The second annual D3 Lacrosse Showcase took place on Monday, January 20 at the Indoor Sports Pavilion in Randolph, New Jersey.
The one-day event featured players from the 2015 and 2016 graduating classes broken up into 10 teams, each led by a Division III coach.
Some of the nation’s top DIII programs, representing a diverse geographical area, were on hand to take in the action, and included Dennison, Gettysburg, Salisbury and Wesleyan.
Here are five players who stood out over the course of the day, plus others who made an impression.
Click here to see the Event Recap video for some great highlights of the action.
D3 LACROSSE SHOWCASE: FEATURED FIVE
1. CONOR JENKINSON
Position: Midfield
Class: 2015
High School: Port Washington (NY)
Overall: A two-way middie, Jenkinson had an excellent day at the D3 Lacrosse Showcase. Offensively, he showed good poise, and was effective getting down the alley to draw defenders. The most impressive part of his game, though, was his play in between the boxes and on defense. In these areas, he was able to use his big frame and athleticism to pick up ground balls and dictate pace to opposing dodgers.
From the Notebook: Athlete. Two-way player. Outstanding between boxes. Gets tough GBs. Good feet on defense. Smart. Heady.
*For more on Conor, including his highlight reel, check out his SportsRecruits.com profile here
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2. JOEY GORET
Position: Attack
Class: 2016
High School: Madison (NJ)
Overall: Goret is a quick, shifty attackman that displayed great dodging ability at the D3 Lacrosse Showcase. He has outstanding vision when driving from X, and made some picturesque feeds after getting a step on defenders. While he was excellent as an offensive QB, he was equally as effective in the riding game, working hard and fighting for loose balls all over the field.
From the Notebook: Shifty. Offensive QB. Outstanding vision. Pass first. Works hard on rides. Quick first step.
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3. DEREK ALTOBELLO
Position: Midfield
Class: 2015
High School: Churchill (MD)
Overall: Altobello is a fast midfielder with a polished lacrosse IQ. He has tremendous speed and quickness, and utilized those attributes in every facet of the game. Offensively, he has an excellent first step to get down the alley, where he freed his hands very well to unleash a powerful shot. He possesses great vision, making an excellent pass after riding the ball back for his team. He was also a weapon in the clearing game, legging multiple clears up the field himself.
From the Notebook: Fast. Elite speed. Great stick. Frees hands well when dodging. Plays smart. One man clears. Good passer.
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4. THOMAS GARNER
Position: Midfield
Class: 2015
High School: Chaminade (NY)
Overall: Garner is another player that caught our eye for his two-way play from the midfield position. His lacrosse IQ is outstanding, and coupled with his athleticism made him a standout player on the day. Garner was always around the ball, whether initiating offense, in the clearing game, or playing solid defense. While his skillset was impressive, what was most noteworthy for us was his instincts and nose for the ball, consistently putting himself in good position to make a play.
From the Notebook: Smart. Nose for ball. Athlete. Taller. Always involved. High IQ. Clears well. Good stick.
*For more on Thomas, including his highlight reel, check out his SportsRecruits.com profile here
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5. ROCCO FANTONI
Position: Defense/LSM
Class: 2015
High School: St. Anthony’s (NY)
Overall: A defender with good size, Fantoni made his mark with his solid positional play and excellent stick skills. While not a flashy defender, Fantoni made plenty of plays for his squad, digging the ball out of tough areas and clearing to open areas. He was particularly adept pushing the ball to an open area from a scrum, resulting in extra possessions for his team. Defensively, he has good solid footwork, and flashed good athleticism when taking some runs at LSM during the day.
From the Notebook: Solid. Smooth player. Good stick. Excellent technique on GBs to open areas. Sound footwork.
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Others who made an impression:
Luke King – G – 2015 – Brien McMahon (CT): In an indoor setting, it often difficult for goalies to dial in, but King was one of a few keepers that was able to leave his mark. An athletic player, King was at his best when things in front of him broke down, making many point blank saves and showing great range and net coverage. On one occasion, he made three consecutive doorstep saves to snag momentum for his team.
Ryan Podlovits – M (F/O) – 2015 – Kennedy Catholic (NY): Podlovits made his mark at the faceoff dot, winning a majority of the draws we saw him take. He primarily won draws to himself, utilizing his quick hands to clamp down on the ball. Once he had the ball in his possession, he was able to make some nice plays to show some versatility, including one occasion where he showed great vision connecting with a streaking teammate for an easy goal.
Will Ratchford – M – 2015 – Mountain Lakes (NJ): Ratchford is a solid midfielder who caught our attention for doing the little things with purpose. He was constantly on the move, cutting to get open for teammates, and was a force in the middle of the field, coming away with numerous contested GBs. He also displayed a good shot on the offensive end, using good fundamentals to generate power.
**For more on Will, including his highlight reel, check out his SportsRecruits.com profile here
Robert Tucker – M – 2016 – Wantagh (NY): Tucker impressed on many levels, showing great versatility that coaches enjoy. Offensively, he has good ability to initiate offense dodging from up top, utilizing a solid split dodge. He was able to extend defenses with a good mix of shots from the outside, including a few low, well-placed bounce shots. Tucker was involved in the riding and clearing game, showing great effort, and also took faceoffs on the day, winning a majority forward to spark transition.
**For more on Robert, including his highlight reel, check out his SportsRecruits.com profile here
Ben Wooten – D/LSM – 2015 – Downingtown West (PA): An athletic defender, Wooten stood out by playing sound position on defense, utilizing superior footwork to deter would be dodgers. He was able to cover a lot of ground laterally, and did not sacrifice position for stick checks.
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