The rising junior portion of Jake Reeds Nike Blue Chip Lacrosse Camp took place from Sunday evening, June 23 through Tuesday morning, June 25 on the campus of UMBC in Catonsville, Maryland.
In total, there were four sessions of games played on two adjacent fields one Sunday evening, three Monday and one final round on Tuesday morning. 252 members of the Class of 2015 participated in games in front of some 100 coaches.
Here are five players that stood out and some others who made an impression.
NIKE BLUE CHIP RISING JUNIORS – FEATURED FIVE:
1. ANDREW PETTIT
Position: Attack
Class: 2015
High School: Tower Hill (DE)
Overall: A player with a knack for the goal, Pettit has tremendous hands and incredible finishing ability. A crafty attacker, he was able to find soft spots in the defense to make himself available, and once there, would catch any pass thrown in his direction. He had no problems putting the ball into the cage from outside where he has a hard, accurate shot or inside, where he has a bevy of fakes in his arsenal. While his scoring acumen deserves praise, we also liked his motor he was always hustling after 50/50 ground balls and saved a few possessions near the sidelines.
From the Notebook: Strong finisher. Outstanding hands. Able to get shots off in traffic. Hustles. Crafty inside. Scorer.
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2. MATT KANE
Position: LSM
Class: 2015
High School: Deerfield Academy (MA)
Overall: A rangy LSM, Kane has an incredible stick, which he used deftly both offensively and defensively. His play on the wings was solid, and he picked up any ground ball that was in his vicinity. He was excellent sparking transition, and got involved often offensively he scored multiple goals in games we saw him play while also being part of the flow before getting off the field for a short stick. His lacrosse IQ is also very high, having an understanding on when to push the ball and when to settle it down. Kane seemed to make a play and was noticeable each time he was on the field.
From the Notebook: Ground ball machine. Awesome stick. Sparks transition. Thinner will need to add some bulk at the next level. Excellent IQ. Offensive-minded LSM.
*For more on Matt, including his highlight reel, check out his SportsRecruits.com profile here
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3. MATTHEW DONOVAN
Position: Midfield
Class: 2015
High School: Ridgewood (NJ)
Overall: A standout athlete with excellent speed, Donovan is a great two-way middie that impressed on both ends of the field. Offensively, he showed the ability to get a step when dodging down the alley and possesses a strong shot. Defensively, he was excellent at the point of contact near the top of the box, engaging the dodger and driving him down the sides. Most impressively, he thwarted numerous fast break opportunities by beating the ball carrier back to the box, allowing time for the defense to recover.
From the Notebook: Athlete. Excellent straight-ahead speed. Great hustle. Physical defender. Excellent footwork defensively. Playmaker.
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4. JOSH KIRSON
Position: Goalie
Class: 2015
High School: The Rivers School (MA)
Overall: Kirson had a solid couple of days in the cage. We noticed him last week at the fist session of the Baltimore Summer Kickoff, and he picked up where he left off. Here at Nike Blue Chip, he tracked the ball very well and made some impressive saves, showing solid fundamentals and positioning. He was also precise on his outlet passes, and was adept at getting the ball right to the defender where the shot came from, which sparked a few transition opportunities. Just like last week, he was also vocal, identifying ball position and directing traffic.
From the Notebook: Solid. Big frame. Technically sound. Good when things break down. Vocal. Directs traffic well.
*For more on Josh, including his highlight reel, check out his SportsRecruits.com profile here
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5. W. TRUETT DAVIS
Position: Attack
Class: 2015
High School: Regis Jesuit (CO)
Overall: A good finisher, Davis is a high-IQ player who was able to find the back of the net easily. He has an athletic frame, and did show a solid first step on dodging. However, what impressed us most was his off-ball play. He was a nightmare cover, constantly moving to open areas of the crease while his defender was in a help position. He followed slides well, and made himself available to dodgers consistently, allowing open looks while stretching the defense out.
From the Notebook: Smart. Off-ball player. Tough cover. Takes advantage of helping D. Follows slides. Good athlete. Poised when shooting.
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Others who made an impression:
Joe Krambeer D 2015 Zionsville (IN): Standing at 66, Krambeer a menacing matchup who possesses great speed to compliment his size. For such a tall player, he covers a lot of ground effortlessly and showed good footwork defensively.
*For more on Josh, including his highlight reel, check out his SportsRecruits.com profile here
Austin Meacham LSM/D 2015 Brunswick School (CT): Meachem is an excellent athlete who has a nose for the ball. He is fast, and was fluid on the field in defensive situations. He also has an excellent stick, and sparked transition numerous times throughout the sessions.
John OGrady A 2015 Vandergrift (TX): OGrady is a pure finisher who has an impressive shot. He can shoot from anywhere in the box, showing good ability to cash in from long-range or inside. He also made some nice cross-cage feeds, putting mustard on passes to get them through defending sticks.
Brandon Stern M 2015 Cherry Hill (NJ): Stern is very quick and has excellent speed through the midfield. He is a fluid player who showed good ability to shoot on the run. He has a hard shot, utilizing the lower half of his body to generate power with a quick, deceptive release.
Jack Tigh M 2015 Chaminade (NY): A do-it-all midfielder, Tigh is excellent in all phases of the game. Offensively, he can get a step on his defender while keeping his head up, allowing him the ability to locate teammates or score. He has an excellent stick, and is crafty on loose balls in the middle of the field. Most impressively, he was noticeable each time he was on the field, constantly around the ball and the action.