How did the school you chose separate itself from the others you considered?
Denison separated itself from the other schoolsI looked at because of the academic standards and the family culture they have created. Denison is a special place for a lot of reasons but the most important thing to me was the academic profile of the school. During the recruiting process, the end goal was to find a school that I may not have been able to get into if it weren’t for lacrosse, it was evident that Denison was that spot for me. It had the perfect mix of athletics and academics.
How would you describe your recruiting process overall?
My recruiting process was like no other. In May of my Junior year, I committed to Furman University. Furman is a Division 1 program, and I loved everything it had to offer academically and athletically. I visited the school several times throughout the process and every time I visited, I fell more in love with the school and program. A little over a week after I made my commitment, I learned that Furman University would be discontinuing their lacrosse program during the COVID-19 health pandemic. This came as a huge shock to not only myself, but my family and the entire lacrosse community. I was not told anything until the decision to cut tit was made public. I made the best out of the situation and took the few positives out of a negative situation. The day after I heard the news, I picked up right where I left off and talked to a number of schools I had been speaking to throughout the recruiting process. Denison was a school I was strongly considering throughout the process and I visited again a few weeks later before making my final decision.
What was your favorite part of the recruiting process?
I would say my favorite part of the recruiting process was September 1st. It is the first day that coaches can contact you as a Junior. As a lacrosse player, it is what you have been working for throughout your career. Although everyone’s September 1st is going to look different, checking your phone on that morning is something that I will remember for my whole life. Of course a close second is when you finally decide on where you will be spending the next four years of your life. When you finally decide, there is a huge weight lifted off of your shoulders. The recruiting process is definitely a time of nonstop uncertainty and pressure but it is all worth it in the end.
What opportunities and information assisted you during your recruiting process?
The one piece of information that stuck with me throughout the process was to never compare yourself to others. Everyone's recruiting process is different and comparing what you are going through with what someone else is going through is not helpful. There are also always going to be games where you don’t play to your expectations during the process. Don't dwell on those. Bounce back and play the cards you're dealt.
Did you feel like you had support from the Team 24/7 Staff during your process? If so, how?
The help of the coaches at 24/7 is night and day compared to other programs in the Carolinas. The opportunities that 24/7 gave me to play in front of hundreds of coaches at the best tournaments in the nation throughout my time playing with the club was very special and helped create a lot of opportunities throughout the recruiting process.
What individual or showcase events, if any, did you find the most beneficial during your process?
There are many opportunities to go to individual events or showcases, and of course there are the popular ones such as Showtime and Under Armor All-American. I found myself having the most fun at an event called the Brine Nationals. There was a tryout for the "Carolina Team" at Duke University and from there, a team was put together. We played in Virginia, and ended up winning it all, it was a very fun experience. With that being said, the most beneficial thing is playing well in the tournaments you are going to as a team during your Sophomore and Junior summer seasons.
What would you tell younger players or parents to help them prepare for the recruiting process?
The best advice I received was play to the best of your ability and there will be opportunities for you. The other important this was that playing good lacrosse on the field is great but if you are someone who struggles in the classroom, there will be less and less opportunities come the time of recruiting. It does not matter how good of a player you are, if your grades and test scores are not where they should be, you are not going to like the outcome of the process.
