In case you’re looking for something good to watch tonight, the best incoming collegiate lacrosse players from the U.S. and Canada will be on display for the Under Armour All-American Game on the campus of Towson University. Nearly every college superstar in the best 10 seasons participated in this marquee event, which included Connor Fields, Joel Tinney, Shack Stanwick, and Mikey Wynne from last year’s event. It’s a regular lacrosse game, with the best recruits split by region of their high school, north and south. The game will be on ESPNU at 8 pm. Here’s three players you need to know from each team:
NORTH
1. Dan Bucaro, A, Ward Melville (NY)—Georgetown
Bucaro is No. 3 on Ty Xanders’s list of best seniors, and will be a huge asset to a rising Hoya team. Bucaro scored 51 goals, 38 assists, and 30 groundballs for the Patriots, and also helped his team win a “National Championship” in 2013, going 22-0 on the season. He also played ice hockey at his time on Long Island, so expect him to bring some toughness and grit to the nation’s capital.
2. Nick Mellen, LSM/D, West Genesee (NY)—Syracuse
Mellen is ranked ninth on Xanders’s list, tallying five goals, 12 assists, and 47 groundballs for legendary coach Mike Messere at West Genny. He was a key component to the Wildcats’ run to a State Championship appearance this season at close defense. Like Bucaro, Mellen played ice hockey at West Genny, and also played football. And bros, he does lift, listing weightlifting as one of his favorite hobbies on his profile page for the All-American event.
3. Joey Froccaro, FO/M, Port Washington (NY)—Villanova
If the last name seems familiar, it’s because he’s the younger brother of former Princeton midfielder and soon-to-be teammate at Villanova, Jake. Joey is listed as the 25th best senior in the nation, scoring 52 goals and 29 assists last season. But he’s also a big threat at faceoffs, winning 70 percent for his career, and also scooping 138 groundballs in 2015. The Nassau County Midfielder of the Year played basketball and tennis as well.
SOUTH
1. Ryan Conrad, M, Loyola-Blakefield (MD)—Virginia
Conrad is the nation’s top recruit, and is a name everybody should know. Conrad recorded 33 goals, 24 assists, and 87 groundballs for the Dons in 2015, and was a three-time All-State and All-Conference choice. He’s one of the best players in lacrosse, but he was also Player of the Year in soccer, and also took his talents to the hardwood in basketball.
2. Timmy Kelly, A, Calvert Hall (MD)—North Carolina
Another Kelly is heading down south to Chapel Hill. Timmy will join brothers Patrick and Stephen wearing Tar Heel blue, and maybe the best player in the family. The No. 2 recruit according to Ty Xanders recorded 57 goals, 44 assists, and 42 groundballs for the Cardinals, coached by uncle Bryan, this season. He played the past two seasons in excruciating pain. He played 2014 with cracked ribs and played this season with two fractured vertebrae in his back and tendinitis in both knees and his Achilles’ tendon. Conrad told The Baltimore Sun that Kelly’s biggest asset is his determination. UNC hopes his determination continues, as the Heels look to make Championship Weekend in over 20 years.
3. Drew Supinski, M, Haverford School (PA)—Johns Hopkins
The ALL-USA Boys Lacrosse Player of the Year according to Casey Vock is going to give Hopkins even a bigger threat next season and beyond. Already in a crowded midfield, Supinski recorded 53 goals and 15 assists for the Fords, and helped the team go to an undefeated season at 26-0 and also ran track, serving as captain. Good luck to teams stopping the Hop in the next few seasons.
