By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 10/24/10
St. Joseph’s Prep senior attackman/midfielder Rob Watts has made a verbal commitment ti play Division I lacrosse at St. Joesph’s University.
Watts was a key contributor to a Hawks team that went 12-8 last year and reached the Catholic League finals while finishing No. 8 in the PA Media Rankings.
Watts, who plays club lacrosse for Select, competed in the adidas All-American Games. He also earned the Pat Byrnes Memorial Scholarship.
At St. Joe’s, he plans to major in business.
“I really liked how close it was to home and I really wanted the opportunity to play at the highest level I could,” he said. “I also feel like there is a new energy as they move to a new conference (Colonial Athletic Association).
“Now they’ll get to play in a league with Penn State, Hofstra, Delaware and Drexel and that caliber of team.”
Watts is one of five Philly seniors to commit to St. Joseph’s. The others are Unionville’s Rich O’Neill (Long stick midfielder), Malvern Prep’s Mike Dougherty (attackman), Avon Grove’s Kevin Barrow (defenseman) and Downingtown West’s Dustin Keen (goalie).
Watts is also the fourth St. Joseph’s Prep senior to commit to a Division I college. The others are Cory Scheuerle (attackman/, Lafayette), Connor Dent (defenseman, Bryant) and Jeff Heath (midfielder, Delaware).
Watts believes the Hawks are capable of winning the Catholic League in 2011. St. Joe’s has fallen to La Salle in the league finals seven straight years.
“I’m very confident this year we have the right pieces in check for us to give those guy on Cheltenham Avenue a run,” he said. “We also play a number of Inter-Ac teams.
“Coach (Eric) Gregg challenges us every year. All the tough games build us up – like the win over St. Anthony’s (N.Y.) last year. We feel like we gained from the experience we had last year and those intangibles will really help next year.”
