Private School Lacrosse Thread

[Anonymous]

My kid just got invited to the Philly Showcase. I have 2 older boys so know about this one. That same organizer (NXT) also invited him to the Baltimore Summer Showcase. Is this a new event? Should my son go to Philly, or choose Baltimore because it's closer, or both?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid just got invited to the Philly Showcase. I have 2 older boys so know about this one. That same organizer (NXT) also invited him to the Baltimore Summer Showcase. Is this a new event? Should my son go to Philly, or choose Baltimore because it's closer, or both?

Philly is one of the top showcases to attend in the Fall. NXT runs a great event, some decent swag, nice fields and well run. My son enjoyed his experience and hopes to be back next year. Philly is becoming more of a showcase hotbed because of it's central proximity. Fairly easy drive from NY or VA, and not far from MD.

The Baltimore showcase is brand new, but it is in the summer. The only challenge is the draw as Under Armour tryouts are that week, and B'More Summer Kickoff is that weekend. Another showcase sandwiched in between would be A LOT of lacrosse, but your mileage may vary. Personally I'd choose UA over the Baltimore event.

[Anonymous]

Also check to see which coaches will be attending each event (although that information may not be available for months)...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid just got invited to the Philly Showcase. I have 2 older boys so know about this one. That same organizer (NXT) also invited him to the Baltimore Summer Showcase. Is this a new event? Should my son go to Philly, or choose Baltimore because it's closer, or both?

Philly is one of the top showcases to attend in the Fall. NXT runs a great event, some decent swag, nice fields and well run. My son enjoyed his experience and hopes to be back next year. Philly is becoming more of a showcase hotbed because of it's central proximity. Fairly easy drive from NY or VA, and not far from MD.

The Baltimore showcase is brand new, but it is in the summer. The only challenge is the draw as Under Armour tryouts are that week, and B'More Summer Kickoff is that weekend. Another showcase sandwiched in between would be A LOT of lacrosse, but your mileage may vary. Personally I'd choose UA over the Baltimore event.

Agree with most of your post but adamantly disagree with the PP re the Under Armour tryouts and event during the summer. It has been becoming more and more disappointing over the past two-three years, with this past summer being especially bad. We have been participating with different kids for the past 7 or 8 (?) years but we absolutely will NOT be doing it again this year for either kid based on last year's experience. Total money grab by UA organizers with no bang for the buck.

[Anonymous]

Isn't Philly also one of the top showcases for the summer? What are the other ones?

[Anonymous]

http://www.wackylax.com/prospect-showcases

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid just got invited to the Philly Showcase. I have 2 older boys so know about this one. That same organizer (NXT) also invited him to the Baltimore Summer Showcase. Is this a new event? Should my son go to Philly, or choose Baltimore because it's closer, or both?

Philly is one of the top showcases to attend in the Fall. NXT runs a great event, some decent swag, nice fields and well run. My son enjoyed his experience and hopes to be back next year. Philly is becoming more of a showcase hotbed because of it's central proximity. Fairly easy drive from NY or VA, and not far from MD.

The Baltimore showcase is brand new, but it is in the summer. The only challenge is the draw as Under Armour tryouts are that week, and B'More Summer Kickoff is that weekend. Another showcase sandwiched in between would be A LOT of lacrosse, but your mileage may vary. Personally I'd choose UA over the Baltimore event.

Agree with most of your post but adamantly disagree with the PP re the Under Armour tryouts and event during the summer. It has been becoming more and more disappointing over the past two-three years, with this past summer being especially bad. We have been participating with different kids for the past 7 or 8 (?) years but we absolutely will NOT be doing it again this year for either kid based on last year's experience. Total money grab by UA organizers with no bang for the buck.

Interesting - curious as to what made the experience a poor one? I have no affiliation with UA.

My son played last year (2020) and did not have a good showing, so I didn't expect him to get a call back. He plays middie ... and while I wish he got more runs, he got just as many as the other mids. Coach did a good job rotating lines and subs for the most part. It's $190 which is on par with other showcases, and you can't really complain about the college coaches in attendance. Competition is top notch as well.

The bonus for the DMV folks is it is local, not much travel so no hotel or airfare expenses. Contrast that with say NLF, Showtime, Black Card, etc. Traveling to NY/CT/DE is a much bigger cost.

