The 2019 Under Armour Underclass Boys’ Highlight Division was loaded with talent this year.
With the new recruiting rules in place, where college coaches can begin to communicate with recruits after September 1 of their junior year, the supply met the demand this past weekend.
The sidelines were littered with college coaches watching the Highlight Division games. The Highlight Division, which was made up 12 regional teams, included players that are graduating in 2020 (rising seniors) and rising 2021 (rising juniors).
Here Are the Top 20 players that stood out to our Recruiting Expert, Tom Peace.
Eric Malever, Woodward Academy (Ga.), 2020, Attack, Club: Thunder LB3
PRLB Review: Malever could easily be selected for the UA All America senior event next year, this kid can play. Great size, smart with and without the ball. Committed to Maryland. Shoots the ball with authority. Good feet. Should have a big senior year.
Jack VanOverbeke, Benilde-St. Margaret’s (Minn.), 2020, Attack, Club: Project Midwest/ True Minnesota
PRLB Review: Jack stood out right away. Impressive moves around cage. Excellent field vision. Great Lax I.Q. Rides well and hustles. Scored some amazing goals in the Midwest game against the Upstate New York team.
Alex Wicks, St. Mary’s Annapolis (Md.), 2020, Mid-Field, Club: Annapolis Hawks
PRLB Review: Wicks does the little things well, gets after the ground balls, sets great picks, hustles, plays solid defense. Alex is committed to Maryland. Will be exciting to see how Wicks does in his senior year for the Saints. Expect a big 2020 out of him.
Casey Doyle, Gilman (Md.) 2021, Attack, Club: Crabs Lacrosse
PRLB Review: Doyle is very quick on his feet and has good stick skills. Love the Lax I.Q. from Casey. Never shied away from going for the ground ball. Good shots on cage. Doyle will continue to get better going into his junior year for the Greyhounds.
Emmet Carroll, Rye HS (Conn), 2020, Goalie, Club: Predators
PRLB Review: Carroll made some big saves against the Baltimore team. These events are always tough on goalies. It’s scorching hot, playing on turf, tons of laser shots from stud shooters. Emmet held his own and did a nice job on clears. Carroll is Committed to UPenn.
Ethan Robinson, McDonogh (Md.), 2020, Defense/Long-Stick Mid-Field, Club: Baltimore Crabs
PRLB Review: Watching Robinson play coming off the wing on faceoffs or playing close D, it’s crazy that this young man isn’t committed anywhere yet. After this weekend he’s surely going to get some calls and emails from top programs. Robinson is a great athlete with a nose for the ball. Good team player as well.
Patrick Burns, Benilde-St. Margaret’s (Minn.), 2021, Mid-Field, Club: Project Midwest
PRLB Review: The Minnesota Boys came to play! Burns was unselfish and seemed like a good team player. Patrick also made some big plays and dazzled in the game against Upstate NY. College coaches watching seemed to be impressed.
Braden Montgomery, The Episcopal School of Dallas (TX), 2020, Defense, Club: Texas Cowboys
PRLB Review: Montgomery is an animal with the long-stick. Very good checks. Caused some turnovers. Love this kids motor which is always running on high. Looking forward to seeing where Braden commits. Texas always delivers top-notch defensemen.
Andrew Kuhlman, Regents School of Austin (TX), 2020, Goalie, Club: Iron Horse
PRLB Review: Andrew did a nice job against the Baltimore team which has a ton of offensive weapons. Never seemed intimidated. Committed to Monmouth. Kuhlman has good quick hands to stop the high and low shots. Impressive netminder!
Henry Tolker, Loyola Blakefield (Md.), 2020, Attack, Club: Crabs Lacrosse
PRLB Review: Tolker is another player that should be hearing his phone ring and email inbox blowing up with college coaches reaching out. The rising senior attackman from Loyola Blakefield did a great job of moving the ball well. Amazing dodges to goal. Positive body language. Not selfish.
Austin Holley, St. Joseph’s Collegiate (NY), 2020, Faceoff, Club: Harvest Lacrosse
PRLB Review: Holley won some impressive faceoffs. Got after the ground balls. Kid can hustle and isn’t afraid to get scrappy. Another player we’re excited to see where he commits to college.
Jack Witherspoon, Gilman (Md.), 2020, Defense, Club: Baltimore Crabs
PRLB Review: It’s pretty evident to see why Syracuse and John Desko like this kid. Witherspoon is a tall young man with good wheels. Athletic. Runs well with ball when he takes the clear. Good checks. Causes turnovers. Solid defenseman.
Connor Cecala, Ballston Spa (NY), 2020, Long-Stick Midfielder, Club: Albany Power
PRLB Review: Cecala has great field vision. Excellent Lax I.Q., Clears the ball well. Pretty in shape. Very versatile. Has D1 skill set. Will be interesting to see where Lukas commits to.
Lukas Stanat, Brighton HS (NY), 2020, Attack, Club: Harvest Lacrosse
PRLB Review: The game comes naturally to Lukas. Does a nice job of creating offense. Is a playmaker. Never seems to be intimidated when matched up with other teams best defender. Moves the ball well. Another player who wowed college coaches in the game against the Midwest team.
Jack Wallace, Pittsford (NY), 2021, Defense, Club: SweetLax
PRLB Review: Pittsford knows how to develop solid long-poles! Jack has some Jared Conners-esq qualities. Good motor. Moves his feet well. Fun kid to watch play the game. Should continue to play well this summer.
TJ Haley, St. John’s (D.C.), 2020, Attack
PRLB Review: Haley was named to the All-Tournament team. The St. John’s attackman did a nice job in the tourney title game. Made some big plays over the weekend. Is committed to Georgetown.
Matt Dixon, Loyola Blakefield (Md.) 2021, Mid-Field, Club: Crabs Lacrosse
PRLB Review: Dixon was another middie that displayed unselfish play and making sure to create offense. Love the footwork and determination Matt has when he has the ball to get to the cage or just move it to an open teammate. Dixon should be a huge asset for coach Ubriaco and the Dons in 2020.
Marquez White, Poway HS (CA), 2020, Mid-Field, Club: Legends Lacrosse
PRLB Review: White is an excellent player with all the tools to succeed at the next level. Fun player to watch. Committed to Princeton. Also made All-Tournament and should be in the UA All America Senior Game next year.
Evan Barr, Somerville (NJ), 2020, Goalie, Club: Leading Edge
PRLB Review: Barr did a nice job controlling the defense and communication was solid! Head was always on a swivel and stick was up when ball was moving around by the offense. Did well in the heat. Made some key saves for the Jersey team.
Will Tominovich, St. Mary’s Annapolis (Md.), 2020, Defense, Club: Annapolis Hawks
PRLB Review: It’s hard to not fall in love with this kid and how he plays the game. Tominovich is a hard worker and does everything right on the lacrosse field. Will continues to get better and is one of the main reasons why the Saints will be very good again in 2020. Tominovich was named All-Tournament. Committed to Georgetown.
