How did the school you chose separate itself from the others you considered?
Air Force gave me an opportunity that I would never find anywhere else; play lacrosse, serve my country and become the very best possible version of myself when I graduate.
How would you describe your recruiting process overall?
My process was very interesting. I am the oldest kid in my family so I have never seen or been a part of choosing a college to attend, let alone being recruited for a sport. Before I started playing summer lacrosse heading into my junior year, I had no idea what kind of player I was in terms of D1, 2 or 3. My parents and I agreed to focus on playing lacrosse to the best of my ability all Summer and hope to catch at least 1 coach's eye.
Come September 1st, I was very surprised to have received calls that morning from programs all over the country which was the best feeling I’ve ever experienced in the game of lacrosse. I took a few visits in September and October before playing in the Fall tournaments and had no idea if I would decide to go to any of those schools. Right before Christmas, Air Force called me to come for a visit after the New Year.
I knew nothing about service academies, but Air Force was very impressed by my Fall season and I was eager to see the campus. Later in January about 2 weeks after my visit I committed to what I think is the best university for my family and me and I am very grateful for that. I am very glad I took it slow and didn’t push any early decisions.
What was your favorite part of the recruiting process?
My favorite part was being able to visit a handful of schools. What I found was that each school has a different vibe, culture and all around feeling to them. It was a blast being able to meet so many great coaches, players and students all while having the opportunity to put myself on campus for a weekend to make sure that school was for me.
What opportunities and information assisted you during your recruiting process?
The best advice I received in the recruiting process was that you should never compare your process to someone else’s. Having all of your teammates commit to places before you or to schools you are very interested in can be hard for a lot of people. The minute you stop focusing on your process and start worrying about why other athletes are getting certain opportunities is the worst way to handle things. Being patient is hard, but making the right decision is 10 times better than making a quick decision just to make one. I am very happy I learned that lesson and wish I could teach every athlete being recruited that.
Did you feel like you had support from the Team 24/7 Staff during your process? If so, how?
Team 24/7 is a huge, if not the only reason, I have committed to such a great school that fits me well. From my team's coaches to everyone behind the scenes who helped me personally not just in the recruiting process but in other things non lacrosse related. Having them with me through the process was just about the best thing possible because of there connections, good relationships and great advice.
Ryan also took me under his wing multiple times to fix or explain any complications I thought I had during my whole career with Team 24/7. Getting to say I played for such a helpful and positive program is something I will always cherish. I could not thank them enough for all they did for me during my recruiting process.
What individual or showcase events, if any, did you find the most beneficial during your process?
The most beneficial showcases I attended were the Under Armour underclass tryouts and NXT summer showcase. I say those were the best for me because of how many coaches were present there. For me, I played my best when I felt coaches were there to actually recruit kids, not just because they are getting paid to be there. Both those events had tons of coaches watching all the games and scouting the players at all times. Under Armour and NXT are very established names in the lacrosse world and coaches know to attend those events because of the talent on the field throughout the day.
What would you tell younger players or parents to help them prepare for the recruiting process?
I would tell the younger group of kids that to stay humble and never get greedy during there process. It’s very easy to make excuses to why things aren’t going your way and I am guilty of that.
The best thing you can do is play your hardest every time you have a tournament, and make sure your grades are always improving as well as SAT/ACT scores. I know my parents had very little info on how the recruiting process worked at the start of it and to parents I say to support your kid in the classroom and on the field during this process along with being there for every decision your kid wants to make.
