Lake Highland and St. Andrew’s traveled to Baltimore to participate in the first National High School Showcase.  While the number of Florida recruiting events continues to grow, most Floridians still have to hit the road to get in front of many college programs.  Without question, this event was one of the best of its type, and this writer believes it will be around for many years to come. The concept of McDonogh’s Andy Hilgartner and Boys Latin’s Bob Shriver, the idea was to bring together high school teams who normally would not play each other in a format for players to get college exposure playing with the guys they know the best, their own teammates.  When you get out of your car and happen to walk to the fields with Bill Tierney, you know you are getting a good value.  Coach Tierney was just one of many household names in attendance.  All of the teams present were actually new versions of themselves, as each played without the recently graduated seniors, players with scheduling conflicts as well as the incoming students.  Nonetheless, all teams played a high level of lacrosse.

Day One saw a very unlucky six inches of rain fall on the Genesee Valley Fields in Parkton, Maryland.  Each team played one game in hurricane like conditions, and the second games were cancelled.  The organizers effortlessly moved the venue to Boys Latin and Gilman for the remainder of the weekend.  The schools are no more than five minutes apart, and I know the kids enjoyed playing on such hallowed grounds.  Given that, the original site had many benefits because all four fields were easy for the college coaches to visit as they would look at various teams and players.  Both Lake Highland and St. Andrew’s did not make the playoff rounds, but for young teams they showed well, and more importantly many players received much needed exposure.  From what I have heard, a number of Florida boys received offers as a result of their play at the event.

Georgetown Prep defeated Boys Latin for the Championship, and Keith Fernandez from Delray Beach had a goal and an assist in the game for Prep.  Congratulations to Keith!