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.:Review: The 2004 LaxScout High School Lacrosse Recruiting Report:.

       Recently, I had the pleasure of receiving a copy of the 2004 edition of the LaxScout High School Lacrosse Recruiting Report. In its second year of publication, this report has grown by leaps and bounds, including profiles on players from 23 states and including athletes from as far away as Australia. As quoted from their publication, LaxScouts mission is to “help students find a collegiate lacrosse program that is consistent with their performance objectives. We want to help students leverage their physical talents so that they may continue their athletic careers while pursuing their academic goals in college”. Christopher Deutsch, LaxScouts President and Founder, as well as his entire editorial, writing, and scouting staff worked tremendously hard to allow every athlete in their publication have every opportunity for exposure to college coaches.
       The report opens with an interview with one of the best lacrosse players ever, Mike Powell. In this interview Mike shares his personal recruiting experience and what motivates him to succeed, among other things. Another interview with Mike Hogan, former DI college coach turned Maryland high school coach, gives an in-depth insight into the mind of a college recruiter, including what they look for in a prospect, some do’s/dont’s, and ways to impress a coach. There is also a piece that discusses practice. This is not just your average collection of practice tips, however, it is a 2-page spread goes in-depth and gives clear, specific examples of what to do and what not to do when practicing.
       Perhaps the article that can make the most connection to the high school player is a personal experience piece by Christian Cook. Having Christian’s personal example of rising from Colorado obscurity to MLL fame shows that you don’t have to live in a lacrosse hotbed or be a tremendous player to be successful, you just have to be willing to outwork those others who have these advantages. This is especially true for many of the athletes listed in the LaxScout publication, as they come from a multitude of states as well as different countries, where having the benefit of exposure to college coaches is limited.
       Finally, the player profiles, of course the most important part of the publication, are done superbly. The rating categories that scouts use to rate the athletes is short yet comprehensive. Incorporating academics into the profile is very useful for college recruiters from the more academically rigorous schools. Comments from the athletes coach allow someone who knows the athlete to analyze the his skills. Finally, the different levels of profiles (Titanium, silver, bronze, and diamond) allow players to choose the depth of their report. The student listing included at the end of the report allows side-to-side comparisons of athletes, separated by position, listing all important athletic and scholastic statistics and honors.
     Not only is the content of the LaxScout publication useful and interesting, the overall appeal and layout of the report makes it that much better. Colorful advertisements replace boring advertisements found in some magazines. Everything from colors to borders makes this report just look sharp. In only its second year, the LaxScout report is sure to grow tremendously in the years to come.


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