Good morning,

I’m Jake and this is Recruit Report presented by Apex Lacrosse Events.

I’m your friend who tells you everything you need to know about lacrosse.

Did you know Apex has a goalie and faceoff only showcase July 22 & 23rd?

The Faceoff Summit is led by Joe Nardella. You can apply here.

The Goalie Summit is led by Kyle Bernlohr. You can apply here.

Both the events combine elite level instruction with 20+ college programs on staff!

Now, let’s get into it!

5 Lacrosse Recruits You NEED to Watch This Week:

JT Cross Attack/Midfield (2027) - Valor Christian High School, CO

Cross has been on my radar for awhile now, and it’s no secret why. The 6’1, 165 pound Colorado attackman can do everything on the field. In one highlight, he’ll rip a 12 yard stepdown to the top corner. In the next clip, he looks like Rob Pannell executing a perfect question mark dodge. 

When you’re watching his highlights, you have to remind yourself that you’re watching a freshman and not a junior. 

I’m excited to see how his game develops as he gets to higher levels of lacrosse. Will he focus on his outside shot and become a sharpshooter? Or will he be an X dodger and work on his arsenal of moves around the goal? 

Connor Cook, Midfield (2027) - St. Paul’s, MD

There’s nothing quite like a middie who can dodge, pass and shoot with authority. Cook does all three at an extremely high level. 

The middie for St. Paul’s has an elite lefty shot, and he uses his textbook dodging ability to find himself in great spots on the field. 

Once Cook scores a few goals on you, watch out. If you start playing too aggressively, he’s perfectly happy to share the ball, finding wide open players on the crease for easy scores. 

I’m a big fan of Connor’s game, and I’m excited to see what his spring will look like in 2024.

Bing Burch, Defense/LSM/Midfield (2026) - Loyola Blakefield, MD

You just have to watch the first second of Bing’s highlight reel to realize he’s a special player. 

He lists his positions as Defense, LSM, D-Middie, and O-Middie. 

There’s not many players who can say they play all of those positions, especially in an elite conference like the MIAA. 

His game reminds me of Ryan Conrad - one second he’s delivering a huge hit on defense, and the next second he’s clearing the ball through 5 guys to the offense. 

Also, I have to give Bing a high spot on the lacrosse all-name team. 

Harrison Tyler, Attack (2027) - Sacred Heart Preparatory, CA

Tyler has a secret weapon to his game that no one can teach: aggressiveness. 

Harrison isn’t afraid to run straight in the teeth of the defense and soak a few checks, if it means he has a good scoring opportunity. 

The attackman from California likes to operate at X, and his split dodge gives defenders fits. But calling him just an X attackman would be a disservice to his game; you can find him scoring plenty of goals on the wing or even up top. 

As he continues to get faster and stronger, his game will to continue to skyrocket. 

Michael Goglia, Attack/Midfield (2027) - Episcopal School of Dallas, TX

There’s a lot to love abut Goglia’s game. The 5’7, 150 pound attackman from Texas has a nose for the goal, and his quick first step allows him to get by almost any defender. 

His game reminds me of Joey Sankey - he uses his size to his advantage and almost “slips” by defenders. This makes it super difficult to cover him. 

My favorite part about his game is his low-angle shooting ability. When he’s coming around from X, he uses his head and shoulders to outsmart goalies and finish the ball. 

Let’s see what year 1 of high school lacrosse looks like for the promising freshman.

Jake

P.S. remember to fill out an application for the Garden State Showcase!