Conflict
Interest
But those opportunities cost a lot of money and increase the likelihood that a player will narrow his athletic focus to lacrosse at an earlier age. Manney, who coaches sophomores for NXT Lacrosse Club, played soccer and basketball growing up. “I don’t want them putting all their eggs in one basket,” he said. Joe Trigiani directs Blackwolf Lacrosse, a D.C.-based invite-only club that chooses its tournaments selectively (just three last summer). While he thinks a club focused solely on collecting a check would be transparent, he said parents and players must be informed consumers. “With the explosion of clubs, it’s tough,” he said. “It’s imperative to do the research.” * * *
There are worse things in the world than elite high school athletes committing early to premier institutions of higher education. Most early commits will go on to productive college careers and harbor no regrets that they chose a school during their sophomore year. But can the same be said for lower-tier recruits who must rush to commit as a trickle-down effect? Many of the people that make up the collective brain trust of the sport — from Boyle to US Lacrosse CEO Steve Stenersen to ESPN analyst Quint Kessenich to high school and college coaches — have been critical of the current timeline. In a non-revenue sport where few go on to play professionally, the recruiting process should focus more on finding the right school at an appropriate age. Unlike soccer, where select coaches have become the primary contact for college coaches, lacrosse advocates want a timeline that
RECRUITING
keeps the emphasis on the high school playing experience. “It’s short-sighted,” Stenersen said. “I do worry lacrosse has not learned from other sports.” Even college coaches who openly recruit sophomores say it isn’t particularly efficient. Virginia, for instance, would get blue chips whether they were sophomores or seniors. More time to observe and let players develop would mean fewer miscalculations or late bloomers missed. “Recruiting later helps UVA,” Starsia said. Tierney recalled one high school coach who told him a player committed to a school because he liked the team’s gear. “Not a heck of a reason,” he said. “[Early recruiting is] going to explode in a lot of our faces.”
The Intercollegiate Men’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IMLCA) has considered not letting recruits talk or visit with coaches before certain dates, even if initiated by the recruit. One proposal, drafted by Voelker, would ban campus visits or phone conversations until after a prospect’s junior year. Another proposal, written by Ohio State coach Nick Myers, would prevent similar contact until after sophomore year. This spring, coaches will vote on one of the proposals (or to keep the status quo) with plans to send it to the NCAA to legislate.
However, Starsia submitted similar legislation several years ago. The NCAA tabled the proposal, he said, because it was reluctant to allow piecemeal legislation for specific sports. The NCAA did not respond to requests for comment. “The NCAA is of the mind to try one-size- fits-all,” Starsia said. “It’s inefficient. Men’s lacrosse should be able to do what’s right for men’s lacrosse.”
Until the NCAA intercedes, coaches seem certain the recruiting process will continue to accelerate. “High school coaches should be standing at the NCAA’s door with pitchforks,” Voelker said. “We are not going to stop ourselves.” * * *
Remember Brad Dotson, the can’t- miss prospect out of Langley? After a productive summer and fall, Dotson cracked the Saxons’ starting defense as a sophomore. But that spring, he developed mononucleosis. He was tired and sluggish. His play suffered. ACC schools backed off. Dotson recovered eventually. When Langley defeated Chantilly 17-8 to win the 2011 Virginia state championship, Dotson had one of his best games. Still, he went into junior summer uncommitted. He played a couple of club events and made the all-star team at Top 205. He also realized certain things about where he wanted to go to college.
“When I was a sophomore, I was immature. It was all about the name of the school,” Dotson said.
He began looking more closely at Bucknell, a liberal arts university located in central Pennsylvania, where his sister was a freshman forward on the basketball team. Dotson liked the small-school feel and its esteemed engineering program. In addition, the school had an impressive, up-and-coming lacrosse program. In 2011, the Bison won the Patriot League championship and nearly upset eventual national champion Virginia in the first round of the NCAA tournament. After visiting a few other colleges, Dotson verbally committed to Bucknell in fall 2011. “I can’t imagine going anywhere else,” he said. LM
Langley (Va.) defenseman Brad Dotson committed to Bucknell after a hot-and-cold recruiting saga starting his sophomore year.
48 LACROSSE MAGAZINE May 2012>> A Publication of US Lacrosse
©EARL BREWER
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