24 Girls Recruiting

[Anonymous]

Getting a slot for one of the “handful of mediocre Ivy teams” is akin to winning the lottery, assuming the family of focused on academic/networking/job benefits……it has been nothing short of spectacular on all 3 fronts for our former CLC daughter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really hope someone from the CAP management didn’t write this. They already show relatively little loyalty to girls and families who have been in and supported the program. It would be even worse if they start to replace local girls with players from Baltimore who already have plenty of options.

This is one persons viewpoint. By their own admission they claim the 2024 and 2025 teams are top 10 teams that play top 10 schedules. Hasn’t this been the case historically for Capital? So really nothing new here. The stronger MD clubs are already placing players on top 20 teams, so no advantage there. If these players were to join CLC they more than likely bump a local CLC player from a recruiting spot. This won’t sit well with the traditional local CLC parents and players. The poster seems to be focusing on the MD benchwarmers who are not getting enough playing time and suggesting they may come down. Either these players will be good enough to bump out the top local CLC talent for top 20 spots and these locals commit to different caliber colleges, which again will upset the traditional CLC base or the MD players coming to CLC don’t beat out the local CLC players for top recruiting spots, meaning they gain nothing more by coming to CLC. If this were to happen CLC could be making a big business mistake and potentially push its local player base to look elsewhere. Just a possibility, not a guarantee. This poster’s position also assumes the MD benchwarmers want to attend a handful of Ivy League schools with mediocre lacrosse programs. Or they want to play for mid-level lacrosse programs. Outside of the top 5-7 in CLCs last recruiting class players committed to middle of the pack programs. This is not going to convince a MD family to make a move to CLC. The recruiting history has been there for CLC and this didn’t result in a mass influx of MD players. Additionally, if this were to happen the current CLC players may lose out or the MD players may lose out. More than likely one side has to give. This won’t work for parents and brings business risk to CLC. And even if the MD families accepted these risks and don’t make a top 20 team they likely would be headed to a mid-tier D1 program, which they can do by riding the bench on a MD team. Little to nothing to gain from this PPs position for MD families.

Yes, Cap Blue 24s and 25s are top ten teams that play other top ten teams. Fact, not a claim (all searchable). Correct: nothing new here but it’s an important baseline comparison point to show Cap Blue routinely plays / competes against top clubs and receives the same college coach exposure as those other top ten clubs.

Yes, the focus is on MD benchwarmers. They wouldn't displace CLC top players if they tried out but might edge out other CLC players on the bubble. Agree CLC parents wouldn't be happy if MD players tried out and made Cap Blue, and it may not make sense for CLC to take them for business reasons noted. But CLC is in the business of taking the best players and maximizing the number of recruits, so who knows.

MD clubs and Capital are pretty evenly matched from a talent standpoint. This PP wants people to believe Capital sends kids to “mediocre” (his / her word) programs, but facts are facts; let's review them. Below are the 2023 recruiting results for Hero's Green, M&D Black, Skywalker's Blue and Capital Blue:

Hero's Green:
6 to new / unranked D1 programs
8 to top 20 D1 programs
2 to non D1 programs
2 to Ivies
4 to 20+ ranked D1 programs
0 uncommitted

M&D Black:
2 to new / unranked D1 programs
2 to top 20 D1 programs
1 to non D1 programs
2 to Ivies
11 to 20+ D1 ranked programs
3 uncommitted

Skywalker's Blue:
0 to new / unranked D1 programs
8 to top 20 D1 programs
1 to non D1 programs
0 Ivies
10 to 20+ ranked D1 programs
2 uncommitted

Capital Blue:
0 to new / unranked programs
7 to top 20 D1 programs
0 to non D1 programs
4 Ivies
13 to 20+ ranked D1 programs
0 uncommitted

Anticipating the Clemson fans here: even if you count them as a top 20 team (which is a leap, at least out of the gate, but let's assume for sake of argument) Hero's has the edge in sending kids to better lax programs over top academics, and Capital Blue has the edge in sending kids to better academics. Most people already know this. But Capital Blue still performs on par with Skywalkers Blue and far better than M&D Black from a lax program strength standpoint. The number of Sky and M&D players who went to "mediocre" (his / her word) 20+ programs (factoring in the number of their uncommitted players, as Cap Blue’s entire team went D1) are right in line with Capital Blue.

