There were plenty of impressive plays – and plenty of college coaches on hand to see them – at the second annual Maverik Showtime Lacrosse National Recruiting Spotlight all-star game at Western Connecticut State in Danbury on July 15.
The White team defeated the Red team 13-7 led by a strong defensive effort and the three-goal performance of rising junior midfielder Will Stocker of Turpin High School in Cincinnati, who had three goals, and the two-goal efforts of rising junior attackman Mike Daniello of John Jay and rising sophomore attackman Ian Ardrey of Greenwich (who attends the Deerfield Academy).
Coaches from Syracuse, Johns Hopkins, Cornell, Princeton, Virginia, Fairfield, Hofstra and Delaware were among those who attended the event.
Junior attackman Mike Daniello of John Jay scored two goals in the second-annual Maverik Showtime All-Star game July 15 at Western Connecticut State University.
File photo by Jim Stout, MaxPreps.com
One of the more noteworthy performances was the one turned in by Stocker. After all, Cincinnati is hardly a hotbed for lax. But his strong showing demonstrates not only the spread of growth outside the traditional hotbeds but also was fitting since many of the 160 players participating in this week’s event are from such states as Florida, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Texas and Oregon.
While players from those neophyte lacrosse outposts were prominent, so were a couple from perhaps the most tradition-rich lacrosse community in the nation — Manhasset.
And in an intriguing one-on-one matchup, Manhasset rising sophomore defenseman Bobby Duvnjak of the White team was paired off against rising junior Jimmy Bitter of the Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts, who grew up in Manhasset before his family moved to Stratton, Vt., two years ago. Oh by the way, did we mention that they happen to be cousins?
Here are a few quick thoughts on some of the more impressive performers at the all-star game:
• Case Matheis, Darien: He nearly brought the house down late in the first half after firing a precision placed behind-the-back shot of a brilliant feed by Bitter that wound up hitting the post. It seems almost unfair he still has three years of varsity competition in front of him. He’s already among the top attackmen in the nation.
• Jimmy Bitter, Deerfield: Few attackmen dodge as effectively. He also has a hard and accurate shot, is strong with both hands and has tremendous field vision — and the bloodlines. His father, Ward, played lax at Boston College; his brother, Matt, just ended his career at Navy; and another brother, Billy, is one of the premier stars in D-I for North Carolina. Bitter had two goals for the Red team and has enjoyed an outstanding week.
• Mike Daniello, John Jay: The early line seems to favor Daniello following in his brother Chris’ footsteps and attending two-national champion Syracuse. One thing is sure. After his performance this summer — and this week — he will be able to go pretty much wherever he wants. His left-to-right hand, behind-the-back dodge move at midfield midway through the second quarter was reminiscent of soon-to-be Syracuse Orange freshman JoJo Marasco.
• Bobby Duvnjak, Manhasset: The younger brother of Johnny Duvnjak, a Middlebury-bound defenseman who helped the Indians win the Class C state title this past season, Duvnjak has the size and savvy to emerge as one of the premier defenders in the nation.
• Julius Mouser, Shipley (Pa.): I’m partial to attackman/midfielders. I think they’re the best players on the field because they have the stick skills and shooting ability to go with the speed, endurance and athleticism. Mouser, a rising junior who had two goals for the Red team tonight, fits that description perfectly.
• Matt Kavanagh, Chaminade: The rising junior attackman has a good shot and good speed and athleticism.
• Jack Near, Bronxville: An attackman/midfielder with good size and skills, the rising junior has Division I potential.
• Anthony Lombardo, Somers: The rising junior has good size, speed and strength. He is strong on faceoffs and showed he is a capable offensive player as well. Most importantly, he let the action come to him and didn’t try to force hings. The brother of Navy-bound football star Rob Lombardo, he is part of a growing group of football standouts who rightly realize their best ticket to a college scholarship is through lacrosse.
• Will Stocker, Cincinnati: The midfielder from Turpin High School who had three goals in the all-star game, has a hard and accurate left-hand shot.
• Ian Ardrey, Deerfield Academy: The Greenwich resident, a rising sophomore, is a complete attackman with a huge upside.
• Sean Shakespeare, Walpole (Mass.): The rising junior attackman has game to go with his name.
All-star game roster by position
Attackmen
Jack Near, Bronxville, N.Y., rising junior
Case Matheis, Darien, Conn. rising sophomore
Brandon Bonistall, Harrison, N.Y., rising junior
Billy Pray, Goldens Bridge, N.Y., rising junior
Mike Daniello. Cross River, N.Y., rising junior
Sean Shakespeare, Walpole, N.Y., rising junior
Kane Haffey, Duxbury, Mass., rising junior
Jimmy Bitter, Stowe, Vt., rising junior
Paul Hellar, Duxbury, Mass., rising sophomore
Ian Ardrey, Greenwich, Conn., rising sophomore
Midfielders
Anthony Lombardo, Somers, N.Y., rising junior
Will Stocker, Cincinnati, rising junior
Taylor Pirie, Hamilton, Mass., rising junior
Shane Thornton, Garden City, N.Y., rising junior
Corbin Booker, Philadelphia, rising junior
Wally Rooney, Rockville Center, rising junior
Cameron Dabir, Grosse Poiubte Farms, Mich., rising junior
Ian Seale, The Woodlands, Texas, rising junior
Charlie McCormick, Bronxville, rising junior
Adam Goins, Berwyn, Pa., rising junior
Ryan Cholnoky, Greenwich, Conn., rising junior
Jordan Schochet, Plano, Texas, rising junior
Jamie Ward, Glen Rock, N.J., rising junior
Forrest Walter, Katonah, N.Y.. rising junior
Jake Weil, Waccabuc, N.Y., rising junior
Matt Kavanagh, Rockville Center, rising junior
Jake Mouser, Havertown, Pa., rising junior
Defensemen
Tony Britton, Darien, rising sophomore
Trevor Caviola, South Salem, N.Y., rising junior
Kip McMahon, Weston, Conn., rising sophomore
Anthony Grasso, Bedford, N.Y., rising sophomore
Tyler Zaffulo, Las Vegas, Nev., rising sophomore
Bobby Duvnjak, Manhasset, N.Y., rising sophomore
Michael Morse, Las Vegas, Nev., rising junior
Max Buchanan, Wyckoff, N.J., rising junior
Eddie Schurr, Lincolndale, N.Y., rising junior
Trevor Garfield, Dallas, Tex., rising junior
Goaltenders
Michael Nugent, Alpharetta, Ga., rising junior
Dominic Moriarty, Fort Myers, Fla., rising junior
Conor Fraylick, Pleasantville, N.Y., rising junior
Anthony Peruso, Warwick, N.Y., rising junior
Joe Lombardi, who has been a fixture on the lacrosse scene during the sport’s rapid growth in the New York metropolitan area, produces editorial and video content for LaxLessons.com. He may be reached at joe@laxlessons.com.
