By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 7/29/10
Malvern Prep rising junior defenseman Eddie Morris has made a verbal commitment to play Division I lacrosse at Johns Hopkins, Phillylacrosse.com has learned.
Morris, the first rising junior in Philly to commit, was an Honorable Mention Inter-Ac League selection for the Friars’ co-championship team this spring. He was picked to play in last month’s Eastern Pennsylvania Scholastic Lacrosse Association (EPSLA) Showcase and last weekend excelled for the Duke’s 2 squad, which reached the finals at Champ Camp before falling to Duke’s 1.
The major college recruiting tournament was held at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore.
In the title game, Morris got to play on Homewood Field – his destination for four years beginning in 2013.
“Visiting Homewood field and just playing on that turf was a real awesome experience,” said Morris, who also considered Syracuse, Notre Dame, Duke, Ohio State, Penn and Princeton. “I became interested (in Hopkins) following my season with Malvern and I started to talk to (Hopkins coach Dave) Pietramala.”
Morris was watched several times this summer by Pietramala, who attended the EPSLA Showcase at Penn in mid-June. Morris also played this summer at the Rutgers MVP Tournament, the Brine Shootout at UMBC and for the Team Philly squad for Penn coach Mike Murphy.
He was a mainstay on a Duke’s 2 team that reached the finals of Champ Camp – the summer’s high-profile club tournament – despite the presence of many rising juniors and sophomores.
At Hopkins, he plans to study in either a Pre-Med program or International Relations.
“I had a great tour,” he said. “I got to meet with a few of the players. I am really excited. I feel fortunate to be able to go to a school that has such a prestigious academic reputation and a rich tradition of lacrosse.”
Morris will join Malvern Prep teammate Drew Kennedy at Johns Hopkins when he arrives. Kennedy, a standout rising senior face-off specialist, committed to Hopkins last year.
Morris, who is one of the first rising juniors in the country to commit, said the timing was right.
“It sort of happened a little earlier than I thought, but I am still real happy,” he said. “It felt like it was right.”
Morris, who credited Malvern coaches Dan Keating (head coach) and brother Mike Keating (top assistant), is already anxious for the 2011 season. Last year Malvern Prep surprised some by defeating Haverford School twice and tying the Fords for the Inter-Ac title. Next year again Haverford School – loaded with Division I recruits – will be favored. But Morris is undaunted.
“We bring back a lot of starters,” he said. “No one thought we could do it last year. I’m sure there are a lot of Haverford hopefuls this year, but we want to turn the tables and get back to the Inter-Ac championship and win it again.”
