By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 10/24/16
BRYN MAWR, Pa. – San Dieguito Academy (CA) 2018 LSM Justin Krute was excited to make his first trip to the East Coast today to compete in the passport Alliance/National 175 “Last of the Titans” D3 Showcase at Shipley School.
“I saw this was a D3 showcase and that’s what (level) I am looking forward to playing and where I want to go to school,” said Krute. “It’s fun to go to the East Coast and get a different taste than Southern California.
Darien (CT) 2018 DEF Thomas Murphy (left); San Dieguito Academy (CA) 2018 LSM Justin Krute (Great Western Warhawks)
“I really didn’t know what to expect since I never played against East Coast players; I was guessing the competition would be very good. That’s a normal thing here, but it went well and exceeded my expectations. It was a lot of fun.”
Krute, who plays club for the Great Western Warhawks and Alpha Adrenaline, was one of over 200 participants in an event that drew 50 coaches on the two turf fields at Shipley. He said he managed to adjust to the level of play with his quickness and gritty play.
“The GBs went well, especially in the last game,” he said. “I got a lot of clears and my positioning was good, working with the defense and getting the ball from defense to attack and working with the midfield.”
What were Krute’s goals? “First, get a lot of experience and getting a taste of the whole showcase thing. The competition was great. there were a lot of great players that could play D1 here, but for academic purposes they were her. I felt I played right up there with them.”
What type of school is Krute looking for?
“First, I want to play on a good team,” he said, “and I am looking for school that focuses on academics and not just lacrosse.”
Comments from others that shined Saturday:
Thomas Murphy, 2018 DEF, Darien (CT)
On why he came out: “I felt it was a great opportunity. All I was thinking about was giving my all and not having any regrets when leaving. And I think I had a good event. I was shocked; I expected a lot of people to be playing individually, but I didn’t see much of it. I liked how the defense line I played with would bounce back for the next half if we had a bad half. It was a really good time with a lot of guys. I met a lot of kids; some of them I probably won’t see again, but maybe there is a chance I would see them again.”
St. Anne’s-Belfield (VA) 2018 MF Michael DiGiacomo (Dukes)
On what type of school he is looking for: “I am just looking for a school that when I get there I know it’s awesome and that when driving through I feel, ‘Wow, this is awesome.’ I am always looking for a coach that understands it’s not just lacrosse, that it’s also about academics, and one that always has a good attitude.”
Michael DiGiacomo, 2018 MF, St. Anne’s Belfield (VA), Duke’s LC
“I see lacrosse as helping you get into a better academic school. If it’s D1, D3 or whatever it is about finding the best academic opportunity.”
On what went well: “I’ve was shooting both righty and lefty down the alleys and making assists doing well in transition, too. I need to keep my head up always and look for inside man dodging generally drawing slides. It’s been great talking to the coaches and great to get to know them.”
Friends (MD) 2017 DEF John Schreck (Rock)
John Schreck, 2017 DEF, Friends School of Baltimore, Rock
On why he came out: “All the schools I am looking at are liberal arts schools with great academics and I decided this showcase had all the schools I was interested in.”
On what he needs to work on: “Simple .. it’s learning names and learning how the other people on the field play. I think I was able to come out and play my game; it gave me a lot of opportunities to show (my game). A team at the end needed a long stick so I played four games and that was good since the more exposure the better. You are always working to get better, faster, strong; this allowed me see I need more field sense and make connections more natural.”
Casey Joyce, 2018 G, Midlothian (VA), Duke’s L.C.
Midlothian (VA) 2018 G Casey Joyce (Dukes)
On why he came out: “I thought it was be a good experience and a place to showcase what I have to offer. I got great input from coaches on recruiting; like to stay active and keep reaching out even when you are not hearing from them. I think kids that come out here want to get recruited wherever they can and they are just as good as at other prospect camps or D1 showcases.”
On what he wants to work on: “My hand speed and my agility have gotten better since last summer, and I hope to keep working on that, and other things like clearing the ball and getting it out fast.”
