TopLaxRecruits.com, Posted 2/26/13
Boys’ Latin (Md.) has been named the Preseason No. 1 team in the ToplaxRecruits.com North American Boys’ Rankings.
The Lakers finished 14-7 in 2012 and reached the semifinals of the powerful Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association tournament.
Boys’ Latin was young last year, but began to jell as the season progressed and won seven of its last nine games. The only losses in that span were a 10-9 overtime defeat to Gilman and an 11-10 defeat to eventual MIAA champion Calvert Hall in the semifinals.
Now, with more than 20 Division I recruits, the Lakers are a team with incredible potential. Boys’ Latin coach Bob Shriver warns, though, that his team has to mesh all the talent.
“None of this (high number Division I recruits) matters,” said Shriver. “Most people think we might have one of the better teams, not just in the league but nationally.
“Obviously, we have a lot of kids highly-thought of for the college level, but the reality you still have to play HS lacrosse. How motivated are they? You don’t know until you play. Not everyone will be able to play; how is that going to work with chemistry? We’ll see.”
Shriver said the Lakers have balance at every position. On defense, the goalies include seniors Kolby Caplin (signed with Towson) and Christian Knights (Cornell), each of whom started at times last year. The defense line includes four-year starter Mackenzie Pons (Maryland), whom Shriver lists as perhaps his best all-around player. Others are seniors Tom Brown (VMI) and Aaron Leeds and junior Hugh Mosko (Michigan) while the face-off specialists are senior Brian Lichtenauer (Ohio State) and junior Hunter Moreland (Johns Hopkins).
The midfield features seniors Casey Reas (Navy), Ben Pridemore (Notre Dame), Michael Lynch (Towson) and Greg Sheetz (Hobart), as well as juniors T. Moyer (High Point), Tal Bruno (Johns Hopkins) and Keegan O’Connor.
The TopLaxRecruits North America Boys’ Preseason Rankings (with last year’s records)
1. Boys’ Latin, Md. (14-7)
2. Garden City, N.Y. (22-0)
3. Calvert Hall, Md. (16-2)
4. St. Anthony’s, N.Y. (16-3)
5. La Salle, Pa. (20-5)
6. Chaminade, N.Y. (16-2)
7. Hill Academy, Ontario (10-3)
8. Salisbury School, Conn. (12-1)
9. Deerfield Academy, Mass. (14-2)
10. Landon School, Md. (13-6)
11. Smithtown West, N.Y. (16-2)
12. Gilman School, Md. (12-4)
13. Episcopal Academy, Pa. (18-5)
14. Gonzaga, D.C. (20-1)
15. Loyola Blakefield, Md. (16-4)
16. Haverford School, Pa. (21-2)
17. Conestoga, Pa.(23-3)
18. St. Ignatius Prep, Cal.(21-1)
19. Jamesville-DeWitt, N.Y. (16-4)
20. Yorktown, N.Y. (16-5)
Under consideration: Darien, Conn. (20-2); Don Bosco Prep, N.J. (18-1); Duxbury, Mass. (23-2); Ithaca (N.Y.), 18-2; McDonogh School, Md. (9-8); Niskayuna (N.Y.), 20-2; Torrey Pines Cal. (22-1); West Genesee (N.Y.), 17-2; West Islip, N.Y. (21-1).