It’s been too long. Right into the links:
High School/Youth
North Oakland Sports releases its girls All-Area team.
I talked about this last week, but it’s rad so I’ll bring it up again. Detroit and Think Detroit PAL teamed up for a youth lacrosse camp in the city.
Cranbrook students have also started a lacrosse program at Clark Park in Southwest Detroit.
Recruiting
Matt Graham made a big surge in Inside Lacrosse's rankings. Photo by GLS.
Inside Lacrosse’s recruiting issue is coming out soon, and with is comes a host of web content. Michigan freshman Brendan Gaughan (Carlsbad, Calif./La Costa Canyon) is the No. 14 attackman, and Matt Graham (Chaminade, N.Y.) is the No. 29 midfielder. That’s a big rise in notoriety for Graham in particular – especially given that it’s not like a kid from Chaminade was under-scouted before – and his performance at Michigan’s team camp showed me that he’s deserving of it.
Those two are the only players of note in Inside Lacrosse’s top 100 incoming freshmen. No faceoff specialists make the list (or Brad Lott, a Michigan signee considered the top FOGO in the country, likely would have). Michigan’s class overall ranked No. 19 to Inside Lacrosse.
According to Joe Lombardi and Inside Lacrosse, Michigan has picked up another 2014 commitment:
Eric Smith, LSM/D, Taft (Conn.) has committed to Michigan. Smith is a 6-3, 190-pounder who started at close defense for Taft, helping them finish 10-7 in the Founders League. This summer, he played at the TC Jamboree, Brine Shootout Session 1, Top 205 Rising Junior, and the Hofstra Tournament. Played on the 2011 Taft New England Champion football team as a linebacker/defensive end. Has played for Team Central Elite Lacrosse out of Massachusetts for the past four summers.
LaxLessons reports that 2015 John Jay (N.Y.) midfielder Shawn Smith has committed to Michigan. ALL OF THE SMITHS.
Grand Rapids Catholic Central midfielder Danny Gallagher signed with Alderson-Broaddus. The school’s NCAA Division-2 program will be in its second year this spring.
Michigan’s two participants in the Warrior 40 are on opposite teams. Attack Austin Shanks is on Team Burn, while fellow attackman Ian King will play for Team Dojo.
Division-1 Realignment
This is a topic I’ve touched on in the past many times, otherwise Stony Brook’s football-only move to the CAA would not even be a blip on the radar. The Seawolves’ other sports will remain members of the America East. Both conferences sponsor Division-1 lacrosse, so it’s unlikely that the move has any impact on lacrosse (at least for now), but it’s worth noting. Stony Brook’s football program had previously competed in the Big South.
College
Detroit’s Shayne Adams, Jourdan Houtby, and Tom Masterson wrapped up their box seasons.
Michigan coach John Paul simply says “WOW” to the proposed NCAA rules changes.
Grand Valley has added East Grand Rapids alum Joey Coretti to its coaching staff. Coretti recently graduated from Roanoake, and fellow Michigan native (and Roanoake alumnus) Justin Tuma has also entered the college coaching ranks.
Etc.
The Observer’s Mike Costello opines that lacrosse should be an olympic sport.
Bizarre connection to vague relevance: BroBible podcast with Paul Rabil, hosted by comedian Jared Freid. Freid’s brother Harrison was a four-year starter for Michigan’s club team (and finished his college lacrosse career at St. John’s this spring).
Small detail but while Alderson Broaddus said they were going to have Men’s Lacrosse in 2012, their only event is a scheduled practice in September of this year. They played no games this last spring. So they will be a brand new program this coming spring. They do have a schedule out.
This has happened a lot with the new teams. The AD hires a coach in the fall and and the coach comes in and things get real.
Wow, UM’s recruiting class is ranked # 19! That’s amazing considering that most of the best high school players had committed by the time Michigan went varsity and that the prospect of playing for a new program might turn off some kids. Kudos to Coach Paul for a fine recruiting effort in a short period of time.
Time will tell how good this class will be. There is no doubt they will make in impact quickly. Are they really a top 20 class? We’ll see. Interesting that IL missed some of their best guys like Jackson, Lott and Hernandez.
I expect their next few classes to be even better. This class was rushed. Even the 2013 class was done late compared to the schools Michigan seems to be recruiting against. Probably the 2015 class is the first one where they are on the same timeline as everyone else.