Gavin McDonough, 2019 G, Blake School, Team Minnesota
On why he came out: “”The academic aspect is something that drove me to this event. There are fabulous D3 programs. I knew it was going to be at a high level of play; all the events on the East Coast are. I am glad I came out.”
Blake School (MN) 2019 G Gavin McDonough
On what he learned: “Communication – getting to know the defense quickly while using names instead of numbers all the time. We had teamwork; everyone persevered throughout the day and generally it went well. One thing I learned is that I need to string my own sticks; I had some stick issues. I’ve never been to a D3 specific event; I think the level of play was very good. There were a lot of good middies and attackman that were shifty with good shots.”
On what he is looking for in a school: “The struggle with a lot of kids is you hear a D1 program is interested in them and it kind of consumes the fit. I try to stay away from that; I want to be where I can thrive academically.”
Robert Foster, 2019 ATT, La Salle (PA), Duke’s L.C.
On what he came out: “I like that they had a wide variety of Division II coaches and that on their information sheet they had our grades and other statistics that they might look at. You get to play with people you don’t know.
On what he learned: “I learned I need to be more physical with the defensemen and be a little quicker off my dodges and work on my right=-handed shot. I liked how I can compare and myself against the older kids and against kids my age. It’s good that there are two fields and many teams so you play different guys.”
La Salle (PA) 2019 ATT Robert Foster (Dukes, left), Saucon Valley (PA) 2018 FO/MF Joel Paulson (Twist), Upper St. Clair (PA) 2018 FO/MF Grant Evans (Dukes)
Joel Paulson, 2018 MF/FO, Saucon Valley (PA), Twist
On why he attended; “I wanted to market myself a little more and show the schools already looking at me a bit that I still can do what it takes to play at their school. It’s about repetition and return to the basics that’s what everyone should keep practicing. There is passing, catching, and at the faceoff I need to make sure I drive that bottom hand, clamp, get it out, get the ground balls, move the ball, bang the ball; the little things.”
On the event: “The exposure is great; coaches are flipping back and forth between the two fields. You never have been not watched. You know what you have out there.”
Grant Evans, 2018 MF/FO, Upper St. Clair (PA), Duke’s L.C.
On why he came out: “What brought me here was the competition. Philly is know for having great faceoff guys and I wanted to prove to the coaches that I am just as good as them.”
On what went well: “The speed on my faceoffs has gone well. I scored more goals than I thought I would; in the last game I scored three. I just have to keep my head down more when facing off and just drive that bottom hand and make sure I don’t let up on the grinding out and spinning process. If you don’t let up, you are going to win.”
Bergen Catholic (NJ) 2018 FOP/MF Sean Gibson (Tri-State)
On what school he is looking for: “Right now I want to play at the highest level possible; if that means D1, D2 or D3 I will see where it goes. In other showcases sometimes you don’t know who is a college coach and with that that section you know who is watching and who is paying attention. Also, when coaches may change schools, they still may be interested in you no matter what school they are at.”
Sean Gibson, 2018, MF/FO, Bergen Catholic (N.J.), Tri-State
On why he came out: “I know that Dukes have a deep tradition of great lacrosse players and that would attract better players and the top D3 schools to attend. I wanted to go against all these great players and show the coaches what I could do. The competition is just as good as anywhere else I have been.”
On what type of school he is looking for: “I am really looking for a top D3 school that also offers engineering. Going to a D3 school is awesome, you still get to play in lacrosse while also getting a great education. After I graduate, I also know that a D3 education will help me get a job that I will enjoy. With D1, unless you are getting a full ride, you are not getting that much money.”
Boyertown (PA) 2019 DEF Jacob Miller (Black Bear)
Jacob Miller, 2019 DEF, Boyertown (PA), Black Bear LC
On why he came out: “I just wanted to go out here and get good competition and see where I stand and hopefully get some college coaches to look at me. It was good competition and they pushed me to get better. I played good team defense and represented Black Bear.
On what he needs to work on: “It shows you what you have to get better at – I want to work on my footwork, and to get a little stronger and become a better all around player and move forward. I am looking for a good academic and good lacrosse school, something that fits me.”