Lacrosse Season is Here! 5 Things You NEED to Do...

Good morning and happy February.

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 high school lacrosse.

Spots for Apex 60 Showcase are almost full.

Over 650 ALUMNI are now playing college lacrosse, and there’s over 80 college lacrosse coaches attending.

Spots are closing soon, and you can fill out an interest form here.

Now, let’s get into it!

5 Things You NEED to Do Heading Into Lacrosse Season

It’s finally happening…

After 8 months of waiting, the college lacrosse season is officially here. As we head into the season, here are 5 things I need you to do:

#1: Pay Attention to the Freshmen

This seems like a year when a ton of freshmen will get significant playing time. The class of 2023 was talented from top to bottom, and now we get to see them in action:

• IL’s #1 recruit Owen Duffy will have the keys to the offense for UNC.

• IL’s #3 recruit Nate Kabiri dropped a hat trick against Notre Dame in a fall scrimmage, and he’s projected to start for Princeton. 

• IL’s #2 recruit McCabe Millon comes into a stacked UVA roster, but I expect to see him on the field ASAP.

#2: Focus on One Play

If you play golf, you know it’s common to have swing thoughts. These are things you tell yourself as you swing the golf club, and they’re very important to the game.

In lacrosse, you can develop your own version of swing thoughts this weekend…

As you’re watching a college game, pick one play that sticks out to you. If you’re an attackman, it could be a great dodge. If you’re a defender, it could be a clever check. 

Then as you head to practice, visualize that play in your head. As you’re playing, remind yourself of it and try to emulate it in your own game. 

#3: Watch the Final Year of Brennan O’Neill

Brennan O’Neill comes back to the college game a changed man. 

This summer, he was the MVP of the World Championship game, where he dropped 5 goals on some of the best lacrosse players in the world. 

He’s proven he can play with the best of the best, and now he has one more season to try and win a national championship. 

I think it’s safe to say he’s on track to be a special lacrosse player. A national championship would certainly add to the legacy he’s building. 

What will we see in his final year of college lacrosse?

#4: Practice These 2 Skills

This weekend, you’ll notice plenty of “rust” in the college games. 

Some players will drop passes, other players will get tired quickly, and teams will be trying to figure out their chemistry. 

This is a good reminder as you head into your season to focus on 2 things:

1. Stick Skills: there’s nothing coaches hate more than dropped passes. Make it your mission to do wallball at least 10 minutes every day before school or practice to stay sharp. 

2. Conditioning: you can separate yourself from the pack simply by being in better shape. If you still have a few weeks before your season, now is the time to ramp up your training. 

#5: Take a Short Moment to Pause

It feels like every lacrosse season I cover gets shorter and shorter. 

I know it’s cliche, but it really does feel like yesterday that we were talking about the end of last season on the Recruit Report. 

If you’re a lacrosse player or even a fan, take a moment to pause and reflect. This season will be a rollercoaster, but it’s important to enjoy it all. 

I can’t wait to live it together every week on this newsletter!

Featured Player: Anthony Rodriguez (Class of 2025)

When this highlight reel popped up on my feed, I didn’t know what to expect. 

But let’s just say, I’m glad I clicked. 

Rodriguez might just be the “smoothest” recruit in his class. He reminds a bit of Ryder Garnsey, with how he’s able to almost slip past defenders and score with either hand. 

I’m excited to see what his final 2 years of high school look like, and I think he could be a special player at Georgetown. 

As always, his highlights are on repeat for me this week!

Remember, every week we feature a recruit. Respond to this email to nominate a player!

Talk to you soon.

P.S. Make sure to fill out an interest form before the Apex 60 Showcase before spots close.

Best,

Jake