Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 11/15/12
The 2012 Philly Showcase, taking place this weekend, is destined to be the biggest recruiting weekend of the year.
In a testament to the amazing talent on display at the Philly Showcase from Philadelphia area and around the nation, last year over 150 college programs attended the Philly Showcase, including 58 of the then-62 NCAA Division I programs. This year based on preregistration numbers the Philly Showcase will easily surpass that mark, and may become the first recruiting event in recent memory to attract a representative from every single Division I program.
NXTsports, directors of the Philly Showcase, are also thrilled to welcome Easton Lacrosse on board as exclusive sponsor of Philly Showcase weekend. Said Andy Hayes, President of NXTsports, “We are very excited to welcome the lacrosse community to Philadelphia for the fourth consecutive year. The Philly Showcase has grown annually and this year is no exception.
“We can’t wait to host the Philly Charity Showdown at PPL Park, and to welcome Easton Lacrosse to Showcase weekend as our exclusive sponsor. Easton has been a tremendous partner in making this event a reality.”
The three-part Philly Showcase weekend begins Friday night at PPL Park, and continues throughout the weekend at Episcopal Academy in Newtown Square, PA.
Philly Charity Showdown – Friday, November 16
The weekend begins with the Friday night Philly Charity Showdown on November 16 at PPL Park in Chester, PA. For the third consecutive year the Philly Charity Showdown will feature a great lineup of elite high school and club teams in action for the college coaches arriving in town on Friday night.
The difference is that this year the Charity Showdown has moved to PPL Park, home of the Philadelphia Union and one of the nation’s most amazing venues for lacrosse. Over 100 college coaches have pre-registered to attend Friday night and check out a great lineup of talent as some of Philly’s best high school and club programs take on elite counterparts from all over North America in support of a great cause.
The game lineup for Friday at PPL Park is:
5:00pm • HEADstrong (PA) vs. Leading Edge (NJ)
5:55pm • Haverford School (PA) vs. Hill Academy (ON)
6:50pm • Episcopal Academy (PA) vs. Conestoga (PA)
7:45pm • Mesa Fresh (PA) vs. Laxachusetts (MA)
8:40pm • NXT L.C. (PA) vs. Titanium (OH)
For the second consecutive year the Philly Charity Showdown will raise money for HelpHOPELive in honor of Logan Schweiter. Logan, a student at St. Katherine’s of Siena School in Wayne and an enthusiastic rising lacrosse player in the Conestoga Youth Lacrosse (CYLAX) program. nearly drowned when trapped before being rescued from floodwaters near his Wayne, PA home in July 2011.
Logan is fighting to recover from severe brain damage suffered as a result of the tragic incident. HelpHOPELive is a nonprofit that empowers individuals and families to overcome financial barriers related to catastrophic injury through grass-roots fundraising, and has been instrumental in supporting Logan and the Schweiter family, as well other families who have suffered catastrophic injury.
The Philly Charity Showdown at PPL Park is open to all lacrosse fans. Tickets are available at the gate for $20, and all children 12 and under are welcome to attend for free. All proceeds from the night go to the cause.
Philly Showcase for 2014 & 2015 Players – Saturday, November 17
In what is usually considered the “main event” of Showcase weekend, the Philly Showcase continues on Saturday with 480 elite sophomores and juniors from 20 states in competition at Episcopal Academy. The players have been divided into 24 teams each coached by a prominent high school or club coach hailing from both Pennsylvania and from nine other states around the country. The 24 coaches are:
• Justin Becker, James Bowie H.S. (TX)
• John Begier, Radnor H.S. (PA)
• Chris Bovina, Sparta H.S. (NJ)
• Phil Chang, Plymouth-Whitemarsh H.S (PA)
• Mike Chin, Kings Park H.S. (NY)
• Byron Collins, Detroit Country Day School (MI)
• Warren Danenza, Upper Darby H.S. (PA)
• Will Gibbs, Episcopal Academy (PA)
• Josh Hanlon, formerly Neshaminy H.S. (PA)
• Cam Howard, Tatnall School (DE)
• Jamie Huber, Pennsbury H.S. (PA)
• Eric Jackson, Avon Grove H.S. (PA)
• Shaun Miller, Westtown School (PA)
• Kevin O’Brien, Western Reserve Academy (OH)
• Ian O’Hearn, Mercer Island H.S. (WA)
• Joe Proud, Harriton H.S. (PA)
• Kevin Redda, Fairfield Prep (CT)
• Brian Samson, Conestoga H.S. (PA)
• Brian Silcott, LB3 Atlanta (GA)
• Ryan Tessler, Holy Ghost Prep (PA)
• Frank Urso, Garnet Valley H.S. (PA)
• Tom Walsh, Wissahickon H.S. (PA)
• Todd Fairlie, Episcopal Academy (PA)
• Kyle Wimer, Manheim Township (PA)
Each team will play three morning games in front of the college coaches between 8:30am and 1:50pm. After a lunch break and a face-off “King of the X” competition, the Philly Showcase will then announce the rosters for the afternoon Easton Lacrosse Fab Forty 2014 and 2015 all-star games. The all-star games will begin around 1:30pm and conclude around 4pm.
Philly Showcase for Uncommitted 2013s & Philly Invitational Team Tournament – Sunday
On Sunday, also at Episcopal Academy, the Philly Showcase will hold a special competition strictly for uncommitted seniors. At the request of college coaches, who have a strong interest in taking a last look at uncommitted seniors, approximately 90 players from the class of 2013 will be divided into four teams and will play a series of three games each in front of the attending college coaches.
Additionally on Sunday, NXTsports will host the elite 38-team The Philly Invitational for top club and high school programs. The team lineup for the 2012 Philly Invitational consists of:
Club Teams:
• 2Knights Lacrosse
• Bandits Lacrosse
• CNY Roadhawks
• CT Chargers
• Elev8 Calgary
• Top Gun Fighting Clams
• Greene Turtle
• HEADstrong
• Laxachusetts
• LB3 Atlanta
• Leading Edge
• Long Island Express
• Long Island Jesters
• Long Island Outlaws
• MadLax
• NH Tomahawks
• NXT Lacrosse
• Raging Rhinos
• Seattle Starz
• Team Carolina
• Titanium Elite
High School Programs (PA unless marked)
• Conestoga H.S.
• Downingtown East
• Episcopal Academy
• Georgetown Prep (MD)
• Gonzaga (DC)
• Haverford School
• Malvern Prep
• St. Joseph’s Prep
• St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes (VA)
• St. Augustine Prep (NJ)
NXT Sports would like to thank Easton Lacrosse, exclusive sponsor of Philly Showcase weekend, for their help in making the Philly Showcase the best recruiting weekend of the year.
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