Hello: Brendan Riefberg

Inside Lacrosse reported about a week ago that NJ D Brendan Reifberg has given a class of 2012 commitment to play at Michigan.

Future Wolverine Brendan Riefberg

We shall start with IL’s comment from the commit announcement:

The 6-4, 190-pound recruit served as a team captain in 2011, scooped 75 groundballs, forced 32 caused turnovers and scored 19 points (7G, 12A). This past summer he played at Jake Reed’s Nike Blue Chip Rising Senior Camp, Tri-State National, National Lacrosse Classic, Champ Camp, Brine Shootout Session 2 and the UNC Team Camp. The longpole also played for Tri-State Black who won this summer’s Champ Camp. A varsity quarterback on Roxbury’s football team.

That’s… a lot to digest. We’ll start with his high school performance: team captain as a junior, and 19 points despite playing D-pole. That is quite good indeed, though some pictures lead me to believe he also played with a short stick in some games. He was named Second-Team All-State – though it’s nothing to sneeze at when the first-teamers are seniors headed to North Carolina, Penn State, and… Wesleyan. His coach said in early May that he excels at holding opponents off the scoreboard:

“Senior Kyle Jeroloman is probably the best long-stick middle I’ve coached, and Brendan Reifberg (6-4, 190), a junior, is definitely going to be Division-1 recruit next year. He has had only one goal scored against him so far this season.”

As for the football question, he apparently was a wideout/defensive back, not a quarterback for Roxbury (caution: epic 90s web design within). Updated: see comment below, he was the team’s starting QB.

As for the other stuff, it’s a load of summer camps (some of them invite-only). His Tri-State Black team won this summer’s Champ Camp, knocking off future teammate Dan Kinek and Duke’s Lacrosse – who had been the multi-year reigning champs. The National Lacrosse Classic comes with the territory of being named an Under Armour All-American.

He made the Junior Honor Roll at Roxbury, so he’s a good student. He also has a charitable side, helping raise money for a classmate who is battling cancer – his best friend Nicky Joe Russo.

Other Interest

The Inside Lacrosse article gives a look into who else recruited Brendan:

Riefberg also considered Syracuse, Hobart and Binghamton.

Syracuse, you say? Don’t mind if I do. He talked to ESPN Rise about why he chose Michigan over those options:

“Immediately Coach Paul and the rest of the coaching staff made me feel like I was a part of the Michigan family. The campus life seems incredible. The academics are unparalleled. The amazing athletic facilities and of course the “Big House” made my decision an easy one.”

He also says that taking his time with recruiting, instead of being proactive early in the process, led to a lesser number of options – though he couldn’t be happier with the one he chose.

Teammates of Note

Brendan is the first 2012 player to commit from Roxbury. In the 2011 class, one Roxbury players is going the D-3 route, with Riefberg’s fellow defenseman Robert Snow headed to Montclair State.

The 2010 class, however, had a few talented players in it, as two players signed with D-1 Robert Morris (attack Connor Rich and midfielder Chris Blank. A couple other players went to D-2/3 schools, and four members of Roxbury’s team went to Junior College at Morris CC.

Video

I couldn’t find any video of Riefberg on the tubes. If you know of any, point me in the right direction. Updated: Highlights!

The Upshot

Riefberg is a relatively low-profile guy (despite his distinctive name, there’s not a lot of information on the internet about him), but it’s likely that’s more an issue of low exposure for his high school program – and a non-glamour position on the field – than any lack of accolades he deserves.

He’s the 7234th D-pole in Michigan’s 2012 class, so playing time might not be easy to come by early in his career (that goes for all of them, not just him). However, he’s a big kid and a multi-sport athlete, so he could be one of the guys who is more ready to play as a youngster. Factor in that he had interest from Syracuse – as far as I know, the first 2012 commit to have such a high-profile program on his tail, if that’s legit – and you have to expect that he gets plenty of early opportunities.