Which brings us back to the MD benchwarmers. It’s possible (likely?) the MD players who committed to “mediocre” 20+ programs had higher hopes / aspirations. They might think a lack of playing time hurt them, and that more time could have helped them. Maybe not, but maybe so. This is where the consideration of trying out for Capital comes into play given Cap’s equal rotation model.

The PP offers opinions on why CLC wouldn’t take the MD kids if they did try out for the team. Truth is no one really knows what CLC would do if they were in that situation. The real question is whether current MD bench players from the 27s forward think they have a better shot at committing to a stronger school (either from a lax strength or academic standpoint) if they had more field time during the summer tournament recruiting season, and decide to try out for the team to find out.

MD parents on other threads have acknowledged that Cap Blue 23s recruiting performance surprised them, and the 24s will likely do the same. MD kids have their sports culture (as do the DMV players) and MD players may understandably never want to break away from it to play for Capital. But my guess is that that some MD players and parents are watching Capital compete and send kids to a slew of strong lax and academic schools – and more and more are giving the idea of a tryout some thought for reasons stated.

[Anonymous]

If these stats are right this breakdown is pretty interesting. M&D Black had 15 players who either went uncommitted, didn’t go D1, or went to non top 20 programs. That’s stunning. That they only had 2 go top 20 is also surprising.

That Capital had 7 and Skywalkers had 8 go top 20, and both clubs had 13 players go uncommitted / non D1 / non top 20, that’s revealing too. Hard to argue that Capital isn’t competing with the Md clubs in sending players to good lax schools.

[Anonymous]

“Anticipating the Clemson fans here: even if you count them as a top 20 team…”

If Clemson softball is any indication how quickly their lacrosse program will rise in the rankings then Top 20 is not a stretch. The Clemson softball team started play in 2020 and is now a top ranked team bringing in the best talent. The ACC, location, school facilities and commitment student athletes are hard to pass up for recruits. Pencil this program in the Top 20 soon. USF will be another new program that rises quickly and brings in top talent. They hired a proven D1 coach who built a consistent Top 20 team at Jacksonville. The AAC is one of the top women's conferences and Tampa is an attractive location for recruits. They will be Top 20 in short time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If these stats are right this breakdown is pretty interesting. M&D Black had 15 players who either went uncommitted, didn’t go D1, or went to non top 20 programs. That’s stunning. That they only had 2 go top 20 is also surprising.

That Capital had 7 and Skywalkers had 8 go top 20, and both clubs had 13 players go uncommitted / non D1 / non top 20, that’s revealing too. Hard to argue that Capital isn’t competing with the Md clubs in sending players to good lax schools.

To use a term earlier in this thread, let's not cherry pick here. Every year is different. M&D has the # 1 2022 recruit, Arguably the # 1 or # 2 Goalie at 2024 etc. To jump to conclusions saying Capital is as good or better than the top MD clubs for producing talent and recruiting is a far stretch. Does Capital do a good job at recruiting, yes. There was also an earlier question about how many AU pros came up through the Capital ranks. I haven't seen that answered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If these stats are right this breakdown is pretty interesting. M&D Black had 15 players who either went uncommitted, didn’t go D1, or went to non top 20 programs. That’s stunning. That they only had 2 go top 20 is also surprising.

That Capital had 7 and Skywalkers had 8 go top 20, and both clubs had 13 players go uncommitted / non D1 / non top 20, that’s revealing too. Hard to argue that Capital isn’t competing with the Md clubs in sending players to good lax schools.

To use a term earlier in this thread, let's not cherry pick here. Every year is different. M&D has the # 1 2022 recruit, Arguably the # 1 or # 2 Goalie at 2024 etc. To jump to conclusions saying Capital is as good or better than the top MD clubs for producing talent and recruiting is a far stretch. Does Capital do a good job at recruiting, yes. There was also an earlier question about how many AU pros came up through the Capital ranks. I haven't seen that answered.

Tend to agree with this post. Historically, Capital has done well with getting their players recruited. It was impressive to hear from the 2023 CLC parents (at least the Blue, don't know about Orange) how coordinated the recruiting efforts were for this class. And the preparation showed in their results. The numbers presented on each program are interesting, but it's one year. I don't know for sure but didn't M&D sell their program. Maybe this impacted the 2023 class. But to make a leap from one CLC recruiting class to now MD players will want to come to CLC is a big one.

