Top 205 (my experience)

[BCLaxa]

Ok well this June I attended the second session of the top 205 rising seniors camp. Heres a basic overview of the camp.

First day

Afternon
- check-in (you get your keys)
- combine testing (you get weighed, measured, 40 yard dash, standing long jump)
Evening
- Tryouts (teams are selected)

Second day

Morning
- station work (drills)
Afternoon
- team practice
Evening
- game

Third day

Morning
-Station work (drills)
AFTER THIS ITS ALL GAMES

Ok so after you get your keys and before you go to combine testing I sugest you go to your dorm open your window place a very large fan infront of it and set your alarm clock and take out your rub 2535/tiger balm because you'll probly be needing it. After your combine testing your will have a meating with all of the coaches running the camp they will explain to you how the tyrouts will go that night, essentially all of the information your need is on the back of a key card you received when you checked in. So as for the important part.. the coaches. They will show up the third day this year there was probably 65-75 there all of which attended the games on the Comcast fields. On the last night of the camp (Forth day) there is the coveted allstar game this is when the "cream of the crop" coaches the Dukes the JHU's the Princeton's begin to show up and magically disapear the next day during the finals of the tourny. So if you plan on being recruited by any of these schoold i suggest you make the allstar game. All in all I found the camp very well run, like always there were some amazing players there (just enough to make up an allstar game) and then the talent level seemed to drop just a little after that. Its not the greatest development camp but you go back home knowing exactly what you have to do to make it into NCAA men's lacrosse.

If you have ne questions feel free to ask..

[2laxdad]

great overview, my son attend the same session and had similar thoughts!

[AquinasLAX]

have you been contacted by any schools since/in direct cause of the camp?

[thechosenone]

have you been contacted by any schools since/in direct cause of the camp?

I also went to the same session and have thus far been contacted by 5 or so schools, all D3 but my top choice was among them, so I'm happy.

[$uperman15]

i was there and got some solid looks
TEAM PURPLE

[BCLaxa]

i got letters from 4 d3 schools.. i was on team blue/yellow (top 205 champs) Ohh also there is a about a mile or so walk to the fields so i suggest bringing a scooter as did a couple players of whom i became extremely jealous over my time at the camp. And every night a guy comes by selling pizza and wings so i suggest you bring some money as dinner ends at 6:30- 7:00.

[westlakelax17]

Where can you get an application for top 205??

[justlaxin1819]

Where can you get an application for top 205?? im pretty sure you have to be recommended. thats how it was when i went to the rising junior one.

[truth]

Have your high school coach e-mail Cottle or Tierney in Sept or Oct and have him pitch you.

[TRELAX1201]

what were the d3 teams that contacting all of you?

[BCLaxa]

lynchburg, marywood, st.mary's college of maryland, mcdaniel, villa julie, queens

[laxnavajew]

what is the purpose of trying out for teams? why don't they just assign teams?

[lslaxer]

what is the purpose of trying out for teams? why don't they just assign teams?

I´m guessing so the teams are fair, and one team doesn´t completely dominate.

[lax16]

i went to the same session - unfortunately broke my finger b4 i could play in any games. only thing i would say that contradicts your review - jhu, princeton, uva, georgetown were all there for games besides the all star game just thought i should add that. great camp tho, great experience, lots of coaches

[lax2208x]

Coming from a non-traditional lacrosse hotbed, Top 205 was a great experience for me and my fellow players from the same region of the country. I think the great thing about the camp is that you see how even the talent is really becoming. Two of us, including myself, made the all star team. There were plenty of coaches at all of our games, including the first few days. If you play well you have the oppurtunity to play Div1 lacrosse. 3-5 of us have recently commited to play div1 lacrosse at big time schools. Here are some things we did to make sure we had a successful camp:

-aim for session1 : session2 is after july 1st, meaing coaches can contact you at this time. Many coaches look to get players as quick as possible, give yourself the best chance to get on their radar early
-never show you are tired
-never show anger on the field
-show energy even though it might not be you that scored, show you care about the team's success
- be selfish: you have to showcase yourself, if the ball ever comes back around to you in an offensive set, take it to the cage. challenge your defenseman
-show athleticism: this is becoming a bigger and bigger factor in division one lacrosse
-demonstrate your maturity on and off the field: dont mess up a chance to play in college because you did something stupid in the dorms

play hard and good luck. this is a great camp that can really open doors for you.

[atm 1892]

Coming from a non-traditional lacrosse hotbed, Top 205 was a great experience for me and my fellow players from the same region of the country. I think the great thing about the camp is that you see how even the talent is really becoming. Two of us, including myself, made the all star team. There were plenty of coaches at all of our games, including the first few days. If you play well you have the oppurtunity to play Div1 lacrosse. 3-5 of us have recently commited to play div1 lacrosse at big time schools. Here are some things we did to make sure we had a successful camp:

-aim for session1 : session2 is after july 1st, meaing coaches can contact you at this time. Many coaches look to get players as quick as possible, give yourself the best chance to get on their radar early
-never show you are tired
-never show anger on the field
-show energy even though it might not be you that scored, show you care about the team's success
- be selfish: you have to showcase yourself, if the ball ever comes back around to you in an offensive set, take it to the cage. challenge your defenseman
-show athleticism: this is becoming a bigger and bigger factor in division one lacrosse
-demonstrate your maturity on and off the field: dont mess up a chance to play in college because you did something stupid in the dorms

play hard and good luck. this is a great camp that can really open doors for you.

Be selfish? I don't think selfish is the word you are looking for. I don't know much about the whole recruiting process but I can't imagine any coach would want to recruit a selfish player.

[lax2208x]

i guess selfish is a bit strong, but you're definitely not playing for a "team" championship at a camp like this. you're there to get yourself a look. don't be afraid to take the ball to the cage. i'm not saying everytime you touch it you should take a shot, but make sure you're giving yourself oppurtunities to be seen and showcase your ability. of course coaches don't want selfish players, but at the same time you have to get yourself out there. i guess you misinterpreted what i'm saying

[cali feeder]

On the subject of selfishness:

I think there's a fine line where you've got a good amount of assists and goals that's going to get you a lot of strong looks.

If you can feed like Connor Gill but can't put the ball in the cage, that's not great. If you can rip like Sean Lindsay but refuse to give up the ball/can't pass, that's not great. If you can find a good balance of both, maybe favor one of the other based on your strengths, you're looking good.

[lax2208x]

well put cali feeder...

just tryin to explain that you need to showcase yourself

[Knightsgoalie5]

I´m guessing so the teams are fair, and one team doesn´t completely dominate.

They try to make the teams even but it still doesn't work very well. It really sucks for the goalies because the tests are one on ones and having guys from U Maryland shooting on you.

[Balt-Lax-Dad]

My son, Chris Miller from Friends School in Baltimore, attended the Nike/Reed Top event and found it to be of great value. Compared to some lax events (like Champ Camp where you have games all over Baltimore), having everything in one venue made it easy for the players, parents...and college coaches.

The one bit of advise I'd have for players is to go out there and play great team ball and focus on the basics. Hey, if you have a shot, certainly take it, but I do not imagine coaches like selfish play.

There was one player on my son's team who took double digit shots each game, passing up on dishing the ball to open teammates, and laid back on D...I am sure coaches noticed this, versus all of the other guys who were focused on the big picture. Play balanced...do the basics well (gballs, feeding, D, shooting).

If I was a coach I'd be most interested in the unselfish guys...as you know the great old cliche says, there is no "I" in "team."