College players, past and present
As I mentioned in my last blog, I've been getting a lot of e-mails the past month or so asking who my favorite college players of all time are and who are my favorite current college players, so I figured I'd just respond with a blog. Unfortunately, I started paying attention to college lacrosse a bit late, so I don't go too far back in my knowledge of great players as far as actually seeing them play goes. There are all time great like Joe Cowan, but I clearly wasn't around to see them play. In high school, when I first started getting into college lacrosse I was drawn to players who had a great split dodges or moves that I could relate to, so instantly, I was drawn to Jay Jalbert, and A.J. Haugen. What stuck out to me about Jay was his competitiveness, and how he was just a complete animal all over the field. He rarely came off the field, whether it was playing defense, offense, wings of face off's, everything. He's definitely one of the reasons, if not the main reason I wanted to be an all around middie and never leave the field. As for A.J., his split, and shot on the run was absolutely ridiculous. It was so smooth, and he could go either way with it. Right handed or left handed, didn't make a difference. It was an honor being able to play along side both of them during the world games in 2006, and one of my fondest lacrosse memories thus far. As for now, clearly I'm a bit biased to my boys over at Hopkins, but there are definitely a few other middies I like to watch. Maxx Seibald of Cornell is definitely great to watch. He's able to do everything on the field from facing off, to defense, to offense, to wing's of face off's. He's an old school middie, and the game needs more players like him. His teammate John Glynn is the same way, and it was great watching him last year. I'm definitely looking forward to watching those two midfielders this year with out a doubt. If you do get a chance to watch them, notice that they're both great leaders too, and they'll do whatever they need to on the field for their team to be succesful. And of course, my two boys at Hopkins, Paul Rabil and Stephen Peyser. I'd have to go with these two as my two favorite current college players. They've both developed into tremendous all around players, with Stephen becoming dominant at the face off X and Paul becoming dominant on the wing's. They're both gifted athletically, and have always been great dodgers and both have great shots with either hand on the run. The most impressive thing about Rabil is his competitiveness, the kid HAS to win in everything he does, and its' driven him to become arguably the best player in college lacrosse. So those would be my four favorites right now, Glynn, Seibald, Peyser, and Rabil. All midfielders (wierd), and all capable of completely taking over a game. There are definitely other players I've loved watching over the years. Corey Harned was a long stick middie at Hopkin's a few years back who was great to watch. Just able to get up and down the field, GREAT on wing's of face off's and just an all around great player. Though he's a big part of the reason I didn't get two ring's in college, Tilman Johnson was incredible to watch back at Virginia. In the National Championship game my sophomore year in college (Hop vs. Uva) he made some of the best saves I've ever seen. Though I absolutely hated him when I played against him (because he was so hard to score on), he's one of the best goalies I've ever seen, and I definitely enjoyed watching him play (when it wasn't againt us). So thanks for writing in and asking questions, and please continue to do so. I hope this provides some insight to who my favorite college players of the past and present are. I've got to take my final trip to New Jersey today before moving out west in a few weeks, so it'll be nice to get back up there one last time. I'll talk to you all soon. KH p.s. oh yeah, when I do write again, we've got to have a discussion about American Gladiators, because I've got some concerns....
kylelaxiscool said January 09, 2008
I go to Bryn Mawr, right around the corner from Friends and have attended every NCAA Men's Lacrosse Final Four in the last six years. You are an amazing player and the reason I push forward in my lacrosse career. Hopkins Lacrosse is one of the true passions in my life. Are you holding any clinics or camps back in Baltimore anytime soon? If only you played for the Bayhawks. ..
PRideCoach499 said January 09, 2008
Great column, always an interesting read. Are you making a public appearance in NJ? If yes, where and when?
Tom Gibson
PRide Lacrosse