On a national level, the 2024 class is considered weaker than the 2023. This may work in CLCs favor given how organized they seem to be around recruiting. The clubs preparation could put them in a good position for what may be fewer spots if colleges take smaller classes based on the perceived talent pool. But, if the talent is not considered as strong in the 2024 class as lacrosse pundits have suggested there may be a drop-off in commitments in this class and for CLC. We will see in short time. Regardless, it's a big stretch to say MD players want to come to CLC based on one class.

Good luck to all players in September.

[Anonymous]

Not sure comparisons like this really work - especially based on one year - as girls and families look for such a wide variety of things (including deciding not to play in college and injuries that may alter the process).

The baked in assumption to the PP’s point on this comparison is that CLC is the only club of the 4 with equal playing time for showcase tournaments. Don’t know that is accurate even if CLC talks about it more. Maybe Skywalkers is know for being less even, but the other two in HS do try to even out playing time much more is my understanding.

All these look like really successful recruiting classes though if one takes a step back! It is splitting hairs! Girls may pick the club they think they will have the most fun playing with and for the MD clubs many girls have been together for a long time and that is meaningful to them.

[Anonymous]

A few corrections-
SW 23 blue does have a Princeton commitment. She was one of the first commitments and it seems the only Ivy that panned out.This was a results of great grades and test scores right off the bat.
There are a few girls who didn’t get the Ivy call and then just blamed it on choosing playing time over sitting on the bench at Yale Harvard Princeton. Sorry but you’d play sooner at Yale than you would at the place you are currently committed to...

Also CapBlue is not that competitive of a team! They just have hyper-focused parents who are holding the clubs feet to the fire over getting their kids the commitments. We’ve played them and dusted their offense. They are not on the same level and M&D or Hero’s. I have film to prove it😊

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A few corrections-
SW 23 blue does have a Princeton commitment. She was one of the first commitments and it seems the only Ivy that panned out.This was a results of great grades and test scores right off the bat.
There are a few girls who didn’t get the Ivy call and then just blamed it on choosing playing time over sitting on the bench at Yale Harvard Princeton. Sorry but you’d play sooner at Yale than you would at the place you are currently committed to...

Also CapBlue is not that competitive of a team! They just have hyper-focused parents who are holding the clubs feet to the fire over getting their kids the commitments. We’ve played them and dusted their offense. They are not on the same level and M&D or Hero’s. I have film to prove it😊

Wow you have film. You should lock that up and keep it in a safe place. Definitely don’t want that gem getting out to the public.

I smell retirement funds.

[Anonymous]

Agree Capital Blue is somewhat overrated. Hero's and M&D work harder and are much tougher. Those kids grow up playing for the love of the game and not necessarily to get recruited as you see in the DMV. Getting recruited is the byproduct of working hard, trying to get better and winning games. Lacrosse in Maryland is more organic. In contrast, Capital/DMV parents pay for specialized training, tutors and everything else their kid needs to succeed. Whoever has the most money and connections tends to get ahead. It's more political as a result.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A few corrections-
SW 23 blue does have a Princeton commitment. She was one of the first commitments and it seems the only Ivy that panned out.This was a results of great grades and test scores right off the bat.
There are a few girls who didn’t get the Ivy call and then just blamed it on choosing playing time over sitting on the bench at Yale Harvard Princeton. Sorry but you’d play sooner at Yale than you would at the place you are currently committed to...

Also CapBlue is not that competitive of a team! They just have hyper-focused parents who are holding the clubs feet to the fire over getting their kids the commitments. We’ve played them and dusted their offense. They are not on the same level and M&D or Hero’s. I have film to prove it😊

Recruiting support from the club definitely helps, but the players are the ones who earn their spots at the end of the day. MD club starters rarely come off the field, which is the biggest difference between MD clubs and Capital. Capital 23s still beat Hero's twice during the summer tournament season playing this way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If these stats are right this breakdown is pretty interesting. M&D Black had 15 players who either went uncommitted, didn’t go D1, or went to non top 20 programs. That’s stunning. That they only had 2 go top 20 is also surprising.