[Anonymous]

My son applied for 9th grade to all the IAC schools. Obviously, academics will be the main factor. But he's also extremely serious about lacrosse. We've gotten input from his club coach, but we believe that coach was being slightly less than objective and seemed intent on steering him to only one school.

My son's goals for lacrosse are pretty simple. He's like a team that is competitive, but also wants a chance of possibly making varsity by 10th grade, with real playing time his junior and senior years. He also wants coaches who are nice guys and know the game and can make him better. As parents, we're looking for a program that can teach him on and off the field, with some ability to help with college recruitment.

Anyone out there care to compare and contrast the IAC programs given this criteria?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son applied for 9th grade to all the IAC schools. Obviously, academics will be the main factor. But he's also extremely serious about lacrosse. We've gotten input from his club coach, but we believe that coach was being slightly less than objective and seemed intent on steering him to only one school.

My son's goals for lacrosse are pretty simple. He's like a team that is competitive, but also wants a chance of possibly making varsity by 10th grade, with real playing time his junior and senior years. He also wants coaches who are nice guys and know the game and can make him better. As parents, we're looking for a program that can teach him on and off the field, with some ability to help with college recruitment.

Anyone out there care to compare and contrast the IAC programs given this criteria?

I'd say St Albans will meet your and your son's requirements. Its the only school we have direct reference to so that's all the advice I can give you. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Landon or St Albans.

Too much in stability at Georgetown Prep (3 coaches in 5 years)

[Anonymous]

The schools academic strength and "culture" are more important than the LAX reputation. That said, St Albans and Landon are solid choices

[Anonymous]

Potomac school is up and coming. They play in the MAC so DS could most likely start freshman year.

PP where are you committing from?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son applied for 9th grade to all the IAC schools. Obviously, academics will be the main factor. But he's also extremely serious about lacrosse. We've gotten input from his club coach, but we believe that coach was being slightly less than objective and seemed intent on steering him to only one school.

My son's goals for lacrosse are pretty simple. He's like a team that is competitive, but also wants a chance of possibly making varsity by 10th grade, with real playing time his junior and senior years. He also wants coaches who are nice guys and know the game and can make him better. As parents, we're looking for a program that can teach him on and off the field, with some ability to help with college recruitment.

Anyone out there care to compare and contrast the IAC programs given this criteria?

Good luck with the process! It might be a little harder than in the past to compare/contrast because this year three IAC schools have new coaches: Georgetown Prep; St. Stephens St. Agnes; and St. Albans. Those are six strong choices, though -- I've known families with kids at all of them and generally all have been quite happy.

The three schools with the most recent lacrosse strength are Landon, Bullis, and Georgetown Prep. St. Stephens St. Agnes has also had a strong program under the departed coach. Episcopal and St. Albans are a bit more back of the pack, but in an absolute sense (compared regionally and even nationally) they have good teams and strong players on those Episcopal and St. Albans teams get recruited.

Not surprisingly, probably the best opportunities for early playing time/varsity status would be at St. Albans and Episcopal, but it can change every year at the other schools (for example, if a big senior class graduates more sophomores may make varsity and play). Conversely, it might be harder to crack the line-up at a place like Landon.

St. Albans also stands out as being seen as stronger academically -- it's often mentioned with Sidwell, GDS, NCS as being one of the top privates in the area for academics -- BUT from what I understand, strong students at any of the IAC schools will encounter excellent faculty members, interesting coursework, and be well-prepared for college.

[Anonymous]

Great advice PP.

I know 2 iAC programs especially well.

I agree ST Albans may be your best bet in terms of your son making an early impact. Off the top of my head, there were at least 4 sophomores on the STA team that got a lot of playing time last year. As far as college recruitment, I have heard some of that group are getting strong D3 interest. The team also includes two Ivy commits and I think a D3 commit senior. I have not met the new coach, but I am told the boys like him and his staff a lot.

I also know Landon lacrosse very well. If your son is really that good (d1 prospect), he should be able to crack varsity as a freshman.

You really cannot go wrong with any IAC school for a solid academic and lacrosse combination. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I think the "new" SSSA coach was an assistant there for some time. So expect the great coaching tradition to continue. The grads also do extremely well at getting recruited.