Prep
Julius Mouser, M, Shipley
Bradley James, M, St. Joseph’s Prep
Keith Dreyer, M, Malvern Prep
Bill Flatley, M, Conestoga
Keegan Lawton, M, Bishop Shanahan
Bryan Barry, M, Duxbury, MA,
Brendan Montrello, M, Niskayuna, NY
Trevor Hornby, M, Avon Grove
Ryan Crane, D, Germantown Academy
Alex Warden, D, Garnet Valley
Dan Marr, D, Pennsbury
Kevin Barrow, D, Avon Grove
Jim DeCarlo, D, La Salle
Beau Gomez, D, Wissahickon
Grant Nice, G, Souderton
Corbin Booker, G, Chestnut Hill Academy
Blue All-Stars
Andrew Blundin, A, Salesianum, DE
Joel McGowan, A, Bishop Eustace, NJ
Mike Devine, A, Malvern Prep
Colin Joka, A, Plymouth Whitemarsh
Matt King, A, Don Bosco Prep, NJ
Aiden Scott, A, Ridgefield, CT
Drew Kennedy, M, Malvern Prep
Jake Cabble, M, Sachem North, NY
Vincent Travaglini, M, Malvern Prep
Billy Schwartz, M, Bergen Catholic, NJ
Gryphin Kelly, M, Plymouth Whitemarsh
Will Glover, M, Abbey Park, Ontario, Canada
Richard Graf, M, Conestoga
Ryan Nowell, D, Bayard Rustin
Carl Lampe, D, Episcopal Academy
Bobby Tait, D, Germantown Academy
Dylan O’Donnell, D, Penncrest
Tim Cloud, D, Severna Park, MD
Chase Whittingham, D, St. Ignatius Prep, CA
Victor Garcia, G, La Salle
Hank Altschuler, G, Lower Merion
Sophomore Fab Forty Teams
White All-Stars
Connor Haab, A, Episcopal Academy
Ryan Ambler, A, Abington
Zach Rego, A, Haverford School
Connor Frisina, A, Conestoga
Dillon Walker, A, Salesianum School, DE
Aaron Murphy, A, Downingtown East
Matt Figueroa, M, Abington
Will McNamara, M, Haverford School
Paul Finley, M, Malvern Prep
Graeme Weaver, M, Malvern Prep
Jack Mott, M, Conestoga
Brett Incollingo, M, Pennsbury
Eddie Morris, D, Malvern Prep
Casey Eidenshink, D, La Salle
Zach Micciche, D, Eastern, NJ
Connor Bailey, D, Haverford School
Tanner Biemesderfer, D, Warwick
Kevn Samolsky, D, Malvern Prep
Jackson Tamasitis, G, Penn Charter
Andrew Fritschi, G, St. Anthony’s, NY
Blue All-Stars
Tyler Brooke, A, Conestoga
Shane Carr, A, Penn Charter
Parker Self, A, Central Bucks East
Calvin Hopkins, A, Pennsbury
Henry Blynn, A, Haverford School
Tyler Earley, A, Penn Charter
Sam Rohr, M, Haverford School
Vincent Loscalazo, M, Rocky Point, NY
Jake Durkin, M, Hatboro-Horsham
Evan Casterson, M, Pennsbury
Michael Buysse, M, Malvern Prep
Gregory Shildkrout, M, Germantown Academy
Miles Thomas, D, Conestoga
Ryan Guittare, D, Garnet Valley
Paxton Moore, D, Haverford School
Ryan Lehman, D, Garnet Valley
James Burke, D, Lower Merion
Tyler Morrell, G, Episcopal Academy
Travis O’Connor, G, Abington
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