That Capital had 7 and Skywalkers had 8 go top 20, and both clubs had 13 players go uncommitted / non D1 / non top 20, that’s revealing too. Hard to argue that Capital isn’t competing with the Md clubs in sending players to good lax schools.

To use a term earlier in this thread, let's not cherry pick here. Every year is different. M&D has the # 1 2022 recruit, Arguably the # 1 or # 2 Goalie at 2024 etc. To jump to conclusions saying Capital is as good or better than the top MD clubs for producing talent and recruiting is a far stretch. Does Capital do a good job at recruiting, yes. There was also an earlier question about how many AU pros came up through the Capital ranks. I haven't seen that answered.

Tend to agree with this post. Historically, Capital has done well with getting their players recruited. It was impressive to hear from the 2023 CLC parents (at least the Blue, don't know about Orange) how coordinated the recruiting efforts were for this class. And the preparation showed in their results. The numbers presented on each program are interesting, but it's one year. I don't know for sure but didn't M&D sell their program. Maybe this impacted the 2023 class. But to make a leap from one CLC recruiting class to now MD players will want to come to CLC is a big one.

On a national level, the 2024 class is considered weaker than the 2023. This may work in CLCs favor given how organized they seem to be around recruiting. The clubs preparation could put them in a good position for what may be fewer spots if colleges take smaller classes based on the perceived talent pool. But, if the talent is not considered as strong in the 2024 class as lacrosse pundits have suggested there may be a drop-off in commitments in this class and for CLC. We will see in short time. Regardless, it's a big stretch to say MD players want to come to CLC based on one class.

Good luck to all players in September.

Indeed we'll know soon enough how the 24s perform, and that will be a good signal of where the future is heading. What the stat breakdown of the 23s does disprove, however, is the claim that Capital only sends kids to good academics. Last year's class showed the best mix of ivies and top 20 programs of any club in MD or VA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If these stats are right this breakdown is pretty interesting. M&D Black had 15 players who either went uncommitted, didn’t go D1, or went to non top 20 programs. That’s stunning. That they only had 2 go top 20 is also surprising.

That Capital had 7 and Skywalkers had 8 go top 20, and both clubs had 13 players go uncommitted / non D1 / non top 20, that’s revealing too. Hard to argue that Capital isn’t competing with the Md clubs in sending players to good lax schools.

To use a term earlier in this thread, let's not cherry pick here. Every year is different. M&D has the # 1 2022 recruit, Arguably the # 1 or # 2 Goalie at 2024 etc. To jump to conclusions saying Capital is as good or better than the top MD clubs for producing talent and recruiting is a far stretch. Does Capital do a good job at recruiting, yes. There was also an earlier question about how many AU pros came up through the Capital ranks. I haven't seen that answered.

Wow, great questions. I wonder how many employers conducting job interviewers in the future will ask players why or why not they were selected to play in the AU pro league? Because that is really important to our daughter's futures! Those "gritty" MD players know how to get that done!

[Anonymous]

"Indeed we'll know soon enough how the 24s perform, and that will be a good signal of where the future is heading. What the stat breakdown of the 23s does disprove, however, is the claim that Capital only sends kids to good academics. Last year's class showed the best mix of ivies and top 20 programs of any club in MD or VA."

The Top programs tend to recruit midfielders and goalies first. The early signings for the 2024 team could give a good indication.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If these stats are right this breakdown is pretty interesting. M&D Black had 15 players who either went uncommitted, didn’t go D1, or went to non top 20 programs. That’s stunning. That they only had 2 go top 20 is also surprising.

That Capital had 7 and Skywalkers had 8 go top 20, and both clubs had 13 players go uncommitted / non D1 / non top 20, that’s revealing too. Hard to argue that Capital isn’t competing with the Md clubs in sending players to good lax schools.

To use a term earlier in this thread, let's not cherry pick here. Every year is different. M&D has the # 1 2022 recruit, Arguably the # 1 or # 2 Goalie at 2024 etc. To jump to conclusions saying Capital is as good or better than the top MD clubs for producing talent and recruiting is a far stretch. Does Capital do a good job at recruiting, yes. There was also an earlier question about how many AU pros came up through the Capital ranks. I haven't seen that answered.

This cracks me up. I have seen M and D goalies. They have a high Save percentage due to a stellar defense. They will both go D 1, and are both excellent goalies, but they are not number one or two. I Would say, maybe top ten and definitely top 15